Hottest Sunglasses for Summer 2012
Forget boring, colorless sunglasses this summer and jump into the ‘sun and fun’ months with a pair of bright, daring glasses that have unique shapes or contrasting colors. The runways for summer 2012 contained dozens of the colorful offerings, with designers like Karen Walker, Anna Sui, and Cynthia Rowley sending down retro and sculpted variations. Browse the sunglasses below for some of the hottest designs for this summer, and pick up any of these stunning styles to make a statement on the beach.
Anna Sui Cat Eyes
The combination of high, flared cat-eye frames and bright colors like purple and red make for a stunning pair of sunglasses. Especially good for those who do not like large frames, these sunglasses have sleek, narrow silhouettes that look great with a retro ensemble or a matching print. If you want something a bit more noticeable or a more daring design, check out Proenza Schouler’s take on the cat eye in gold (the must-have color of the season) with their couture, exaggerated curves.
Tommy Hilfiger Two Toned Wayfarer
Gradient lenses graced the faces of many models on the runways this season, making it one of the hottest trends for the summer. Tommy Hilfiger has a fabulous ombre version in reds, grays, or yellows. For a more affordable pair, check out the Gap’s version in transparent yellow with a chunky plastic frame. Bebe and Dolce and Gabbana also have gradient sunglasses in their summer collections. A similar trend is the Contract sunglasses, which have contrasting lens and frame colors. Marc by Marc Jacobs has a fabulous retro pair with white frames and honey lenses.
Karen Walker Blue Hexagons
For the fearless lady who likes statement pieces, look no further. These gorgeous, sculpted sunglasses not only boast the hottest cobalt color of the season, but also fall under the shaped sunglasses trend. Anything with a funky or unusual frame will hit the right notes this summer. If you are a hopeless romantic, check out Jeremy Scott’s bright red heart-shaped sunglasses as well.
Yigal Azrouel Round Tortoise Shell Gradient
These distinctive sunglasses hit both the round and gradient trends for the summer. The tortoiseshell color, while not one of the colorful options so coveted this year, is a staple that conveys effortless elegance. If looking for round sunglasses like those that Lady Gaga favors, consider sunglasses by Erdem or the sculpted concoctions of Karen Walker. Try to pick up a pair with a unique flair, like the gradient lens or color blocked frames, to make them stand out from last season’s.
Cynthia Rowley Reflective Sporty
No longer just for athletes, sporty sunglasses have made their way to the mainstream consumer. This summer the reflective lenses and sleek, angular shapes of sport sunglasses hit all the right trends. Cynthia Rowley’s black oval frames have a brilliantly blue reflective lens that looks stunning on the beach or boardwalk. For something with a retro flair, try Prism’s yellow mirror-like pair. To add a touch of futuristic, go for 3.1 Phillip Lim’s big, wide, transparent blue offering.
