You need new shades

YOU DON’T WANT to injure those gorgeous eyes with all that nasty sunshine, do you? Give them a treat instead – stylish sunglasses in striking shapes from any of the luxury clothing brands that are now also in the business of chic shades. 

The price we should perhaps not discuss.

LOUIS VUITTON’s sunglasses come in the shape of cat’s eyes and are deliberately oversized. Note the distinctive curved corner detail. The acetate frames of dark tortoise or pearl glitter can be fuchsia, violet, blue or brown. They temples are embellishing it with a delicate, inlaid row of metal monogram flowers.

The women’s shades have metallic arms, and the arms of all models are hinged in such a way that they can be folded completely flat, fitting into the smallest clutch. 

The men’s shades have a vintage look that’s given a modern twist with a graphic play on the Damier signature: alternating metal and acetate cubes create a 3D effect at the temples. A third style, in beige, navy or eye-popping cyan blue, sports an engraved Damier pattern and flashy mirrored lenses. All three designs feature flex hinges and ultra-lightweight acetate frames.

The Iridia collection from FENDI is a harmony of retro-futuristic design and stylish feminine allure. The cat’s-eye frame is made of Optyl, an ultra-lightweight plastic that’s amenable to unparalleled colour effects. You get soft, round lines enhanced by pyramidal oversize crystals surrounding the lenses, causing a magnetic effect. 

Adding to the sense of lightness is the slim metal at the temples in geometric and flat design, underlined by refined enamel hues in ethereal shades to match the shaded or mirror lenses. Choose among smoke-grey with blue temple tips and khaki-blue mirror lenses, or pink with blue temple tips and pink lenses.

CELINE has the Original line. There’s Caty, also with cat’s-eye frames, Baby Audrey with rectangular frames, rounded at the corners for studied femininity, the Radical with flat lenses, and, new for this season, the Round Model with a vintage feel. The lenses are scratch-resistant and available in black, yellow, brown, dark grey, green and brown. Celine adds its subtle, chic signature to all these models: three silver studs.

It’s generally accepted that thick, rectangular frames make a round face look a little less round, while wide, rounded frames best complement a heart-shaped face. Round frames also soften a square face. Any frames will suit an oval-shaped face. 

DIOR offers the perfect masculine look with its Blacktie 182 line. A minimalist, rounded, acetate front meets rubber and brushed steel at the temples.