Designer Sunglasses Edition
When the sun is shining down ever so brightly, the perfect way to complete any (and every) ensemble is with a pair of designer sunglasses. Cue the Shades Shop. Coming in every style, color, shape, and lens imaginable, sunglasses are a time-tested accessory that can bring any look from drab to fab in a mere matter of seconds.
What’s more, sunglasses keep you fashionable while protecting your eyes from the way-harsh UVA and UVB rays, helping to keep you fresh-faced all year round.
With those myriad benefits in mind, we’ve done you a solid and rounded-up some of our favorite and most iconic sunglass styles to help you navigate the landscape. From gorgeous mirrored finishes to unique limited-edition finds, you’ll be certain to show up and turn heads with a pick from our ultimate designer sunglasses guide.
This edition is broken down into sections to help you pick the right pair of shades for you! First we will cover styles, followed by lenses and materials, and wrap with sunglasses TLC. So what are you waiting for?
Section 1: Types of Sunglasses
- Round: this particular style is groovy and combines a little bit of retro and a little bit of posh.
- Clubmaster: this is a classic style with a distinctive lens shape that is both effortless and cool.
- Aviator: this style has a snug fit made with thin metal frames and has adventure written all over it!
- Square: this style is a mix between futuristic and chic, what’s not to love?
- Cat Eye: are you looking to catch the attention of someone across the room? A pair of cat eye sunglasses will do just the job.
- Oversize: oversized sunglasses can come in almost any shape imaginable, but overall this is a great option if you prefer full coverage.
The Best Sunglasses For Your Face Shape
There are endless styles out there, but these are some of the most common. In the ultra-luxury world, deciding on which designer sunglasses to buy is all a matter of personal preference, what works with your lifestyle, and overall what makes you feel great.
- For an oval-shaped face: Try a pair of Clubmasters
- For a circular face: Try a pair of round sunglasses
- For a square-shaped face: Try oversized sunglasses
- For a triangular-shaped face: Try cat eye sunglasses
- For a heart-shaped face: Try a pair of square sunglasses
- For a diamond-shaped face: Try a pair of Aviators
Curious to know which sunglasses are most popular?
Gucci is really having a moment. This summer alone, our top-selling styles are from Gucci, including the Gucci Metal Acetate Crystal Oversize GG0115S Sunglasses in Gold and the Gucci Acetate Stars Cat Eye Sunglasses GG0116S in Black. These have been selling faster than we can say sunshine. If you’re looking to get your hands on one, be sure to set up an item alert on your account to be the first to know when we get one of these in.
Other styles such as the Christian Dior Square 30 Montaigne Sunglasses in Black and the Christian Dior So Light 2 Shield Sunglasses in Black are true fan favorites this year. Both feature oversized frames with ombre lenses. Speaking of lenses, keep reading to learn more about the different types of sunglass lenses!
Section 2: Lens Types & Materials
Choosing A Lens Color
There are endless lens colors to choose from, from black to multicolor. When it comes down to deciding on the best designer sunglasses for you, it’s not only deciding on what color, but it’s also a matter of distinguishing lens types – such as ombre, gradient, and mirrored, which sometimes even feature a monogram finish like these from Gucci. These unique stylistic touches are a great way to showcase your personality!
Polarized vs. Non-Polarized Lenses
Not all sunglasses have polarized lenses, which are specialized lenses that help reduce the glare from direct sunlight. Non-polarized lenses still do the job of shielding the light, but may not reduce the glare as much. If that matters to you, be sure to double-check our titles and product descriptions to see if the sunglasses you’re looking at offer everything you need. If you are in fact looking for sunglasses that have polarized lenses, we have them.
Material
Aside from most sunglass lenses being made of glass which is fairly scratch-resistant, designer sunglass frames are what hold everything together. They’re crafted with the best materials keeping them lightweight and functional – oftentimes acetate or a mix of acetate (plastic) and metal.
All sunglasses are designed to fit comfortably on the bridge of your nose; however, if you prefer your sunglasses to feel airy on your face but with just the right amount of coverage, Aviators are a great choice. This style was originally designed for pilots to replace their heavy and non-practical fur-lined goggles. We can totally spot the semblance in design!
Section 3: TLC and History
Sunglasses TLC
Last but not least, we’re throwing some TLC your way since the top three performing items for this year (so far) in the sunglasses category have been cases, the most popular being from Louis Vuitton: the Louis Vuitton Monogram Sunglasses Case MM and the Louis Vuitton Monogram Etui a Lunettes Simple Eyeglass Case and Rabat Eyeglass Case.
No doubt, the best way to make the most of your investment shades is to keep your designer sunglasses protected inside chic cases. Whether you’re on the go, or wearing another pair, a sunglass case is the best way to properly store your designer eyewear. Tip: check the Comes With section below the product descriptions to see if the sunnies you’re eyeing already come with their own case! But better yet, get yourself a nice backup like these cases from Chanel and Louis Vuitton!
Sunglasses History
Before we wrap, we realized there’s not a lot of conversation about the history of sunglasses. It got us wondering, how did sunglasses even come about? Obviously, the modernization of sunglasses was a revolutionary step in the eyewear industry. But, in all honesty, the concept itself wasn’t anything new. Turns out, sunglasses date back to prehistoric times, with Inuit groups crafting shields for the eyes using ivory to prevent snow blindness. Designs similar to these have been revamped in the 12th century by the Chinese using a variation of smokey quartz.
It wasn’t really until the 20th century that sunglasses got the reinvention it needed to become the accessory that we all know and love. In 1929, Edwin Land developed the first pair of polarized sunglasses. Throughout the roaring twenties, old Hollywood played a big part in portraying sunglasses as a fashion statement and accessory. The emergence of popular sunglass styles around this time, such as round and aviator-style sunglasses, is all thanks to influential and iconic movie stars throughout the decades following, from Audrey Hepburn to Natalie Wood and Marilyn Monroe.
Today, sunglasses are necessary to protect our eyes and do a great job of enhancing our looks and all day-to-day activities. To meet this global need, many designers offer a range of sunglass styles on a seasonal basis as part of their core repertoire. And of course you can find an array of sunglass styles from bespoke to classics at FASHIONPHILE from all your favorite designers.
