How adding glasses to my capsule wardrobe shaped my personal style

Because eyewear is an accessory, too.

Sometimes, having fewer options to play with fashion-wise can actually be a good thing – less is more, as the saying goes. I first understood this to be true when I started leaning into the concept of a ‘capsule wardrobe’ several years ago. At my core, I’m a maximalist (years spent working in creative industries, particularly secondhand fashion, can do that to you) and I love wearing bold, colourful pieces. But having lots of clothing can be a real hindrance when you’re trying to put together well-thought-out, cohesive outfits that genuinely feel like you. 

Something I’ve discovered over the years is that a capsule wardrobe doesn’t have to be all neutral tones and versatile basics. You can have fun with vibrant and patterned pieces but you just need to make sure you can mix and match them with other items in your wardrobe. Harnessing the power of accessories is key, too. An eye-catching bangle, necklace or tiny vintage bag can give pared-back, casual outfits a much-needed je ne sais quoi. 

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But there’s an accessory I never really considered until recently when I discovered I needed to be wearing them 24/7: glasses. Yes, learning you need to wear contacts or glasses permanently can be a tricky to navigate with your wardrobe, but when you start considering the stylistic possibilities, the challenge turns into excitement. 

Specsavers’ new collection with iconic Australian fashion label Mimco is for people like me who see glasses as an accessory with the potential to elevate outfits. Mimco launched its first collection with Specsavers in 2023, and its latest collection features three sunglasses styles and four optical frames, each created with style and craftsmanship front of mind. The frames are partially made from bio-based acetate called acetate renew, which, compared to traditional acetate, is much more environmentally friendly. If you’re trying to shop more consciously (and if you’re reading this article, I’d wager you are), then investing in a pair of frames that are more consciously made just makes sense. 

I was tasked with incorporating two optical frames and one pair of sunglasses from the range with my capsule wardrobe, and the resulting looks confirmed my theory: glasses are an accessory that can strengthen and help shape your personal style. I’m always drawn to a wire frame, and the Mimco 15 has everything I like in a pair of glasses: an oversized, square but rounded frame with gold wire and tortoiseshell detailing. I styled them with two looks from my capsule wardrobe. 

The first featured a stripey knit top I recently picked up from the New Zealand label, Ruby, a pair of long shorts from another New Zealand label, Wixii, and my red Margiela Tabis. The oversized gold frames added a seventies element to the look and worked well with the red and pink tones in the outfit. Proving their versatility, these frames looked just as great when worn with one of my favourite shirts, a stripey number from Australian label, E Nolan, and a pair of vintage wide-legged pants. 

Next, I gave the Mimco 13 a whirl. I’ve never owned clear purple frames before, so I was unsure how easily they’d work but this pair is highly wearable. The shade of purple has a blue and grey tinge, and I can see it working with practically everything I own, especially because I have a lot of blue, green and navy pieces. 

First, I wore them with the same stripey Ruby top, but this time with my vintage wide-legged pants and a pair of Nike sneakers. I particularly liked how the silver of the sneakers worked with the frame’s clear purple tint. Next, I pulled out my blue Wixii top and long-line shorts again (they’re two of my go-to’s lately), but this time added my E Nolan shirt and finished it off with a pair of vintage, pointy-toe mules I recently picked up while travelling. 

Finally, I styled the Mimco Sun RX 09 sunglasses. I loved the squared-off cat eye style and I knew the tortoiseshell frames with gold detailing would slot in nicely to my preexisting wardrobe. I paired them with my blue Wixii knit dress, layered over the aforementioned vintage pants, and finished the look off with a pair of green Havaianas, as an ode to Copenhagen street style. They worked just as well with a more vibrant, bold look, too, when I wore them with my Ruby stripey knit top and a pair of teal screen printed track pants from Melbourne label, Briar Will. 

Each of these frames added a little something extra to the outfits in my capsule wardrobe. But, more importantly, instead of feeling like something I begrudgingly had to wear, I saw how much they enhanced my style. Their modern take on oversized ’70s frames felt fresh and contemporary, but a little vintage, too – my ideal blend of aesthetics. Maybe now I’ll even start building my outfits around my glasses. Frames first, clothes later.

The new Specsavers Mimco Eyewear range is available exclusively in-store and online. To browse the range, head here.