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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.

101 frames

About Cat-eye Frames

The cat-eye page is unusually even across its brands. KUBORAUM, Sabine Be, Oscar Mamooi and Res/Rei lead, with Cartier, Traction Productions and J.F. Rey close behind, and Blake Kuwahara, Blackfin, Henau and DITA fill in behind. Most are acetate; the rest are metal or combine the two. Red is the most common colour name, followed by havana and crystal.

Cat-eyes here are medium to wide. Eye sizes run from 47mm to 62mm with a median of 52mm, and most sit between 47mm and 52mm. 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 runs 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 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, 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.