Sunglasses are the finishing touch (and sometimes the starting point) of a great summer look. This season’s trends range from Y2K frames and tinted lenses to retro and futuristic shapes. Which pairs should you go for? How should you style them? To help you see things more clearly, here’s a roundup of the must-have styles spotted on the runway, in the streets, and across social media.
Jimmy Fairly’s “Club Soleil”
Hard to miss: Jimmy Fairly boutiques have sprung up all over our cities. Now a go-to for accessible eyewear, the French brand continues to enthrall through its well-balanced positioning, illustrated perfectly by its recent collaboration with Reformation, the eco-conscious American label.
Within reach? An ultra-covetable capsule collection of sunglasses, dominated by slim, rectangular frames. A clear nod to the ’90s, the collection brings to mind icons like Julia Roberts and Winona Ryder, who made these sharp lines their signature look.
But at Jimmy Fairly, oversized frames are just as popular. The Nax, the Elma, the Gabrie, the Lars, the Halo, names that sound like characters from a Scandinavian novel, yet all share one sunny ambition: to draw attention while staying hidden behind tinted lenses. Whether you go for rounded curves or sharper silhouettes, the idea remains the same, to look without being seen.
And for those who prefer discretion and elegance? Jimmy Fairly also offers more minimalist designs, like the Emmy with its subtle blend of oval and rectangular lines or the Hila, a slim oval frame crafted in steel.
At SNSP, our top pick is the Aela: a futuristic frame with oversized smoked lenses, giving off major alien-eye vibes. Its silhouette recalls early 2000s sunglasses, the kind Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie wore in The Simple Life but reimagined in a sleeker, more minimalist version. And since it looks like it’s from another galaxy, a little patience is required: the Aela has yet to land in stores.
Giving your sunglasses a second life
In response to the environmental crisis, a new generation of opticians is turning to vintage and second-hand eyewear. These shops look almost identical to traditional boutiques with one key difference: every frame is unique, carefully sourced, restored, and sometimes subtly altered.
In France, it’s estimated that over 100 million pairs of glasses are tucked away in drawers. An immense potential which, if tapped into, could significantly reduce the environmental impact of producing new frames. No raw materials extracted, no energy wasted on manufacturing, just time, patience, and a sharp eye for uncovering forgotten designs.
In Paris, second-hand opticians are on the rise. Leading the way is Seconde Vue, a boutique tucked away in the Marais, offering a carefully curated selection of high-end frames, ranging from the understated to the delightfully eccentric.
While eyewear is embracing a vintage revival, another fast-growing parallel market is turning to technology as its new playground. Today, glasses are no longer just about style, they’ve become tools to navigate daily life more effectively.
When style meets technology
They’re not on every face just yet, but they already mark a turning point. Smart glasses have stepped out of science fiction and into everyday life. Recording what you see, listening to music, getting real-time translations, or checking your messages, these are just some of the features now built into sleek, understated frames.
Some models allow you to record in high definition, make calls, receive notifications, or interact with a voice assistant, all without ever reaching for your phone. Their use becomes so intuitive, you almost forget you’re wearing them. And it’s precisely this invisibility that’s as fascinating as it is unsettling.
Because behind the technological feat lies a societal question: can you film someone without their knowledge? Where do we draw the line between practical innovation and invasion of privacy? One thing is certain, with these glasses, it’s not just our style that’s evolving, but our entire way of seeing and being seen in the world.
Between nostalgic flair, ecological awareness, and a fascination with the future, eyewear invites us to see the world differently. Choosing a pair of glasses also means choosing how we look at what surrounds us. A lens that’s sometimes vintage, sometimes futuristic, often purposeful and always deeply personal.
