The Low-Down on This Summer’s Shades

It seems like there is a worldwide plot to alter trends in sunglasses on a nearly yearly basis. It fails of course, but eventually something that should have never been in the first place becomes a trend through sheer persistence. Growing up we had a drawer in our house that held nothing but sunglasses of every size, shape and color. My parents finally sold that house and while moving them recently we rediscovered the drawer. Inside was a fifty year history of sunglasses in America. My sisters inspected each pair recalling who they belonged to and what vacation they were from or what boy they were dating at the time. My two daughters were of course ecstatic and gleefully picked out the ones they wanted, which was nearly all of them.

Back then only a few designers had gotten into the sunglasses game. We of course had Ray-Bans and Oakleys, which cost plenty, but there were no Dior, Gucci or Armani sunglasses to be found when I was growing up. Today you can’t throw a stick in an optometrist’s office without hitting a dozen designer frames. I’m not so vain that I will only wear the latest fashions, but if I’m dropping some money on a pair I prefer to get something that’s at least in style right now.

Oversized sunglasses are still in for better or worse. I tried a few frames by Gucci and Prada and laughed because some were so big they looked more like a mask than sunglasses. No, I don’t have an especially small face. Like all designer trends, they’ve taken it a step closer to ridiculous in an attempt to be unique. What is new is the variety of lens shapes and colors. I still can’t look at them without thinking of Charlie’s Angels.

Aviator glasses are also still in, but have undergone some kind of fashion inflicted mutation. Double frames, rose tinted gradient lenses, oh my. These have never been my go to as they just simply look like dude glasses. It doesn’t matter how well you do your hair, how sexy you dress or even how red your lipstick is, you still look like you’re wearing your brother’s sunglasses.

Of course cat eye sunglasses are back because they’re fabulous. I’m hoping this is a style that never goes away and even if it does I’m still wearing them until the day I die. I had a pair of black and green Armani’s with full tint lenses that made the beach at noon look like the dark side of the moon. I tried to find another pair after mine were lost somewhere between Nassau and Chicago, but they don’t sell that model anymore which is horrible.

If you do pick up a new pair of sunglasses this summer, remember not to throw your old ones out. Put them in that drawer with all the others so that someday you can pass them on. Plus you never know, they could come back in style.