Nothing says summer is on the way, quite like a new pair of sunnies, so after watching hours of Fashion Weeks in Paris, New York, Milan and London, we have come up with Gold Leaf’s edit of the hottest sunglass styles for when the sun comes out to play.
Cat Eye sunglasses
From Paris to Copenhagen to New York City, street style is as obsessed with flirty cat-eye sunglasses. For decades, the sultry, feline-inspired style has been the go-to of screen legends and everyday women alike. Now, retro cat-eye frames are resurging in popularity thanks to the likes of Gucci and Celine. This iconic look was originally made famous by screen legends Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe, who would rarely be seen without their cat-eye sunnies. Ideal for oblong and diamond face shapes, upswept corners will add width to your face and emphasise your cheekbones.
Old Hollywood
From her Chanel suits, bouffant hair, trouser suits and pillbox hats, Jackie O personified the sophistication of an independent, contemporary femininity. Jackie always gravitated towards classic silhouettes and effortless styles, but the former First Lady never shied away from a statement accessory, particularly oversized sunglasses. Jackie’s sunglass collection came in several silhouettes from round, square, to a bold hexagon shape, but all of them had a distinctive bridge that gently swooped up her nose bridge, always giving off a graceful and feminine look despite their large size.
Jackie’s favourite brands for sunglasses were Chanel, Nina Ricci, Traction, and François Pinton, with the latter designing several pairs for Jackie and her second husband Aristotle Onassis.
Perhaps the most memorable style were her rounded butterfly sunglasses made by French spectacle maker Francois Pinton in the late 1960’s. This roundish frame had slightly ovular lenses, elegantly like the figure-of-8 sunglasses worn by Audrey Hepburn.
Rectangular shades
Rectangular sunglasses have been popular for a few seasons now, and they're not going away any time soon. This versatile style has a retro feel and looks both nostalgic and modern when you try it in a fresh colour, material, or silhouette. This shape is one of the most frequently spotted in their wardrobes this year. Beyond the celebrity fashion circuit, rectangular sunglasses are also a favourite for fashion insiders whose style leans minimalist and modern. Often seen with a tortoiseshell or solid coloured acrylic frame, however Loewe has gone the extra mile with their inflated rectangular sunglasses, as sported by Justin Bieber at the US Tennis Open last week. Are inflatable sunglasses the future? Not sure, but sure will be fun to watch this trend evolve.
70s vibe Just look at recent collections from the likes of Gucci), so you can bring your love for the show's aesthetic into your everyday life. The 70s were a decade of bold, colourful fashion, maxi dresses, peasant blouses, and most of all, the sunglasses. They were often oversized, and usually with a tinted lens, from sepia tones, yellow, or pink to bright blue tints.
They're perfect for when you're not in the mood for your go-to dark shades or simply want to make a bright statement, and the best part is the array of tints means you can match your sunglasses to any outfit. Keep the colour to just the lenses for a subtle statement or embrace a monochromatic look with frames that match the tint.
Over the past couple of summers, there has been a continual rise in 1970s-inspired sunglasses. Retro aviators or oversized tortoiseshell butterfly frames being the most popular. Modern day interpretations of the free-spirited 70s vibe come with extra gold hardware, multicoloured acrylics, and tinted lens.
This summer the vibe is very 70s-inspired; groovy, vintage Woodstock revisited. Just look at recent collections from the likes of Gucci), so you can bring your love for the show's aesthetic into your everyday life. The 70s were a decade of bold, colourful fashion, maxi dresses, peasant blouses, and most of all, the sunglasses. They were often oversized, and usually with a tinted lens, from sepia tones, yellow, or pink to bright blue tints.
They're perfect for when you're not in the mood for your go-to dark shades or simply want to make a bright statement, and the best part is the array of tints means you can match your sunglasses to any outfit. Keep the colour to just the lenses for a subtle statement or embrace a monochromatic look with frames that match the tint.
Over the past couple of summers, there has been a continual rise in 1970s-inspired sunglasses. Retro aviators or oversized tortoiseshell butterfly frames being the most popular. Modern day interpretations of the free-spirited 70s vibe come with extra gold hardware, multicoloured acrylics, and tinted lens.
