Four New Sets of Eyes for Summer

There’s no denying it: cat-eye sunglasses are of a specific era. They’re instantly recognizable as a period detail, and recently it’s been hard to pull them off without looking like a naughty librarian posing for a drug store calendar. But like the economy and the weather, sunglasses change. Designers including Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Balenciaga, and Alexander Wang for Linda Farrow are leading the way, and retro is not the goal. Alexander Wang for Linda Farrow has no fear of cats: the corners on his space age black lenses point up to the sky, and have gold tips. Prada, in translucent gray, and Balenciaga, in a polished but soft black with a faded lens, each add a bit of substance to a sportier look. Dolce & Gabbana, meanwhile, gives you two sets of cat eyes for the price of one. If “four eyes” is the insult that indicates wise distinction, what does “six eyes” say about you?

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: ALEXANDER WANG FOR LINDA FARROW, PRADA, DOLCE & GABBANA, BALENCIAGA