How 5 Famous Architects Styled Their Specs

classic:specs
3 min readJun 23, 2016

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From bowties to pocket squares to perfectly-circular spectacles, these renowned architects are a stylish bunch. Read on to see how to steal their gallery opening-ready looks below:

Frank Lloyd Wright

franklloydwright

“Every great architect is — necessarily — a great poet. He must be a great original interpreter of his time, his day, his age.”

This reknowned American architect, known for everything from Fallingwater to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, also knows how to style a pair of hiding-from-the-paparazzi shades with a dapper hat and a pocket square. We see you, Frank.

We recommend:

The Prescott Sunglasses in Matte Black

Classic Specs Prescott sunglasses in Matte Black.
Classic Specs Prescott sunglasses in Matte Black.

Le Corbusier

lecorbusier

“Space and light and order. Those are the things that men need just as much as they need bread or a place to sleep.”

One part genius and another part tyrant, this pioneer of Modernism in architecture could be recognized by his dramatically thick-rimmed glasses alone.

We recommend:

The Amherst Glasses in Carbon Black

Classic Specs Amherst glasses in Carbon Black.
Classic Specs Amherst glasses in Carbon Black.

Denise Scott Brown

denisescottbrown

“Architecture can’t force people to connect, it can only plan the crossing points, remove barriers, and make the meeting places useful and attractive.”

One of the most influential architects of the twentieth century, Denise was not only a mover and shaker as the principal of the architectural firm Venturi (responsible for the Sainsbury Wing of the National Gallery in London and the Seattle Art Museum) but was also continues to be an outspoken advocate for women in architecture. (And while we’re talking about how much we like Denise, we love the way she wears these crystal-clear specs.)

We recommend:

The Beaumont Glasses in Crystal

Classic Specs Beaumont Glasses in Crystal.
Classic Specs Beaumont Glasses in Crystal.

I.M. Pei

impei

“Architecture is the very mirror of life. You only have to cast your eyes on buildings to feel the presence of the past, the spirit of a place; they are the reflection of society.”

I.M. Pei designed the Museé du Louvre. And the John F. Kennedy Library. And the Bank of China Tower. Let that sink in while we obsess over the perfect little circles that sit on the bridge of his nose.

We recommend:

The Beaumont Glasses in Carbon Black

Classic Specs Beaumont Glasses in Carbon Black
Classic Specs Beaumont Glasses in Carbon Black

Phillip Johnson

philipjohnson2

“Architecture is the art of how to waste space.”

This postmodern American architect, perhaps best known for his Glass House (pictured here), founded the Department of Architecture and Design at the MoMA and also happens to look very good in a turtleneck. We salute you, Phillip.

We recommend:

THE BEAUMONT GLASSES IN CARBON BLACK

Classic Specs Beaumont Glasses in Carbon Black
Classic Specs Beaumont Glasses in Carbon Black

Architect or not, there are more glasses (and sunglasses!) waiting for you at Classic Specs

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classic:specs

Handcrafted eyewear including prescription lenses, frame replacements, free shipping and free returns for $89.