For many consumers, a fashion-forward outfit is not complete without the right accessories to accompany it. As a token of self-expression, fashion jewelry makes a popular gift choice year-round for consumers of all ages. While earrings and necklaces are still the most sought-after jewelry pieces reported among consumers in the 2024 Gift Book Consumer Survey — for a third year in a row — bracelets, rings and hair accessories are also popular.

Another growing trend is expression through eyewear. The eyewear market is exploding with product designs and styles that make being bespectacled cool. According to the Vision Council’s annual report, the optical retail market accounted for $76.48 billion in 2022 and is showing no signs of slowing down. As more consumers invest in eyewear either out of necessity, or simply to make a fashion statement, retailers have a viable opportunity to add to their product assortment.

Here, we take a look at some of the trends retailers should keep tabs on in 2024:

All About the Hoopla

Hoop earrings are making a dramatic statement for 2024, instantly transforming a look and drawing attention to the face. New takes on the traditional hoop style are seeing more experimentation with texture and form. Oversized hoops add an element of drama and glamour to everyday attire while small huggie hoops are being stacked together for a chunkier look or twisted into interlocking, geometric shapes. While knitted hoops and colorful resins are great complements for more casual wear, retailers should keep in mind that sterling silver and white gold accessories remain the top choices for consumers, with 66 percent reporting it was their preferred material type for jewelry in the 2024 Gift Book Consumer Survey.

Wild Beauty

Nature-inspired décor and jewelry have surged in popularity in recent years as people seek to connect with the natural world through their accessories. This trend will continue through 2024, blending the elegance of craftsmanship with the raw beauty of the outdoors. In jewelry collections, expect to see a rise in warm earth tones — deep browns and russets, sunset oranges, and leafy greens — paired with rough-cut stones or beaded seeds that give off effortless bohemian vibes. Building on that trend, leaf-shaped and feather pendants and pieces made from found material, such as shed animal horn or shells, will continue to make a dramatic statement in the upcoming year, particularly as the rising interest in sustainable and recycled materials continues.

A Viral Trend

With more celebrity-endorsed and owned eyewear brands crowding the marketplace, donning glasses in a variety of shapes and sizes has become even more on trend. Popular styles encompass both extremes, from minimalist wire glasses featuring clean lines to bold, chunky frames in geometric shapes. A rainbow of colors provides sharp contrasts, from cool blue tones to rosy pinks and reds. Also of note are bejeweled frames outlined with faux gems and rhinestones that add pizzazz to everyday ensembles.

Practical and Purposeful

With a surge in consumers expanding their screen time as they read and work online, the need for glasses that can withstand daily usage has become more prevalent. Blue-light-filtering glasses, designed to block harmful light produced by digital devices, have earned a permanent spot on store shelves. These lenses have been marketed to both kids and adults, particularly those with remote or hybrid work schedules that require more time spent on digital devices.

Increased usage of e-readers, laptops and smartphones has also fueled the reading glasses market. While expected sales of this product category are relatively modest — the 2024 Gift Book Consumer Survey reported that 4 percent of respondents expected to buy reading glasses in the coming year — the prospect of repeat purchases is encouraging. Consumers who keep multiple pairs on hand are looking for designs that are lightweight, portable and easy to stash. Stores that display these types of lenses with eye-catching cases can serve as a one-stop shop.

Another year-round bestseller, sunglasses, afford UV protection and are a must for shops in vacation destination towns. While the British Journal of Ophthalmology reports that the rate of nearsightedness more than doubled as the result of the pandemic, parents are turning to retailers for sunglasses and wrap-around shades that are easy to wear — and hard to lose.

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