Words: Kim Silverman
It’s now June, and summer couldn’t have come soon enough. There’s something satisfying about being well-dressed head-to-toe as you await in limbo for that exotic beach, so if you haven’t got a holiday booked just yet, don’t fret. If you’re someone who gives in to payday splurges, or immediately overspends when promised a looming heatwave closer to home, then we understand. So we’ve edited the coolest sunglasses for summer 2017, whatever the design, at any budget.
Whilst Steve McQueen may have made Persol’s sunglasses iconic, Bradley Cooper in more recent times has shown us how to pull them off like a modern gentleman. Wearing them with a three-piece summer weight suit, Persol’s D-frame shades are 2017’s hottest reinterpretation of a timeless classic. What’s more, they fold up to a smart, compact size – handy for when you’re on the go.
Conveniently, the design of D-frame sunglasses means they suit most face shapes, thanks to their square-shaped angles and large lenses. For this summer, our favourite pairs include flat-top designs – as seen on this Saint Laurent pair, which is a refreshing and standout alternative to round frames.
Depending on what you wear this summer, make sure you complete the look with a plain pair of black sunglasses (which for the record, is a must-have in any sunglasses collection). This season, Reiss have designed a square-framed pair that finesses a heavier aesthetic – a strong trend for this summer.
The iconic round-frame sunglasses has been revamped this summer with bold tortoiseshell – adding much needed colour to your summer wardrobe essentials. They’re just as classic and wear-with-anything as a timeless black pair, but when the sun’s out, it just feels wrong not to incorporate some colour.
These vintage-inspired Taylor Morris specs are made using the finest handmade Italian acetate – with the colour specifically inspired by British shotguns. And with mirrored lenses being this summer’s in-demand trend, you really can’t go wrong with these.
There’s no denying the fact that the seventies trend has made a resurgence, and the highlights of this iconic decade has seen Hollywood A-listers adopting the look through oversized aviators (sans shaggy hair, we far prefer the combover). That being said, Gucci’s creative director, Alessandro Michele has revived the Italian fashion house’s signature green and red stripe to its latest pair of aviators.
With Dior Homme however, the future is now, as their seriously slick round frames are designed to set you apart from everything else. This pair of shades strikes the perfect balance between exquisite craftsmanship and timeless design – and the sky blue detailing is something we just can’t get enough of. If you’re not brave enough to wear them on your commute to work, they’ll probably sit well when you’re chartering a yacht or happen to be lounging by an exotic poolside…
Photo by Adam Fussell for Gentleman’s Journal
Along with wayfarers and aviators, the humble round frame sunglasses have established themselves as a highly sought-after design. Ray-Ban’s designs are all in the detail, with golden metal detailing which perfectly offset the black lenses that ooze modern-cool.
We can all admit that we’ve either sat on or lost a pair of sunglasses, which is even more painful if they happened to be on the pricer side. So there’s nothing wrong with getting a pair of trendy sunglasses that will make your outfit but won’t break the bank. River Island’s version of the classic round frame sunglasses are hard to resist at, at that price tag.
For 2017, the mirrored round-frame sunglasses are the ultimate pair – striking super cool style with timeless elegance. They’re bound to turn heads for all the right reasons, and they’re designed with the label’s innovative ‘Meflecto system’ for a flexible fit that will adapt to the shape of your face.
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