Timeless metal sunglasses for this summer and always

May 16, 2023

Metal-frame sunglasses that epitomise elegance with riffs on classic silhouettes, from Bottega Veneta, Celine, Lindberg and more

There's something to be said for a classic. If the outré and the oversized have dominated recent optical offerings, fashion's current pervading mood of discreet luxury and understated design extends to eyewear – best epitomised by an array of timeless metal-framed sunglasses featuring meticulous construction and subtle riffs on classic silhouettes, from aviator to rimless.

Sunglasses, £505, by Saint Laurent

The former is perfected at Lindberg – the Danish eyewear brand known for its fastidiously crafted handmade frames – featuring a classic double-bridge design and gently squared lenses. Bottega Veneta also rework the shape, insetting the Italian house's triangular motif into an angular metal frame. A hexagonal-lens style from Celine is also stamped with the house logo on its elegant metal arms – here, the double-C ‘Triomphe’ monogram, a historic symbol reinvigorated by current creative director Hedi Slimane – while Akoni's heavier golden frames draw inspiration from luxury wristwatches and classic writing instruments.

Sunglasses, price on request, by Akoni

A sleek modernism defines Saint Laurent's own take on the aviator, featuring a singular curved lens with a shielding high-shine finish. At Cartier, the Parisian maison beings its expertise in jewellery and timepieces to a rimless style with featherweight metal arms, its subtly V-shaped lenses appearing to delicately hover on air.

Sunglasses, £365, by Bottega Veneta

Sunglasses, £930, by Cartier

A version of this story appears in the June Travel Issue of Wallpaper*, available on international newsstands now in print, on the Wallpaper* app on Apple iOS, and to subscribers of Apple News +. Subscribe to Wallpaper* today

Jack Moss is the Fashion Features Editor at Wallpaper*. Having previously held roles at 10, 10 Men and AnOther magazines, he joined the team in 2022. His work has a particular focus on the moments where fashion and style intersect with other creative disciplines – among them art and design – as well as championing a new generation of international talent and profiling the industry's leading figures and brands.

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