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Who: The minimalist. The balance to positive space. The Japanese aesthetic principle of Ma.

What: Negative space, a concept used in areas such as art, design and typography utilizes empty space to define an object. Creating cutouts in traditional frame shapes whether on the front or the temple, add a new level of perception and composition to a look by invoking the absence of an object.

Wear: (Top to Bottom) Blake Kuwahara’s Maybeck frame in rose gold with acetate temples is a sleek and refined way to play up the concept of negative space. Utilizing the silhouette of the frame by creating a “punch out” across the top, artfully portrays the frame within a frame concept using a minimalist approach. Kering’s Boucheron BC0031O exudes the luxe life in its use of creating a cutout coupled with textured embellishments. This bold frame features a twisted bead crown that extends off of both sides of the frame. Luxottica’s Vogue Eyewear VO 4066 frame is a playful rendition of metal working to create open space around an object to further define it. The composition of the empty space takes this rounded silhouette and vamps it up, producing a delicate butterfly shape from the white space. Marcolin’s Roberto Cavalli frame, Carmignano couples negative space with intricate metal working to produce this dynamic frame. The sides of this frame front feature minor cutouts giving it a slight kitten ear look. The wow factor on the temples showcase an intertwining of metal making a unique design using gaps in the loops on the upper temple before phasing out into a single line.

Why: Sometimes less is more. Leveraging the concept of negative space creates a dynamic, attention grabbing design piece. Moving away from a crowded look and allowing the frame to have room to breathe creates stronger definition in a minimal way.