SUNWEAR FASHION

The Heat OF THE SUN

A lavish look at the bold styles that are breathing new life into sunglass design

PHOTOGRAPHED BY DAVID DOUGLAS
STYLED AND WRITTEN BY AMY SPIEZIO
SHOOT DIRECTION BY ERINN MORGAN

Bring on the rays—sunglasses for the season shine right back with colors, shapes, and details that create their own heat. While classic shapes and colors are certainly on the menu, they are spiced up with accompaniments that range from bursts of bright hues and gradients to dramatic architectural details, cutouts, and bold looks that are ready for the sun.

In the color zone, strong and sumptuous reds, purples, and oranges are dominating the palette. Blues are still going strong, too, in a wider variety of shades from electric cobalt to turquoise that looks pulled straight from the sea.

Shape shifting has become the norm. While silhouettes may appear classic at first glance, they are anything but—take a closer look and catch a glimpse of inventive surprises like a dropped temple, shapes within shapes, and head-turning, throwback retro cool.

The latest sun styles also blend a splash of elegance with technical edge as frames utilize details like studs, faceted insets, and special metalwork that elevate eyewear to works of art.

COOL CUTS

(Left to right) Fendi style ff0137/s from Safilo is a bold frame-in-frame look in which a round metal style in the warmest orange is enrobed by a sparkling oversize “fat cat” outer frame—angular dropped temples add to the dramatic impact. An etched acetate surface is crafted into a piece of floral artwork in Dolce & Gabbana style DG4267 from Luxottica, which gives peeks beneath a bold red exterior to a photorealistic textured look below. Kenzo style KZ3185 from L’Amy boasts a cool take on aviator style with a one-piece lens and frame distinguished by etching to provide depth and delineation. Bling is carved into chic Roberto Cavalli style Subra 974S from Marcolin, which blends the shine of round sparkling chips, diamond-shaped stones, and baguette-cut pieces with the designer’s signature snake motif worked into the hinge.

BOLDLY GOING

(From top) Vanni VS 1893, distributed by Design Gallery, ramps up the classic sunglass style with black that graduates into tort for a sophisticated color play. L.A.M.B. by Gwen Stefani style la 505 from Tura has an unabashed beauty with a frame-in-frame look that mixes metallic with peeks of open space. A bold butterfly shape beautifully blends black and tort in Japanese acetate style Liana BTT from Reptile Sun. Frederic Beausoleil style S/455 from Prisme has a new take on stripes, plus a rhombus form that fits and flatters while making a decidedly fashion-forward statement.

LUXE DETAILS

(From top) BCBGMAXAZRIA style Indulge from ClearVision lays on the luxe with a geometric metal brow detail that provides texture and color contrast. Jonathan Adler style Monte Carlo UF from REM Eyewear boasts the printed claim “we make you look smarter” inside the frame—it certainly makes wearers look cooler with a chic, creamy marbleized hue. Diane von Furstenberg style DVF 595S from Marchon takes pyramid power to a bold new place with an attention-getting brow line of studs set in a rich red frame.

COLOR PLAY

(Left to right) SPY Optic style Marina plays with mirrors and metal to create the look of cutouts and emphasizes a bold green mirror with the company’s Happy Lens. Costa’s style Ana blends the hues of the sea and sand with an aqua, tort, and cream color combination with optional polarized lenses to turn fishing or lounging into style-honed activities. Furla style Linda SU 4901 from De Rigo is a rich purple adventure in gradient style made unique by progressing from light on top to dark below, with bright pops of white peeking from behind the temples. Vuarnet VL 1508 mixes technical expertise in lens design with fun frame coloring as tortoise is revved up with a stack of red, white, and blue stripes. Maui Jim’s Baby Beach mini aviator goes bold in gold with the new Blue Hawaii mirror lens adding a splash of tropical to the lightweight double-bridge style.