You probably associate designer names like Gucci, Marc Jacobs and Christian Dior with their designer garb. But these days, top designers are using their talents to add fashionable sunglasses to their already popular clothing lines.And those are just a few of the fashion houses getting into the sunglasses market. Others include:
· Fendi
· Giorgio Armani
· Dolce & Gabbana
· Versace
· Yves St. Laurent
· and Michael Kors
It seems like most designers want to get in on this industry trend. While the general eyewear retail market has been growing at just single-digit rates over the past few years, the designer sunglasses industry has been rising at nearly twice that rate.
Most people are becoming aware of the benefits of good sunglasses. First off, they ease the strain on your eyes when you are out in the sun. In fact, you should always keep a good pair of sunglasses in your car to prevent you from having to squint as you look out of the windshield of your car on a sunny day. But more importantly, good sunglasses can prevent damaging UVA and UVB rays from damaging the retinas and corneas of your eyes.
Luckily, today’s designer sunglasses will tackle both tasks – keeping you from squinting and protecting your eyes. As an added bonus, they are a fashion statement that says a lot about you.
Top-Sellers for Women
One of the best-sellers for women is Marc Jacobs “032/S” design. This designer, known for his somewhat edgy yet functional designs, made these shades with comfort and fashion in mind. They feature a lightweight metal shield frame with lightweight plastic lenses. Although they are lightweight, the lenses still offer 100 percent protection from ultraviolet rays. This model comes in palladium white, bronze Havana and dark ruthenium. Beads on the frames spell out “Marc Jacobs.”
Another top-seller for women is Christian Dior’s “ILOVEDIOR 2/S.” Who wouldn’t love Dior with these classic shades? Known for their sleek contemporary styling, these sunglasses feature plastic frames and practical earpieces. For women with a smaller face, this smaller design will not dominate your face the way some sunglasses can. They are available in fashionable combinations like gold beige, horn brown, gold plum Bordeaux and ruthenium olive brown. They also come with the original Dior case.
For a fun look, Fendi’s “FS 445/S” is another top-selling pair. This model features a square wrap frame with a cool, leather braided design on the earpiece. You will find the Fendi logo engraved on the temples. They come in black frames with gray lenses, cool gray with mirror lenses, chestnut frames with brown lenses and white latte with brown lenses. These shades also offer 100 percent UV protection while making a fashion statement.
For a modern, yet classic look, consider the top-selling glamorous “2935/S” women’s sand sunglasses by Gucci. The frames come in brown-grey with gradient lenses, as well as sand frames with gradient lenses. They look like the shades you want to be wearing when you are looking to be noticed.
Top-Sellers for Men
One of the top-selling models for men is the classic aviator model, “GA438/S,” by Giorgio Armani. Adding a twist on the classic aviator is the tortoise shell frame. The gradient, lightweight lenses offer 100 percent UV protection.
Another can’t-miss model is Tom Ford’s “James Bond TF 108/S.” Tom Ford eyewear is known for its clean, contemporary lines. This model keeps with that tradition, boasting gunmetal frames and brown lenses that offer full protection from ultraviolet rays.
Pick a Shape
While designer sunglasses offer some of the hottest looks, not every design will flatter your face. If you can identify the shape of your face, you can select a style that will look the most flattering on you:
Round Face: To balance a round face, choose sunglasses with a rectangular frame. Look for dark frames that run the width of your face to help elongate it. You can also try a pair of sunglasses with large frames and square lenses. Basically, you want to avoid a round or oval shape on your already-round face.
Square Face: If you have the opposite shape – a square face – then you want to avoid any more square or straight lines on your sunglasses. Look for a pair with wide, round frames. These soft lines will soften your face.
Heart-Shaped: A heart-shaped face means you have a wide forehead and a narrow chin. You will need to try on a lot of different shapes to find the right one. As a general rule, consider rimless or light-colored frames.
Oval Face: People with an oval face usually have the least trouble finding a flattering pair of sunglasses. You can try square, rounded and even a wrap-around pair. Most styles will look great on you.
Next time you head to the beach, make sure you look your very best with one of these fantastic models of designer sunglasses.