Make your shades shine with more shapes, colors and styles
For Angelenos, sunglasses are more than eye protection. They are an essential way to be expressive through accessories.
To that end, designers are turning out increasingly stylish and creative shapes that include jeweled embellishments, oversized proportions and unexpected colors, for both lenses and frames.
“We’re seeing a surge in demand for round frames, cat-eye frames and oversized styles,” says Candice Fragis, buying and merchandising director at global online fashion retailer Farfetch. “There is also a move towards specialist brands, which gives the sunglasses-loving customer like myself so much more choice.”
Though shoppers will still seek out Ray-Bans and Celine or Chanel sunglasses, smaller brands are increasingly intriguing because of less-recognizable styles and logos, plus design, material and colors that push the boundaries.
New Orleans-based Krewe du Optic has been especially popular with sunglass shoppers, says Fragis, as have frames from Retrosuperfuture, Illesteva and Mykita. The latter, a Berlin-based optic company, recently opened a boutique in downtown L.A. that houses several high-end collaborations with designers.
Los Angeles-based brands like Ahlem and Garrett Leight California Optical are continuing to grow a fan base with their modern twist on classic shapes.
Meanwhile, fashion brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, Stella McCartney and Jimmy Choo continue to take runway inspiration into account, incorporating the spirit of their accessories or ready-to-wear collections into their eyewear.
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