I'm Obsessed With Sunglasses, and These Are the Styles I'm Seeing Everywhere

Is there any outfit dilemma that a pair of sunglasses can't fix? For every time I've found myself standing perplexed in front of the wardrobe, there has been a pair of sunnies to fix it. Tired and in a rush? A white tee, jeans and everyday black specs. Heading out on holiday? A swimsuit, shorts and a playfully coloured pair. Dressing up for a formal event? Well, I'm summer-wedding ready in a floaty maxi and oversized sunglasses. Even at a photo shoot, you'll find me in a confidence-boosting pair of sunglasses. (In fact, I bought three pairs of my current favourite Le Specs Rapture glasses before they sold out.) Sunglasses really are the finishing touch to any outfit as soon as the weather heats up, and who better to ask about the styles to know now than Hamish Tame, creative director of Le Specs?

"This summer, there is an exciting Y2K revival and love of noughties sunglasses, particularly with rimless shapes and tinted lenses," says Hamish. "We have seen the noughties trend evolve from '90s looks, like the slimline oval and rectangular trend from the past few seasons, but the retro silhouette continues to be one of our most in-demand Le Specs styles and has been spotted on the likes of Zoë Kravitz, Hailey Bieber, Kourtney Kardashian and Bella Hadid."

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(Image credit: @heartzeena)

So when we're shopping for sunglasses, what do we need to look for? Do we stick to a guide to which styles will suit our face shape? Do we look for the most expensive pair that will (hopefully) last a lifetime? Or do we stick to one simple but timeless pair to wear for the next 10 years? Don't overthink it, says Tame. It's all about how they make you feel. "When shopping for sunglasses, look for a comfortable pair that makes you feel fabulous! I am so proud that Le Specs are affordable, meaning that you can have a few pairs on rotation to mix up your vibe and wardrobe."

With vibe in mind, we've scoured the social feeds of some of our favourite celebs, influencers and fashion editors to bring you a list of the sunglasses styles that are trending now and guaranteed to make you feel your best. 

1. SUNSET-TINTED LENSES

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(Image credit: @aemiliafay)

As Gucci's revival of the aviator proved, yellow-lens sunnies were a best-selling success waiting to happen. For 2022, seek shades in deeper yellows, oranges and sunset reds to echo the colours of dusk in our favourite, sun-drenched season.

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(Image credit: @ada_oguntodu)

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(Image credit: @allisonmcnamara)

2. SCI–FI SHIELD SUNNIES

Houston, we have a new sunglasses obsession. This angular, oversized style is an intergalactic trip into The Light Fantastic—a sport-fashion hybrid that combines wrap-around protection with eye-catching style.

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(Image credit: @lefevrediary)

3. GENERATION Y2K 

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(Image credit: @annejohannsen)

When it comes to channelling the current Y2K aesthetic, there are plenty of sunglasses-wearing icons to take inspiration from: Legally Blonde's Elle Woods, Anastasia, Paris Hilton, Britney (and Justin). Aim for candy colours, translucent or no frames, and any diamanté details to score extra points. Just add a Juicy Couture tracksuit. 

4. VINTAGE GLAMOUR

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(Image credit: @bettinalooney)

Cat-eye, oversized, or slimline '90s oval shades with ombré lenses, pearl detailing and plenty of gold accents, the antidotes to the Y2K party pairs are the refined, vintage glasses. Think Sophia Loren in the '70s or Versace supermodels in the '90s. These are tastefully opulent styles with exquisite attention to detail. 

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(Image credit: @emmanuellek_)

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(Image credit: @xbibigul)

5. WHITE CAT-EYE 

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(Image credit: @xbibigul)

You can count on the cat-eye to crop up every summer. It's a universally flattering shape, especially in a neutral shade like white, that will go with anything in your wardrobe, making it a great choice for an investment buy. It might be a tried-and-tested classic that you've seen before, but its wide appeal makes this one of the best options on the market. 

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(Image credit: @chrissyford)

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(Image credit: @chasemarieee )

Up Next, The Affordable Summer Capsule We Are All Completely Obsessed With

Fashion Editor

Remy Farrell is a London-based shopping editor with nearly 10 years of editorial experience covering fashion, beauty and lifestyle. After graduating with a journalism degree and working on the editorial and fashion teams for titles such as Grazia, Elle, Cosmopolitan and British Vogue, she moved into the luxury e-commerce sector, working as fashion assistant at TheOutnet.com styling for the social media channels and helping to develop the collections for the in-house brand Iris & Ink. After expanding an assisting and styling portfolio that includes shooting talent such as Gigi Hadid, Victoria Beckham and Miquita Oliver, she also branched out into beauty, creating tried-and-tested reviews and diverse beauty content.

In her role as shopping editor at Who What Wear, Remy is interested in discovering new and exciting brands to share with the Who What Wear readership and particularly loves uncovering hidden gems at affordable prices to make shopping accessible to everyone.

Born and raised in Sheffield, Yorkshire, Remy moved to London in 2014 and lives in the Docklands with her partner and pug Billie.