Cutler and Gross have always had a strong relationship with colour, owing in part to the flamboyance and flair of our co-founder Tony Gross.
Mr Gross made it his business to rub shoulders with fellow tastemakers, artists, rock stars, writers and royalty. Known for frequenting numerous private members clubs in London from the 70s through to the 90s, his colourful personal life was naturally mirrored in his work.
This continues the legacy of colour that has been kept alive with the tongue-in-cheek names we’ve attributed to our frames over the decades, customer favourites include Granny Chic, Humble Potato, Tribeca Teal, Homesick Blue, to name just a few.
When it comes to choosing glasses and sunglasses in the right colour, especially when all our frames are available in such an array, it can feel quite daunting, but it doesn’t have to be.
Here, our Style Director Marie Wilkinson sets out some key pieces of advice, garnered from over 30 years in the industry, when it comes to choosing the perfect colour.
What Is My Colour?
If somebody ever asks me what colours ‘suit’ them, immediately you have to think about their skin tone in terms of warm or cool, e.g. a Granny Chic is a warm colour, its golden and suits someone with warm tones, much like gold jewellery does.
There’s also an element of colour theory to choosing your colour too, if someone has very warm tones, as in they’re quite red and they want to downplay that a little, Homesick Blue is great for neutralising, as it’s a super cool, icy blue. Eyewear can work as colour correction in this way. Leaf Green and Blue Ink have this same affect too.
In the advent of the new working world, where we’re mostly communicating through screens, your eyewear becomes a way of expressing your personal style and individuality. As no one can see if you’re wearing great shoes, or the cut of your tailoring, the focus is squarely on your face. Don’t be shy when choosing the colour of your eyewear. Be brave. Make a statement.
“Intense neutrals like Aviator Blue, Dark Teal, Dark Turtle, Olive Green, Dark Grey, and classic Navy Blue all work like black.”
Style director, cutler and gross
What Alternatives Are There To Black Frames?
The good thing with black is that it’s dark, its discreet, and if often considered the most “smart” tone for eyewear. However, you don’t always need to go as far as black to achieve that black look. You can take it a step back – intense neutrals like Aviator Blue, Dark Teal, Dark Turtle, Olive Green, Dark Grey, and classic Navy Blue all work like black.
They’re neutral, smart, and discreet colours. If you do want to stay black, why not try a luminous black, inspired by our original B.O.B (Blue on Black), we now have Yellow on Black, Teal on Black and Purple on Black. Switching out your Black for Navy Blue is also a nice way to dress your face differently between seasons.
What Is Special About The Colour Studio Exclusives?
The Colour Studio Exclusives are richly pigmented, specially-selected acetates. They are a very intense style statement with very potent colours that weave into the general theme of each collection. They’re essentially Limited Edition although not strictly named as such, because they are crafted from a single run of this special acetate, and when it’s all finished, the colour is not reissued.
Recent Colour Studio Exclusives such as Ink for the Graham Cutler Collection, Emerald Green for Autumn Winter 2022 and both brilliant, bright blues, Solid Light Blue and Blue Crystal, for Spring Summer 2023 exemplify the unabashed, bold and unflinching relationship with colour that Cutler and Gross famously has.
If you have intense blue eyes the new Colour Studio for Spring Summer 2023 would look incredible, conversely if a person has very dark brown eyes , these azure blues look amazing too, as it gives such contrast.
Why Are There So Many Different Kinds of Tortoiseshell?
There’s a range of tortoiseshells, there’s warm tortoiseshells like the Old Havana, there’s hot tortoiseshells like Hudson Havana which is really red and the Multi Havana which is a bit cooler, with more amber tones. There’s also Dark Turtle, which is a bit browner and more earthy.
Colour theory comes in again here in regards to eye colour, as it can be a really nice thing to zone into and choose colours from, choosing acetate that really complements or enhances your eye colours is a great way to go. Tortoiseshell compliments warm complexions, with the open weave colouring making it a great alternative to translucent frames.
“When it comes to eyewear, you choose the shade of translucency according to what works for your skin tone, whether you want to go completely sheer like Granny Chic or Smokey Quartz and how cool or warm you want to look.”
style director, cutler and gross
What is The Allure of White Frames?
Customers always ask for white frames, we never have to suggest this colour. People gravitate towards them. I think the allure of white frames originally came from Hollywood, and from the way they were worn in the movies, set in the south of France, or Hollywood itself, they have that film star appeal.
If you want something that’s kind of a practical sunglass, you’d go for black because it goes with everything but white is something else … it’s not about being at home, its about being abroad, being someone that you’re not normally, it’s totally aspirational. They capture the feeling of doing things that you really want to do: having a drink on the terrace, eating outside, being by the beach or the pool, it’s everything to do with why you wear sunglasses in the first place. It’s about the sun. The joy of being outside.
What Kind of Translucent Frame Works For Me?
The people that are buying translucent frames are very much the people who buy into other base layers in apparel, like shapewear, or people who really appreciate a neutral aesthetic. When it comes to eyewear, you choose the shade of translucency according to what works for your skin tone, whether you want to go completely sheer like Granny Chic or Smoke Quartz and how cool or warm you want to look.
Again, colour theory is relevant here, as there’s Dusk which is warmer, which is like a make-up colour, a colour that you would naturally put on your face, acting almost like a blush. On the other side of the wheel is Smoke Quartz, which is a lot cooler and a bit more dramatic. We’re seeing that a lot of people are happy to swap out eyeshadow with a bold pair of glasses.
Interested in receiving more tailored styling advice?
We offer private styling consultations at all of our stores worldwide.
Our consultations are tailored to your personal requirements and lifestyle, we will recommend both frames and lenses best suited to your prescription, if applicable, and other factors such as face shape, skin tone, eye colour, hair colour, and whatever else might help guide towards finding your perfect pair.