Purple Glasses Frames for Men and Women

Purple covers a surprisingly broad range of colours. At the darker end you'll find plum, aubergine, grape and deep purple glasses. Lilac, lavender and mauve offer something softer, while violet and brighter purple frames make much more of the colour.

Some frames also combine purple with pink, blue, red or transparent sections, so the boundaries between shades aren't always clear cut.

Plum is a deeper purple with noticeable red or burgundy undertones. It can look considerably darker and more understated than a classic purple frame.

If you like dark glasses but want something warmer and less expected than black, plum glasses frames are well worth considering.

Aubergine is an extremely deep purple inspired by the colour of an aubergine skin. Depending on the material, it can appear almost black or dark brown in lower light, with the purple becoming clearer in brighter conditions.

They're similar, but not necessarily identical.

Both describe lighter purple shades, although lilac can lean slightly pinker while lavender may have cooler or more muted tones. In reality, colour names vary between eyewear brands, so it's better to judge the individual frame from its photographs than get too caught up in the label.

Mauve sits somewhere between purple, pink and grey. It's generally more muted than violet or traditional purple, which can make a mauve glasses frame feel surprisingly subtle.

It's a good colour to explore if you like purple but don't want your glasses to be particularly bright.

Deep purple certainly can be.

Plum and aubergine frames have enough depth to work in much the same way as other dark eyewear, but reveal more colour when you see them up close.

If you've worn black or brown frames for years and want a change without jumping straight into a bright colour, dark purple is an easy place to start.

You don't need to build your wardrobe around your eyewear.

Deep purple frames can sit comfortably alongside everyday neutrals, while brighter violet and lilac glasses can provide the colour in an otherwise simple outfit.

If you enjoy mixing colours, purple also gives you plenty to experiment with – but matching your glasses to your clothes certainly isn't compulsory.

Burgundy is predominantly a deep red, usually with brown or purple undertones. Purple has a stronger balance of red and blue.

The two can look surprisingly similar in very dark or translucent frames, particularly when you're comparing plum purple with a deep burgundy.

Yes. Transparent and translucent purple frames are particularly effective because different thicknesses of material can create several shades within the same pair.

Look out for crystal purple, translucent violet, lilac and transparent plum frames within the collection.

No. There isn't anything inherently male or female about a frame colour.

If you prefer something understated, darker plum, aubergine and muted purple frames are a good place to look. If you like brighter eyewear, there's no reason violet, lilac or any other shade should be off limits.

Find the frame that fits and wear the colour you like.