It may seem counter-intuitive to do a trend piece on sunglasses in the middle of summer after most people have probably shopped them back in May. However, if you’re anything like us, you have probably lost and/or broken that sweet pair of Ray Ban aviators you thought were so cool all those months ago. Well, now is your (second) chance to get ahead on the trendiest of trends in the sun-covering eyewear racket. We can see the future… and it’s looking like we could use a new pair of shades.
Sunglasses have always had the power to transform. Take it from Jack Nicholson who once said, “With my sunglasses on, I’m Jack Nicholson. Without them, I’m fat and 60.” Truer words have never been spoken, and thus we began our quest for our own pair of Jack-worthy shades that will make us look cooler, thinner, sexier, and yes, more mysterious.
Dr. Summy To, owner and optometrist at the newly opened Myoptic Optometry on North Williams Street, had a few wise words for Portland’s serious sunglass shoppers. Being a doctor, she started off with some technical advice. “Always make sure you have 100 percent UVA and UVB protection in your sunglasses.” Check. Don’t get cheapo frames from drugstore stands. She also mentions that, “polarization makes a world of difference in cutting down glare, and we highly recommend it to all of our clients.”
But what about style? “Big is still in, though not the kind that just takes over your whole face like they did a couple seasons ago,” says To.“Portland definitely embraces the step back into the ’60s and ’70s, but with a new millennium flare.” She recommends classic styles, such as the aviator tear-drop, with bold hits of color. “Thick black Wayfarer types are still Nuevo-retro, but I love the more unique, angular shapes with highlight color – a dash of orange or turquoise behind the basic black and brown giving it that bright accent without the clash.”