Be it flipping through a fashion magazine or scrolling through my Instagram feed, I inevitably covet a pair of sunglasses that may or may not work on my face, but yet, I convince myself I need to buy them because they look so effortless and chic on the model. Trends aside, it’s important to keep in mind when shopping for eyewear that you try on every frame to see the results. To get the most mileage out of your sunglasses, you should ask yourself the following questions: Do they flatter my face shape and proportions? Are they comfortable to wear? Do they complement my wardrobe and personal style? If you answer yes to all of the above, then chances are your search for the perfect pair of sunglasses is over.
To further understand the art of buying sunglasses, as well as what’s trending in eyewear, I spoke with accessories and style maven Kyle Anderson, accessories director at Marie Claire magazine. Anderson made a keen observation when it comes to shopping for a new pair of on-trend sunglasses.
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“Eyewear is like a car,” he says. “When you have a car that works, you’re probably going to go back to that same style because it’s something that has functionality. Eyewear is similar in that it needs to work specifically for you.”
Sunglasses are the quickest and easiest way to elevate your look, and more often than not, both men and women will attest style trumps sun protection. With a wide range of sunglasses on the market to choose from, people are faced with the challenge of selecting a frame that not only acts as a fashion statement, but as a functional and wearable product, too. Nowadays, frames are naturally oversized, so they are sure to protect your eyes and face from strong UV rays while lying out at the beach.
Overall, what we’ve seen on the recent runway is fairly wearable. Eschewing futuristic and kitschy vibes, designers showcased classic shapes, but in an updated form by taking things that people are comfortable with, or familiar with, like retro frame styles and making them cooler.
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“Five years ago, there was a futuristic mood when it came to eyewear, and a lot of what the designers presented to us had a very hard, metal edge to it than what we’ve been seeing for the past few seasons,” Anderson says.
This gradual change from futuristic to retro probably goes part and parcel with all the recent designer changes that are occurring in the fashion industry. Ever since Alessandro Michele took over as creative director at Gucci, for example, he has rebranded the line in a way that emphasizes all things cool — the Gucci girl loves old and new, and has a taste for the eclectic. It has been said that Michele was inspired by vintage things he found and loved in flea markets and thrift stores, and then reinvented them for a younger, cooler customer. As Anderson noted, “a lot of people have been looking to them in terms of eyewear design,” in that “they’re changing a lot of designers in a way that they’re designing because of how successful Gucci has been the past few years.”
The following are three spring/summer 2016 sunglass trends that are wearable in a way that are transformative of your character and personal style. In years past, critics might have deemed these optical shapes as too retro, or too gimmicky, but as we look to the runways, designers are creating their own interpretations in what feels youthful, fresh and above all, covetable.
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Brooke Helmer has been a fashion journalist for five years covering the New York style scene. She recently moved to Greenwich from Manhattan and believes one can never have too many pairs of shoes.
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