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Five Eyewear Brands Worth Trying Beyond Gentle Monster

Discover five eyewear brands beyond Gentle Monster, covering affordable statement sunglasses, polished Korean frames and limited-edition luxury designs.

Le Specs sunglasses worn in four casual street-style looks.
Image via Xiaohongshu post collage
Column
Wearable Objects
Updated
July 16, 2026

Five eyewear brands worth trying beyond Gentle Monster

Gentle Monster is not the only option for frames with a strong point of view. These five brands cover affordable statement sunglasses, restrained Korean designs and serious collector-level eyewear.

For the wider futuristic accessory landscape, see top futuristic tech accessories to consider in 2026.

1. Le Specs

Le Specs has been making accessible, fashion-led sunglasses since 1979. The Australian brand is known for bold shapes and has been worn by figures including Beyoncé, Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Gigi Hadid. Its lenses are designed to filter 100 percent of UVA, UVB and UVC radiation.

Le Specs is the easiest entry point on the list. The frames make an impact without demanding luxury-level spending, and there is enough variety to move from slim retro shapes to oversized statement styles. If you like changing sunglasses with the outfit, Le Specs makes that habit much easier to justify.

2. NEOTERIA

NEOTERIA is a Korean eyewear label with clean, graphic frames and a distinctly contemporary mood. The brand’s current online store lists several styles at sale prices of KRW 49,800 or KRW 69,800, while their displayed regular prices are considerably higher. Treat the bargain pricing as a promotion, not the permanent baseline.

NEOTERIA gets the balance between an unusual silhouette and a wearable finish right. These frames can sharpen a simple outfit without making the whole look feel overworked.

Le Specs sunglasses worn in four casual street-style looks.
Le Specs: accessible statement shapes. Image via Xiaohongshu.
NEOTERIA optical frames shown across four portrait and street-style images.
NEOTERIA: graphic Korean frames. Image via Xiaohongshu.

3. FAKEME

Seoul-based FAKEME treats eyewear as a third element between the self and the person looking back. Its design language is thoughtful but not precious, with an emphasis on quality, individual beauty and frames that do not simply chase a trend.

FAKEME is the polished daily option. The restrained silhouettes work especially well with trench coats, tailored jackets and clean knitwear. The mood is intelligent, composed and unmistakably Korean.

4. Jacques Marie Mage

Jacques Marie Mage was founded in 2014 by Jérôme Jacques Marie Mage. Designed in Los Angeles and handcrafted in Japan and Italy, the brand produces limited-edition eyewear in small batches.

If the budget is high, go straight here. The frames are substantial, cinematic and obsessive about detail. They do not whisper, and that is exactly the point. A single pair can carry an otherwise simple outfit.

FAKEME glasses and sunglasses styled in four polished everyday looks.
FAKEME: restrained everyday polish. Image via Xiaohongshu.
Jacques Marie Mage sunglasses shown in four portrait and street-style images.
Jacques Marie Mage: collector-level frames. Image via Xiaohongshu.

5. Blue Elephant

Blue Elephant is a Seoul-based contemporary eyewear brand that reworks 1970s American classic and vintage references. Many optical frames on its Korean store are currently listed at KRW 49,900, with other styles priced higher.

The designs are easy to wear but still recognizable. That makes Blue Elephant a strong option for experimenting without a huge commitment. Fit is personal, so check the listed frame measurements rather than assuming that any single shape will suit every face.

Blue Elephant optical frames and sunglasses shown in four fashion portraits.
Vintage-leaning Korean frames with an easy daily wearability. Image via Xiaohongshu.

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