Sunglasses: The Ultimate Summer Trend

Transparent or colorful, rounded or squared, the shield design that was so popular in the early 2000s makes a huge comeback this year. Obviously with a revisited shape: a little less wraparound, smaller in size and enriched with new contrasting metal details. An eyewear shape that immediately recalls the world of sports, but this summer the technical and functional aspect has been decontextualized and shield sunglasses are worn everywhere: on the beach, for traveling or for visiting art cities. They’re the latest go-to accessory for a colorful evening beach party.

The Eighties are a “Golden Age” to draw from instinctively at times of economic and climatic uncertainty like the present ones. In eyewear, this trend was interpreted with a remake of the creepy, horror style that is closely associated with the music and film culture of the decade, and with the comeback of the color red in all its shades, but we’re talking about a trend for the upcoming winter season. These months, instead, on the color front we’re seeing the return of purple, lilac and iridescent tones, much loved by the younger generations who – for their eyewear and sneakers alike – choose artificial, metallic, pearled and neon hues. Another trend that borrows from the 2000s, when gold and silver were ever so popular.

Adults continue to prefer more natural hues, like nude, and pay great attention to design and decorative details. But something has changed here too: style is becoming more genderless, for example oval shapes are worn by both men and women. It’s the evolution of a trend that started a few years ago, when young women started wearing their husband’s or boyfriend’s jackets, shirts and denims. Today we’ve gone from apparel to accessories, but the news is that men have also “contaminated” their looks. It’s the new trend. Like trap rappers, with their oval wraparound sunglasses verging on cat-eye that some time ago would have been considered as “women’s” frames but that today everybody loves. Without distinction.