You get glimpses of it every week on your television: the exotic warmth of Thailand via The White Lotus hints at the promise of warmer days ahead. It’s time to turn the page on the bleak midwinter and embrace spring and summer’s impending arrival with some suitably inspired sunglasses trends. The good news is that you don’t need the budget of Walton Goggins to dive into the top men’s sunglasses trends on the market.
Bigger and bolder seems to be better in the world of men’s shades these days: Just as flowy, retro camp collar shirts and breezy linen trousers are making their way back down the runways, so too are larger shades that amp up classic styles like the Aviator to another level.
Look to a few key trends at the top of the food chain. The hyped return of the famed Louis Vuitton Millionaire 3.0 Sunglasses last summer spoke to broader trends afoot. The revamped Millionaires are aviators on steroids, no corners cut. If you want a little retro flair in your sunglasses rotation, focus on some ‘70s-inspired shades with a truly eye-catching design (literally). Think a bit bigger, a bit bolder, and a bit better for your eyewear game this year. Here a few examples of the best ‘70s-inspired sunglasses we love right now.
Photo via Todd Snyder
Randolph x Todd Snyder Sportsman Sunglasses
The ‘70s were awash in earth tones and shades of brown, beige, yellow, and red. You name it, and the color palette of that decade was about as far away from deep indigo blue as possible. Those same shades make their return with this bridged aviator style as part of an exclusive collaboration from Northeast-based Randolph with famed American menswear designer Todd Snyder.
Snyder has a healthy respect for the classics in every form, and these slightly oversized aviators wouldn’t have looked out of place when USA-made Randolph was founded back in 1973. Especially in Gold, these are a fine homage to the pilot aviator sunglasses style, with a touch more flair.
Photo via MOSCOT
MOSCOT Sheister Sunglasses
Next up is this bold, tasteful set of frames from century-old New York City eyewear purveyor MOSCOT. They’re also built with a 57mm lens for a suitably retro-tinged look. With a thick frame design, earthen color scheme, and nearly monochromatic lenses, these are a throwback-minded set of shades for the discerning tastemaker. Pair them with a khaki suit and burnished dark brown loafers for an unstoppable spring or summer wedding ensemble–just don’t stray too far into 1970s territory with your suited look and leave the overly wide lapels at home.
Photo via Electric
Electric Stacker Sunglasses
You’ll notice a throughline with this season’s on-trend sunglasses—they’re wider and bigger across the board, from frame thickness to lens shape. And yes, they all tend to harken back to the iconic aviator. Electric ups the ante even further with a thick-bridged, almost goggle-like set of sunglasses, complete with yellow lenses that (repeat after us) harken back to the 1970s.
These aren’t quite as dressy as the new Vuitton Millionaires, but they’re a suitable choice for those on a budget who want the timeless appeal of the aviator, with more of a sporty edge. From beach volleyball to boardwalk beers and BBQs, these throwback-style sport shades are the ticket to a stylish start to spring (and summer, and well beyond).
