From a debut collection by a crystal specialist to video game-inspired styles, these new sunglasses offer style and sun protection in equal measure.
1. Swarovski
Having inked a 10-year agreement with eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica last December, crystal specialist Swarovski now launches the first eyewear collection born of this partnership. Overseen by flamboyant creative director Giovanna Engelbert, the range takes inspiration from several of the Austrian brand’s jewellery families and shows off its knack for playing with light, cut, and colour.
Headlining the collection is a pair of green sunglasses inspired by Swarovski’s Lucent jewellery range, which is distinguished by its blend of vivid colours and sculptural full-crystal cuts. Aside from their unusual faceted cat-eye shape, the sunnies also stand out with the large crystals on the temples that can open as a hinge.
Crystals are also manipulated in other ways in the collection: Eyewear inspired by the Mesmera collection, for instance, shines with generous clusters of clear crystals. Another range, modelled on the Dextera jewellery line, incorporates crystals into the designs more subtly, with stones of different cuts integrated directly into the frames. It’s all pretty brilliant.
2. Chanel
Coco Chanel’s favourite flower, the camellia, takes centrestage in Chanel’s Fall/Winter 2023/24 ready-to-wear collection, including its eyewear range. The large, lush blossoms form the foundations of three new styles: Firstly, a pair of rounded frames in gold metal, which channels the 60s and 70s. The second style comes in black or white acetate and features oval frames with asymmetrical openworked details. Those who like their sunnies oversized will favour the third option, a larger style in translucent marbled tortoiseshell.
3. Eyewear by David Beckham
Thanks to the new Netflix documentary on him and his family, footballer David Beckham is having quite the moment, to say the least. The eyewear label that bears his name, now in its eighth collection, isn’t too shabby either. Eyewear by David Beckham’s latest designs include rimless, rectangular styles in metal and acetate; smaller frames with angled lines; and squared acetate frames with clip-on sun lenses. These styles are united by a key detail: a wing-inspired Talisman motif that symbolises freedom, moving forward, travelling, and protection.
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4. Gentle Monster x Overwatch 2
Gentle Monster’s collaborative styles often resemble art pieces rather than everyday eyewear. The South Korean brand’s latest partnership with multimedia franchise Overwatch continues this stylish tradition. Created to mark the release of Overwatch 2: Invasion, the Tokki tinted sunglasses are inspired by the headgear worn by D.Va, one of the game’s characters. A detachable figure of D.Va herself sits on the goggle-style eyewear. In an interesting twist, these sunglasses cannot be simply purchased (sorry). At launch in August, they could only be won in a contest held on Instagram, with participants required to upload a photo or video of themselves taken with a special D.Va filter.