Sunglasses Make the Outfit—5 Eyewear Trends Taking Over in 2022
Coming in hot with a slightly controversial opinion here, but sunglasses really do make the outfit. They instantly uplift an outfit in a single swoop, and if the pair of sunnies is especially cool, they possess the power to transform even a T-shirt and jeans.
I've already mentioned how my love for sunglasses knows no bounds, so I'm eagerly here to present the emerging silhouettes of the season. Looking at the big picture, I've noticed a shift towards dramatic styles that set statements all on their own. Cycling-inspired sunglasses are one of the shapes that have been gaining momentum, to the point that it's not just sporty brands like Oakley churning them out anymore. On the same athletic wave, shield sunglasses are another major trend all over my feed and the runways, with designers like Versace and Dior at the forefront.
Of course, there are more trends in the mix, so keep scrolling to see the full report of sunglasses taking over this season.
1. Cat-Eye With a Twist
A timeless shape, cat-eye sunglasses are in every fashion person's toolkit. This spring, it's about turning that classic silhouette on its head, opting for pairs with exaggerated curves and shapes.
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2. Wraparound Goggles
I simply cannot escape the above Bottega Veneta sunglasses, and I'm perfectly okay with that. The popularity of these chunky frames has ushered in a wave of similar styles that marry the sporty wraparound shape with a '90s favorite: clout goggles. It's a trend made for those that err on the edgy side of style, and it's actually easier to pull off than it looks.
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3. Shield Sunglasses
Mask sunglasses aren't for just skiing anymore—the sleek silhouette has been a fan among celebs for a while now (just look at any Kim Kardashian paparazzi photo these days), and it's doesn't seem to be waning anytime soon. The trick is to go minimal with the rest of your accessories to let these shine.
4. Athletic-Inspired
Sporty is the name of the game, and thanks in part to Balenciaga's strong backing of the trend, it's one that's here to stay. Sleek and futuristic, it's a strong statement to any outfit.
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5. 2000s Redux
Turns out exposed thongs and low rise jeans aren't the only visitors from the early aughts past to reappear into the fashion spotlight. Sunglasses that hark back to those days are also popping off big right now, with rimless and logo styles hot commodities among the fashion set.
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Indya Brown is a fashion editor, stylist, and writer living in Los Angeles. While going to school at Columbia University in New York City, she got her feet wet in the fashion industry interning at Elle magazine, Harper's Bazaar, and New York magazine's The Cut. After graduating in 2016, she joined The Cut as a fashion assistant, eventually working her way up to fashion editor. There, she worked on a multitude of projects, including styling inbook feature stories for New York magazine's print issue, writing and pitching market stories for The Cut, and serving as fashion lead for The Cut's branded content. While New York has been her home for over 10 years, she moved to Los Angeles in the midst of the pandemic in 2020 for a new chapter. Now she is a fashion market editor for Who What Wear, focusing on emerging designers, rising trends on and off the internet, interior design, and BIPOC creatives and brands. Aside from her duties as a fashion market editor, Brown is also a freelance stylist and writer, working on national print and video commercial campaigns for Sephora, The Independent, and Cadillac. Her bylines also include Harper's Bazaar, Vox, and The New York Times. But once the computer goes down and the emails turn off, she's likely eating her way through Koreatown, hunting down vintage furniture, scoping out new outrageous nail designs to try, or taking a hot cycling class.
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