A trend to happily embrace from the 70’s is oversized square specs like these ones from Khromis ($2,670). If Italian design, Japanese craftsmanship and great coffee sound like a match made in heaven to you then pop into their flagship in POHO to try these out for size and check out their bespoke service too.
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Read more: Peek-a-Boo Bras To Wear This Season
You can’t go wrong with a classic cat-eye tortoiseshell frame and this Havana Olivia pair from TRIWA ($1,375) is a safe bet. For a modern 2018 look, the Crystal Klara is a fresh summer alternative. Made out of hand durable cellulose acetate, the frames have a delicate glass-like finish that looks stunning in the sunshine.
I know, they are huge and expensive, but hear me out. These Samantha cat-eye frames from Tom Ford ($3,500) are the glasses you buy and keep forever. They go with everything and work in all scenarios, from when you’re running to the gym late at 7am and don’t want anyone to spot your ‘I just got out of bed five minutes ago face’, to sipping an Aperol Spritz at Da Paolino in Capri. They just work, and they suit everyone. Trust me on this, my cousin, my aunt and I all walked out of a store with them in three different shades, and we look nothing alike.
Illesteva creates cutting-edge designer eyewear and this mirrored pair ($1,390) from the brother-sister duo don’t disappoint. The reflective frames will look fabulous in summer snaps.
Black and gold is always a chic mix, and you can’t go wrong with Ray Ban’s original Clubmasters ($2,150). They add a little bit of finesse to a thrown-together outfit and can be dressed up or down to the beach and brunch. The folding version is my favourite because they’re easy to pack and impossible to break.
Miss your turquoise RayBan aviators and hate being seen in the same lenses as everyone else? Then this bold acetate pair by Gentle Monster ($2,200) is the perfect prescription. Hankook Kim founded the eyewear brand in 2011 in South Korea, and his designs are a staple wardrobe item for understated fashion insiders.
I prefer to invest in staple pieces then fads that disappear after a summer, and while I love flatbrow sunglasses, it’s not a style I regularly wear. This Jeepers Peepers pair ($261) tick the trend box and are fun, affordable option to wear when you’re looking to switch up your usual look.
While I’m not totally sold on the micro-optics trend, if you’re going to go for it then you should, well… go for it. And there’s no better way to embrace the tiny-glasses movement than by adding a bit of tiger-print into the mix. Be bold, be brave, and stay in the shade, because these CHIMI sunglasses ($1,365) offer zero protection against the sun but will definitely turn heads.
Summer shades don’t get any sweeter than Chloe’s signature Carlinas in pink ($3,535). Perfect if your holiday isn’t going quite as planned and you need a spare pair of rose-tinted glasses to go with your large glass of rosé.
Handcrafted in Hong Kong with a Californian influence, Peppertint brings a colourful, alternative take. With a handmade frame, a stainless steel, rose gold frame, and a convenient leather pouch, these LBC Peppertint sunnies are ideal for travelling to warmer weather.
These Moonshade glasses by Paper Shade ($119) are made from recycled paper and are a fraction of the price of most designer pairs. The lenses are UV400 and they use non-toxic glue to ensure their production minimises the impact of the environment. The HK based brand also offers a customisation service for bulk orders, perfect for junk parties, beach events, and festivals.
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The easiest way to ensure your suitcase has room for all your incredible holiday finds is to go light on clothing and heavy on accessories. Hats can be a little bit of a nuisance to pack, so I forego these and bring lots of large earrings and sunglasses that make a big statement but take up very little room instead. There seem to be two style camps when it comes to sunnies. The first favour designer frames that are the must-have shades of the season, and the second love nothing more than leaving everyone second-guessing where their glasses are from. I tend to fall somewhere in between both camps, with the biggest priority being finding a pair of frames that suit my face and double up as a disguise when I need to do the morning coffee run. In the past two years alone I’ve sidestepped Prada’s teeny tiny frames, avoided Bat Gio’s famous Takesh heart-shaped shades, and reluctantly accepted that I will never (ever) be able to wear aviators without looking like an extra from ‘That 70’s Show’. If you find shopping for sunnies a tiring act, then this concise list of ten ‘can’t-go-wrong’ pairs of sunglasses is for you. And if you can’t make up your mind next time you’re trying to find the perfect pair, just follow the 1990’s sales slogan: go big or go home.
Read more: Sustainable Style: Eco and Ethical Local Fashion Brands
Featured Image by Sharon Garcia on Unsplash, Image #1 courtesy of Tom Ford, Image #2 courtesy of Ray Ban, Image #3 Chloe, Image#4 Illesteva, Image #5 Gentle Monster, Image #6 Jeepers Peepers, Image #7 Net-A-Porter, Image #8 courtesy of Khromis, Image #9 TRIWA, Image #10 Paper Shades
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