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Cat-eye Frames

Cat-eye frames, lifted at the outer corner, from a whisper of a lift to a full sweep.

52 frames

About Cat-eye Frames

Fifty-three cat-eye frames from fourteen brands are online, and the page is unusually even. KUBORAUM and Sabine Be have seven each, Oscar Mamooi and Res/Rei six each, Cartier and Traction Productions five, J.F. Rey four, and Blake Kuwahara, Blackfin, Henau and DITA fill in behind. Thirty-eight are acetate, eight are metal, and seven combine the two. Red is the most common colour name, on five frames, followed by havana and crystal.

Cat-eyes here are medium to wide. Eye sizes run from 47mm to 62mm with a median of 52mm; 35 of the 53 sit between 47mm and 52mm, and 18 measure 53mm or more. Because the shape lifts at the outer corners, it adds width where the temple meets the front, so a cat-eye reads slightly wider than a round frame of the same eye size.

Two ways to draw the lift

An acetate cat-eye can carry a heavy upswept brow, and Oscar Mamooi’s faceted fronts and Sabine Be’s Blonde Tortoise / Turquoise and Translucent Light Blue / Neon Pink take full advantage. Because acetate is cut from a solid plate, the colour is as deep at the tip of the point as anywhere else, and an optician can adjust the fit. The metal cat-eyes from Blackfin and Cartier keep the rim thin, so the lift becomes a drawn line rather than a block.

A cat-eye that sells here is usually gone for good, since most frames are one of a kind. Shipping within the US is free and insured, with a signature on delivery, and the frame arrives without lenses for your own optician to fit.

Who can wear cat-eye glasses?

Anyone who likes the lift. Cat-eyes are usually recommended for round, heart-shaped and square faces, since the upswept corners draw the eye outwards and up. Ours range from a gentle lift to a sharp point, in sizes from 47mm to 62mm across the eye, so there is a quiet version and a loud one. A photo sent to us gets a straight answer about which suits you.

Are cat-eye frames only for women?

No. Nothing about the shape belongs to one sex; a shallow cat-eye in black or dark havana reads much like a rectangle with a raised corner. Our cat-eye page holds 53 frames, from Cartier’s metal versions to KUBORAUM’s acetate ones, and the listing gives eye, bridge and temple so you can judge the fit.

Do cat-eye frames work with prescription lenses?

Yes. Every frame here ships as a frame and your own optician glazes it to your prescription. The pointed corner takes a little extra care when the lens is edged, and very strong prescriptions look best in a shape that keeps the lens compact. Our lens guide at /collections/lens-guide explains lens thickness and coatings. If you are near a shop, the Eye Rx practice can fit them.

What colours do cat-eye glasses come in?

On this page, red is the single most common colour, on five frames, with havana and tortoise close behind and a handful of transparent crystals. Beyond those are Bordeaux, Indigo, Milky White, Lilac and two-tone acetates such as Sabine Be’s Blonde Tortoise / Turquoise. Because most of our frames are one of a kind, the colour you see in the listing is the colour you receive.