From essential sun protection to fashion accessories — luxury sunglasses are a must if you want to step up your look for a day out. In Australia, the luxury eyewear market is expected to amount to US$156.2 million (A$247.6 million) in 2023, led by well-known luxury brands such as Gucci, Givenchy, and Saint Laurent, as the personal luxury segment hits new heights.
As with designer work bags, choosing the right luxury sunglasses can be overwhelming. With so many designer brands and high-quality products on the market, it’s essential to consider not only the aesthetic value of the item but also how it will pair with your outfit. For example, the Celine Luggage matches well with monochrome or neutral colours, while the Burberry Banner bag provides a hint of colour to mix and match with various outfits.
Likewise, it’s essential to consider your entire luxe look when looking for the right pair of luxury sunglasses. We’ve mentioned the big players above, but we’ll highlight some more specific, unique shades to elevate your wardrobe below:
Prada PR 17WS
From the SS21 digital fashion show, the Prada PR 17WS sunglasses are a pair of luxury sunglasses that combine bold, chunky frames with triangular arms. This pair of shades offers an understated sense of style and is a perfect blend of fashion and function — as you can upgrade the lenses on them to fit your prescription.
The thick frames on the PR 17WS give the simplest looks an accent and a dash of bold colour. The PR 17WS is available in nine bold colours, including bright orange, honey tortoise, and black/yellow marble. For those looking for more muted colours, the shades are also available in black, marble black, talc, and powder.
Miu Miu 60VS
These hexagonal frames from high-fashion brand Miu Miu look simple — until you take a closer look. Sporting a subtly geometric silhouette, the metal frames are enriched with a gleaming metal finish that gives the shades a bejewelled look, perfect for those seeking a mix between glam and youthful creativity.
Unlike sunglasses styles that feature thicker or chunkier frames, the 60VS rely on thin metal arms, drawing focus to the tinted lenses. As such, they are easier to match with various looks and colours. Currently, the shades are available in two colours — pale gold and antique gold frames, with pink-grey gradient and straightforward grey-gradient lenses, respectively.
Bottega Veneta Acetate
The latest acetate sunglasses from Bottega Veneta are a fun yellow twist on luxury shades. The shades are ergonomically designed in bright, pastel yellow and half-wrapped around angular tinted lenses. Compared to other lines and models from the luxury brand, the pop-coloured shades stand out for their unique half-rim design.
Aside from the yellow variant, the pair is also available in grey for those with a more monochromatic wardrobe. If you want to expand beyond the usual large lens, aviator-type sunglasses, these can be a fun and youthful addition to your overall look.
Jacques Marie Mage Cat-Eye
Finally, this last one may be familiar to those who followed the Barbie hype this summer. Worn by Margot Robbie to promote the film, these cat-eye shades have bold white frames that the star matched with an equally bold, striped black-and-white dress to recreate the Barbie swimsuit look from 1959.
While you don’t have to pair your Jacques Marie Mage with your Barbie swimsuit, you can take inspiration from the star by pairing the cat-eye shades with black-and-white looks from your wardrobe. As the shades are pretty stylishly straightforward, you can go the extra mile by accessorising — consider hoop earrings or bold lipstick colours to accent the overall look.
