The Sunglasses To Have On Your Radar Right Now
Stylish sunglasses are a wardrobe essential, and their closet currency has only increased with the return of iconic retro iterations. Whether you prefer ’90s-style oval lenses, sporty designs or oversized shades, these are the best styles to shop now
Sports luxe
Easily the most fashion-forward eyewear trend of the season, shield sunglasses have become every tastemaker’s shortcut to chic city style. Sporty with a futuristic twist, Celine’s editor-approved ‘Morning Shade’ frames will add instant cool points to on- and off-duty looks, as will Loewe and Saint Laurent’s Y2K-inspired frames. Elsewhere, embrace a retro wraparound style with Miu Miu’s blue-framed shades – a favorite among the fashion crowd.
CELINE EYEWEARCELINE Défilé Black Mask metal sunglasses
MIU MIURounded-Frame Acetate Sunglasses
SAINT LAURENT EYEWEARD-frame silver-tone sunglasses
TOM FORD EYEWEARBrady-02 D-frame black-tone sunglasses
The bigger, the better
Anyone in the habit of hitting the snooze button each morning will be well acquainted with the role a pair of oversized sunglasses can play in your life, particularly when the weekend calls. New to NET-A-PORTER, New York-based brand Thistles specializes in bold, expressive styles with timeless appeal. ‘The Atlas’ pair comes in a directional silhouette with angular tortoiseshell acetate frames that are guaranteed to turn heads. If you’re in the market for shades with face-concealing proportions, look to Loewe’s futuristic aviators, or Alaïa’s sculptural sunglasses, complete with exaggerated round frames.
THISTLESThe Atlas D-frame tortoiseshell acetate sunglasses
LOEWE EYEWEARAviator-style gold-tone and tortoiseshell acetate sunglasses
ALAÏA EYEWEARRound-frame acetate sunglasses
SAINT LAURENT EYEWEARSL 902 Howl D-frame acetate sunglasses
Pop of color
Whether you’re a fan of statement outfits or prefer a more understated look, there’s no denying the transformative appeal of colorful sunglasses. Take note of the street-style set by using yours to enliven a funnel-neck jacket or a striped tee – we love Dior’s ‘DiorGlow B2I’ and Bottega Veneta’s cat-eye pair in glossy red acetate for making outfits pop. Meanwhile, Jacques Marie Mage x Loulou de la Falaise’s ‘Louise’ frames – complete with blue-tinted lenses – guarantee you’ll be looking on the bright side.
BOTTEGA VENETA EYEWEARCat-eye gold-tone and acetate sunglasses
JACQUES MARIE MAGE+ Lou Lou de La Falaise Louise aviator-style titanium sunglasses
DIOR EYEWEARDiorGlow B2I acetate sunglasses
LOEWE EYEWEAROval-frame acetate sunglasses
’90s nostalgia
Oval and spherical shapes are the fail-safe choice for a silhouette that will endure beyond the season. Minimalist muse Carolyn Bessette Kennedy was a big fan, and modern-day It-girl Hailey Bieber is rarely seen without a pair. Sleek styles from Dior and Saint Laurent will work well with everything, while Miu Miu’s tortoiseshell acetate style will add a touch of ’90s cool to the simplest summer looks.
DIOR EYEWEARDiorTreasure R1I embellished oval-frame acetate sunglasses
MIU MIURound-frame acetate sunglasses
SAINT LAURENT EYEWEARErin oval-frame acetate sunglasses
PRADA EYEWEARRectangular-frame acetate sunglasses
Metal frames
While metal-frame sunglasses rarely go out of style, they have experienced something of a renaissance in recent seasons. Take the classic aviator, for instance. A closet mainstay since the 1930s, it’s a style that just keeps getting better. Channel ’70s icons Charlotte Rampling and Bianca Jagger with Gucci’s ‘Bamboo’ design – the rectangular shape and tinted brown lenses nod to the decade’s halcyon days. Alternatively, embrace round-frame silhouettes with Cartier’s sleek ‘Panthère de Cartier’ iteration.
GUCCI EYEWEARBamboo rectangular-frame gold-tone sunglasses
CARTIER EYEWEARRounded-frame metal sunglasses
CHLOÉ EYEWEARAviator-style gold-tone sunglasses
BOTTEGA VENETA EYEWEARKnot rectangle-frame tortoiseshell acetate and gold-tone sunglasses
Keep it classic
It’s always worth having at least one pair of classic – yet no less distinctive – shades in your collection. Whether you opt for square, round or cat-eye frames, just make sure they aren’t too oversized and come in either black or tortoiseshell – ideally with minimal branding and black lenses – and you’ll be able to wear them with anything. Style sleek pairs by Prada, Oliver Peoples and Matteau with everything from a white tee and jeans to tailoring.
PRADA EYEWEARD-Frame acetate sunglasses
OLIVER PEOPLESSonia D-frame acetate sunglasses
MATTEAUVoyager square-frame acetate sunglasses
TOM FORD EYEWEARCaleb-02 square-frame acetate sunglasses
’70s redux
Another throwback to the ’70s, this season’s big, bug-eyed shades recall those worn by former first lady Jackie Kennedy throughout the decade – her collection of oval, round and butterfly-wing frames are as iconic as her outfits and still feel as glamorous today as they did back then. Look to brands like Chloé, Celine and Prada for the chicest contemporary takes.
PRADA EYEWEARRound-frame acetate sunglasses
CELINE EYEWEARAviator-style tortoiseshell acetate sunglasses
CHLOÉ EYEWEARAly square-frame acetate and gold-tone sunglasses
MATTEAUEclipse round-frame tortoiseshell acetate sunglasses
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