Selection: the editor’s favorite sunglasses 🕶

Jerome

To this day, I have a simple pair of Ray-Ban New Wayfarers . They are a run-of-the-mill model like you find everywhere and I have been carrying these glasses around with me for many summers.

We can say that they have been on all the trips, that they have undergone all the shocks and even that they have often been lost and then always somewhat miraculously found up until now, and this even in the middle of the Breton forest. That's the little story.

If my sunglasses don't look like much, they are quite well marked by time and adventure and that's also what makes them stylish now. It's something I like.

But if I ever decide to put them away in my memory box, I'll probably opt for one or the other of these models.

1. Vietnam Frames 1970s Blue - Brut Clothing

What's better than vintage for a pair with character and a relatively affordable price ? Imagine instead: the 70s, the Vietnam War, the rather khaki dress code of the US Army. You could almost hear the helicopter rotor blades purring and the song of napalm remixed with the Doors, the Rolling Stones or any great soul music hit. Except that we are neither in Apocalypse Now nor in the Red Line but at Brut Clothing, this beautiful Parisian address for lovers of vintage, workwear or military style that we regularly recommend.

Of course, you will find very little information on the sales page: guaranteed made in the USA, vintage glasses never worn, blue or green polarized lenses . But aren't we primarily looking for something that simply has style and patina?

If you're into military attire, these are the glasses for you. And if not, don't worry: they can definitely fit into less formal outfits. In short, if you're looking for a pair of glasses that aren't too expensive, with a story and a little something extra to liven up your outfits , these might be the ones for you.

And if I tell you that even a conscientious objector like me can be tempted, it's because we're probably onto something pretty special.

2. Finney smoke gray - Kirk Originals

As I write these lines, the English house Kirk Originals is offering a number of exceptional pairs at reduced prices. Needless to say, it's a godsend for anyone who wants to try their hand at high-end sunglasses.

On a more personal level, it is also a way of getting closer to my first loves.

If you've never heard of the brand, you should know that it's a family story that has adorned the eyes of some of the greatest legends of English rock since the early 90s: Mick Jagger, Morrissey and Paul Weller have all worn Kirk Originals.

If I have a particular fondness for Paul Weller, if only for having worked within a group with the predestined name BG (The Style Council), what I appreciate about Kirk Originals goes well beyond his aura among the stars.

What I like here is the handmade character, the assertive style, the 50s-60s inspiration and the little cinematic winks.

While it's hard to choose among all the brand's beautiful models, the Finney doesn't lack charm: light color, acetate frame and premium lenses, all handmade in Kirk Originals' English workshop.

In short, all this to tell you that it makes me dream and beyond its practical aspect (protecting the eyes), isn't that the ultimate function of a pair of sunglasses?

To top it all off, they take their name from a legendary actor that you may have rediscovered not so long ago in Skyfall.

Nicolò

1. Lapel – The Bespoke Dudes

I don't have a pair with an all-acetate frame yet.

Actually, if I tend to go for metal frames more often, it's for two reasons: on the one hand, it's easier to find smaller ones, which fit my face better because I have rather thin features. The most common acetate frames tend to be large, oversized models.

And on the other hand, I find that the move upmarket on acetate is more difficult to detect: where metal or hybrid frames have superb details (see my next pair), acetate only varies above all in two things: its raw material and its color. But we quickly reach a level where the product's upgrade becomes very relative if you spend more, unless you double or even triple the stake.

So, if I were to add a more modest pair to my collection, it would undoubtedly be a simple, but beautiful quality acetate pair , such as this Lapel model by The Bespoke Dudes.

On the technical side, we have a beautiful Italian acetate, which does not look cheap and should probably last a while. The manufacturing is also Italian, and the brand has a reputation for focusing on quality.

Regarding the style, I like the shape that combines the rounded bottom with more pronounced angles on the top of the frame. It's a design that has already proven itself to me. And of course, the play of colors between this very contrasting "tortoiseshell" acetate and these brown lenses is very pleasant. I think this is a pair that will suit me best once I have gotten some color.

For the rest, it's simple and effective, you can't expect to find engravings at this price.

2. M3057 - Matsuda

I think this pair illustrates very well what we are entitled to achieve when we start to put big budgets into a pair of glasses: unparalleled work on details, without wanting to make bad puns.

For example, we often find in Japanese eyewear at this price point frames that combine very fine acetate rims AND metal.

You can also see splendid engravings. The precision on such a small scale is breathtaking: look at the engravings on the "bridge", as well as the extreme finesse of this acetate rim... Itself rimmed with titanium... Itself engraved in turn!
I recommend that you click on the link, because only the very large-scale photos on Matsuda's e-shop could do them justice.

Likewise, we are entitled to expect original design work. This does not necessarily imply making flashy and eye-catching frames: through the work of details, we can quite easily remain classic while expressing a real "style".

For example, look at the tips of the arms : the metal thickens and curves elegantly before stopping abruptly, as if "cut" by a perfect knife stroke. I find this simple detail very elegant. It reminds me of a beautiful musical instrument, or a modern art sculpture. From the side, you can see the work of joining the metal and acetate on the arms, as well as the engravings on the rim of the lenses.

