Everyone With Good Taste Will Be Wearing a Pair of These Sunglasses This Summer

It’s often said that wearing sunglasses in Britain can be somewhat performative—after all, the sun is rarely bright enough to demand protection. Whilst I’d contend that this is incorrect, anyone with a sense of style would know that sunglasses are more of a state of mind anyway.

Like a great designer bag or pair of shoes, this accessory helps tie a look together like a metal-framed bow. “I don’t ever leave the house or a hotel without a pair of sunglasses,” confessed Kendall Jenner in a 2023 video chronicling a week of her life in looks. “I just feel safe behind them,” she revealed.

Admittedly, sunglasses do give a bit of privacy and act as a sort of optical armour, which explains why celebrities are never spotted without them. But for those of us who aren’t constantly hounded by paparazzi and don’t live in a climate where they’re a year-round necessity, sunglasses are still worthy of a place in our wardrobes. Depending on the shape, lens colour and finish, the right pair of shades can completely transform your look. Yes, they can become an inextricable part of your identity à la Joan Didion and her Celine Triomphe oval sunglasses, but they also serve to lean into whatever story you’re trying to tell with your outfit.