Punk chic eyewear trend, August 2025

Trends

Punk chic

Rebel elegance

Words Alessandra Albarello

29/08/2025

Since its inception, punk culture has provided a bold visual language that instantly communicates a sense of freedom and rebellion. Unconventional, yet always within the boundaries of fashion

What does summer leave behind for us to carry into our everyday lives? Without doubt, a lingering sense of freedom, a hint of transgression, and a spark of fantasy. This spirit is reflected above all in clothing and accessories—including eyewear. Sometimes, all it takes is a single detail to feel as though you're breaking free from routine and convention–still on holiday, in a sense.

Time and again, punk resurfaces—one of the most disruptive movements to have ever shaken up the aesthetic rules of fashion and cultural semantics. It has trained us to see, and hear, through new lenses, transporting us into a parallel visual universe. This imaginative world is precisely what inspires Okkul, a Budapest-based brand founded by creative minds Zsanett Fábián and Szabolcs Major. Their collections blend mythical and esoteric references—from legends and lunar phases to ancient rituals, symbols, and alchemy. Each piece is entirely handcrafted using premium materials, such as the Neptune model (featured in the opening image), sculpted from acetate and punctuated with stainless steel piercings.

Also extraordinary are the two limited-edition versions of the Mask E21 Crossover by Sandra Mujinga x Kuboraum, a collaboration between the Berlin-based label and the multi-award-winning Congolese-Norwegian multimedia artist. Known for her immersive installations composed of sculpture, video, and sound, Mujinga has successfully translated her artistic language into eyewear. The result: a piece that challenges the line between object and artwork.

Mask E21 Crossover by Sandra Mujinga x Kuboraum

H.A Punk model by Accrue

VLS-174 model by Valentino

GG1919S model by Gucci

Roller LB0005 model by Christian Louboutin

CT0565SO Clash de Cartier

Here, the body is treated as a canvas–a site for identity and provocation. It takes centre stage in a striking trompe-l'œil effect in the H.A Punk model by Korean brand Accrue. Inspired by 1970s British punk, this frame features customisable lenses and temples with detachable piercings that appear to be applied directly onto the skin. The 1970s also inform the unisex VLS-174 model by Valentino, crafted in metal. Here, the punk aesthetic takes on a glamorous, bohemian twist: a series of delicate pendants adorns the lower rim of the round lenses, enhancing the VLogo on the temples.

Punk now adopts a simultaneously chic and audacious turn in the GG1919S cat-eye frame by Gucci, crafted from glossy black acetate or in the house’s signature Rosso Ancora shade—both versions entirely embellished with metal studs. Pointed studs also run along the brow line and bridge of Christian Louboutin’s Roller LB0005 model, a bold reinterpretation of the navigator silhouette, defined by sharp lines and a strong visual identity. Meanwhile, Cartier draws on its timeless heritage to explore the beauty of contrasts. The CT0565SO Clash de Cartier – a cat-eye frame – references the architectural design of the Clash jewellery collection. The temples echo the striking structure of the rigid elements introduced in the 1930s by Jeanne Toussaint, the visionary designer behind many of Cartier’s most iconic creations: the clou carré, and of course, the maison’s signature picot studs.