In terms of shape, after trying them on, I'm starting to be able to estimate with certainty which pairs will suit me : they are always shapes that are generally balanced between height and width, with lenses that combine rounded edges with softened angles, with a fairly thin frame, and with dimensions between 46 and 48mm in height for the lens.

You may think that this is too precise? Well, from experience, I find that the dimensions of a pair of sunglasses do not tolerate morphological imprecision much more than wearing a suit... If not less, because it is the face that we are dressing! So, why be less precise?

David

I have a confession to make: I have been wearing glasses for over 10 years (for my eyesight), and yet I don't know much about the subject.

I currently own some Persol glasses for my eyes that fit me and I like the style quite a bit.

For sunglasses, I have an old pair of Ray-Ban New Wayfarers that do the job and have the advantage of having solar lenses adapted to my vision.

But I know that for my next glasses, I will go for a more high-end frame.

Especially for my glasses, which I wear all the time.

But here, we are talking about solar panels.

1. Caramel Round Sunglasses - Silbon

For my more accessible pair, I wanted to offer you something other than Izipizi, a rather well-known brand.

So I asked myself: " What entry-level ready-to-wear brand could possibly offer sunglasses? "

And I found some at Silbon.

Silbon is a Spanish brand for which I have a bit of affection because in its formal offer, it manages to offer products of honorable quality, mostly made in Europe, at reasonable prices and with a little touch of style that is appreciated. .

Here we have round shaped sunglasses, made of acetate.

Their orange-yellow color is quite appealing and appropriate for summer.

The double bridge works pretty well here.

You will find the dimensions of the glasses in the size guide.

There is unfortunately not much other information on the sales page. , but for 60€, I find them rather successful visually, with a little touch of welcome originality and that's already not bad!

2. Stroget BKGD - Etnia Barcelona

For the second pair, I stayed in Spain with the Etnia Barcelona brand, which a reader mentioned in a comment under the Let's Talk Clothes Youtube video on sunglasses .

The selection is vast and the prices are the same as many major brands you will find at any optician.

My preference is for this model with a so-called Clubmaster shape, without any thickness on the lower part of the frame. This type of glasses appeared in the late 1940s, early 1950s.

You'll find pairs with this shape from many brands, including Ray-Ban.

Here I find that there is a little something extra:

• First of all, we notice that the glass is beveled at the nose. I haven't found a visual of this pair worn but of a similar model , and I think it works pretty well.
• The scale pattern of the frame is quite successful. The scales have a slightly geometric appearance with clearer demarcations, less round than usual

Jordan

To stimulate your imagination a little regarding the aesthetic power of a pair of sunglasses, I begin my intervention with photographs that inspire me.

So, that was my introduction. If you feel shaky, or even feverish, it's completely normal. That's the effect that men who know how to wear sunglasses have. Come on, I'll show you my selection in two parts.

1. #C Kaki Green - IZIPIZI

I'm back from vacation. Let's be clear, I'm not trying to tease you. I intend to elaborate on my point.

This vacation consisted of going in a camper van to the south of France. In fact, in this new video , I reveal what clothes I brought with me.

Traveling in a van means having to pull out your sunglasses faster than your shadow, realizing that they have slipped under the seat, fumbling for them and scratching them against the metal structure of the seat while extracting them, stuffing them into a tote bag with keys, tubes of sunscreen, the latest Ellroy epic novel and the regulation carpet of grains of sand in the bottom.

So I need a pair of glasses that I'm not afraid to confront with the elements of this chaotic life.

Oh and I forgot. I must also say that I am the kind of guy who forgets his glasses on the picnic table at the motorway service station. This is the moment for me to tell you a brief anecdote: one day, I was a teenager, my mother agreed to buy me sunglasses at Super Sport, near Cognac.

When we go to the checkout, I could faint I'm so happy. My heart is Usain Bolt. We leave the store, they are on my nose. We go for a walk. Which consisted of going with my mother to look for porcini mushrooms in the woods. Yes, I come from the countryside. We search and search. We come back to the car, our arms loaded with the precious mushrooms. I sit in the front. A question from my mother like an arrow to the heart: "where are your glasses?"

Somewhere in the woods. Next to a beautiful porcini mushroom, probably. They were never found again. I'm that kind of guy. That evening, at dinner, the mushrooms had the bitter taste of defeat.

So, for any mushroom outing and van vacation, I recommend the IZIPIZI: €35, classic shapes. Effective and cheap. Like these for example:

At this price, you could maybe get a classic one and a more original one. It's up to you.

2. Politician - Max Pittion

This photograph of designer Roy Halston Frowick has stuck in my mind for a long time.

This shows how a pair of sunglasses can add character, even mythology, to a person who thus becomes a character. This is the power of beautiful glasses. Here the shape is worked to appear simple, natural but when you look closely it is both classic and original, which is extremely difficult to achieve. In addition, you can feel that the pair of glasses was made with excellent quality materials. It shows.

