Your stylist: Sleek summer sunglasses for guys

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Resident Image stylist and market editor Melissa Magsaysay soothes your sartorial woes in the weekly Your Stylist blog column

Hi Melissa,
I read your piece about sunglasses in Sunday’s newspaper and wondered if you could recommend some of the top sunglasses for men this spring/summer season for the Las Vegas pool scene. I would appreciate it if you would. Also, I am not interested in round frames -but any other shapes you think are fashionable now. If you could specify brands or specific styles, I would be very grateful.
Thank you. Naomi

Las Vegas pool scene, huh? Shiny gold Elvis glasses are the first that come to mind, but I know that’s not what you mean and not actually something I would ever recommend, unless you are of course, an Elvis impersonator working on your tan.

Assuming Elvis glasses are out, there are plenty of sleek men’s frames out there for spring/summer at the moment, some classics as well as a few more flashier styles.

You cannot go wrong of course with the traditional aviator frames from Ray-Ban for $189.95. They’re flattering to many face shapes, lightweight and versatile enough to wear by the pool or with a suit. Plus, they never really go out of style, so chances are you’ll still like them next season. They come in a variety of metal and lens colors now, but I’m partial to the gold frame and green lens combo because the subtle bottle green of the lens pops just enough and the gold looks so warm against the sun’s rays.

I also love the limited edition Steve McQueen sunglasses from Persol for $280. The style was famously worn by the actor in ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’ and today a slew of other celebs like Robert Pattinson and Zac Efron are sporting them. These are definitely for the guy who’s got a rugged side but still takes time to manscape and get dressed for dinner.

Kind of a hybrid of the Ray-Ban aviators and the McQueen glasses are the tortoise aviators from Raf Simons for $370. I love the smoky lens and the contrasting frames. These make more of a style statement than regular old aviators, so if you’re a bit more daring with your accessories, these bold frames are a good choice. Do not however, drink too many yard-long cocktails by the pool and leave them lying about. These glasses don’t come cheap.

Flat top glasses have been a big trend with men’s sunglasses. Kanye West and Lil Wayne wear them and they really stand out in a big way because of the severe straight line across the brow. The RGB Flat Top from Super, $172, is a straight forward take on this trend. They come in black but with your choice of a different color on the inside of the arm. I particularly like the blue, because it’s a nice pop of color without being too showy. The Lyndel style from Mosley Tribes, $180, also has that strong straight line across the brow and an overall angular shape, but the light cognac tortoise frames lighten them up a bit compared with the black and blue version.

If you’re into that sporty, Carrera sunglass shape look that’s been popular for several years with men and women, then the Modified Square style from Oliver Peoples, $375, is a good option for a more modern approach to that same look. The thick black frames really stand out from the face in a bold way that’s sure to grab some attention.

And lastly, two-toned color frames are a huge trend this season and the teal and white Dylan frames from Urban Outfitters for $18 are quirky and add a nice splash of color to a golden tan and a pair of simple board shorts. These look great on a guy who’s a bit more laid back, isn’t afraid of wearing a little color and stepping outside his neutral color zone. They don’t give off the same sophisticated vibe as the others but, hey, at least if you accidentally leave them at the craps table, you won’t be devastated.

Send your style queries to melissa.magsaysay@latimes.com

--Melissa Magsaysay

Photos: At top, Persol Limited Edition Steve McQueen sunglasses at www.persol.com; at right, Ray Ban aviators at www.sunglasshut.com/Ray Ban; at left, Raf Simon sunglasses at www.mrporter.com/Raf Simon; at right, Super Flat Top sunglasses at www.retrosuperfuture.com; at left, Oliver Peoples sunglasses at www.oliverpeoples.com/Oliver Peoples; at right, Mosely Tribes Lyndel sunglasses at www.moselytribes.com/Mosely Tribes; at left, Urban Outfitters Dylan two-tones sunglasses at www.urbanoutfitters/Urban Outfitters.