The 5 Biggest Sunglasses Trends to Shop For Summer 2021

We know you’re searching for sunglasses shapes to add to your rotation year-round, so we won’t skimp on the trends you’ll want to get to know. We scoured the runways and checked the new arrivals from our favorite eyewear brands — Oliver Peoples, Linda Farrow, Le Specs, and Quay Australia, just to name a few — and uncovered the biggest looks of 2021. These styles may be even more important than your blue-light reading glasses because you can wear them outside and inside — inside, like, when you’re posing for an outfit selfie, of course.

This year, we’re not only seeing a repetition of certain shapes, but a recreation of them. Futuristic designs come in all forms — some have frames that swerve or make waves at the sides, while others feature incredibly cool cutouts in the actual lens itself. Meanwhile, heavy metal is a trend, and we’re seeing yellow gold spike in particular, so now you’ll have another accessory to match with all the delicate gold jewelry you’ve been collecting.

If you prefer something with structure, and you have the face shape to pull it off, shop for a rigid square or rectangle shape à la Cult Gaia, and if you want a next-level cat-eye, take inspiration from the ’70s and go bold and oversize. Finally, if you love the playful appeal of lucite or acetate frames, the range of see-through sunglasses we’ve curated here will not disappoint. Ahead, jump down to the category you already know you love, or scroll past every pair of shades on our wish list.