This is my idea of ​​a good pair of glasses.

And I found it at Max Pittion . It is the latter that I chose to show you to finish my selection.

I particularly like this model. It's called Politician. And it's in the same vein as the pair Halston is wearing above. I could see a John F. Kennedy wearing such a model.

For the record, John Mayer, the musician bought the brand license in 2013, with a partner, Tommy O'Gara. The first, a big fan of Visvim and collector of beautiful objects, was looking for a pair of glasses and came across the brand. He bought a pair unfortunately too small for him and, as the brand was dormant and he could not get a pair in his size, he decided to buy the license, after meeting the Pittion family.

Great care is taken in manufacturing, of course, which is now carried out in Japan. . Details like gold rivets add a subtle touch of sophistication, but it's the last's craftsmanship that really sets this pair apart.

And that's all it takes for me to fall in love.

Benoit

So for the record, I found myself twice in the situation where I had to take glasses that weren't very susceptible to damage:

• my trip to Mongolia, where a friend gave me an old pair of Persols that he no longer wore,
• the Boom Festival in Portugal where I had a pair of Randolphs which gave me complete satisfaction in the face of the sand, wind and burning sun of Idanha-a-Nova,

It is possible to find Randolphs on Vinted, Ebay or Le Bon Coin for under €150, but for those on a tight budget, like Jordan, I would recommend Izipizi.

1. #E Peppermint - Izipizi

For €35 you will get a sturdy pair of glasses with all the right style. At this price, you won't cry if you lose them during a hectic festival day.

I chose the green color because while I was at it, I might as well choose a touch of originality.

I would have also liked to recommend SuitSupply glasses, but unfortunately, the brand did not release any this year.

The Last Frontier - Jacques Marie Mage

(on the Jacques Marie Mage website page of the link above, subscribe to the mailing list to obtain the password)

Attention, attention! It’s impossible to make a selection of sunglasses without the most hyped high-end brand of the moment.

I really hesitated to give Dita another shout-out, because I still love my Midnight Specials ( tested here ) but I wanted to take the know-how up a notch.

Indeed, Jacques Marie Mage has released a line of glasses that are even more high-end than their usual prices: expect to pay around $1,500 for a pair from The Last Frontier collection.

For that price, you get absolutely impeccable Japanese manufacturing, turquoise stone inlays, and completely crazy details reminiscent of Native American jewelry.

Native American jewelry that I like more and more (which I talk about in this video ), knowing that we find them a lot in Japanese jewelry with brands like Goro, First Arrow's or Arizona Freedom.

So when an American brand offers glasses made in Japan with Native American details, it's impossible for me to pass them up.

The model is absolutely magnificent, and already sold out. In short, a product reserved for lovers of very beautiful objects, who would be totally uninhibited at the idea of ​​spending €400 on a Japanese silver pendant for example.

A small detail that contributes to the stratospheric price: the case of these glasses is made of vegetable leather, assembled by hand with an authentic Native American fabric woven in New Mexico.

Michael

I want to warn you: when it comes to glasses, my technical knowledge is limited.

But one day, when it's time for me to acquire my first nice pair, I'll take my shovel, my headlamp and I'll dig deep into the question.

In the meantime, I trusted my instincts. While reading behind the labels.

1. La Vietri - Jimmy Fairly

Here's a pair you won't find on the average Joe. And that's just as well, since that's not why we're here.

Below the psychological barrier of €100, it's a good opportunity to try something unusual.

The unusual thing is this rounded shape, but not completely. It's also these softly tinted lenses that will let your guests meet your gaze to be able to tell you straight in the eyes that you have a beautiful pair of glasses.

The fine lines of its frame give it a certain elegance. They result in a very nice distribution of volumes. I appreciate it, a lot.

All of this gives it a very assumed retro spirit. I also appreciate it.

So it's best to wear it with a white T-shirt and straight bleach jeans. If you're spending your weekends in a time machine, set it to the 90s when you wear it.

A pair of sunglasses is supposed to look cool and these do it very well for a reasonable budget. Mission accomplished.

To talk about the brand: Jimmy Fairly has a good reputation for quality/price. It is also handmade in France. However, they are not very talkative about the materials used.

2. Shikker Sun - Moscow

For the expensive pair, I turned to a safe bet: Moscot.

325€. Of course, our eyes have something to nibble on.

First, take a look at the patterns on the metal frame. Did you know that they are different for each pair? Now, yes.

Next, I will talk about the subtle association between acetate and gold metal, very well executed. We can say that these two materials make a pair.

The shape is more classic, but also more reassuring. Since it is more timeless than the Jimmy Fairly, you can be sure that it will fulfill its role as an investment in the long term. A fearful reasoning? No doubt, but that is the reflection I would have had in the context of such an expense.

But we are also here to dream and this pair makes me dream. So here it is in my selection.

PS: If anyone asks you what you did with your Nimbus 2000 or why Yoko Ono isn't with you, just smile and that's it.