Shady dealings

A fusion of flourish and function is the frame of the game this summer

Utility and elegance meet in this season’s optical offerings, primed for open-road adventure and dress up alike. Wide-angle frames, high-shine lenses and contemporary riffs on the classic aviator provide a tough shield of protection against the glare of summer sun, while sleek profiles and subtle decorative flourishes ensure they remain compatible with glamorous apparel. A plethora of designers captured this fusion of defence and dazzle – from Fendi’s and Akoni’s sleek, white-rimmed frames (cat’s eye and a gently-curved wraparound respectively) to squared-off styles from Cutler and Gross and Serengeti, which conjure up a feeling of nostalgic, understated glamour. Elsewhere, Lindberg, Celine, Gucci and Louis Vuitton each played on the aviator, which they elevated and modernised for the season with glossy metal hardware, mirrored lenses and blown-up, face-covering silhouettes.

Clockwise from above, sunglasses, £500; waistcoat, £1,480; shirt, £975, all by Louis Vuitton. Sunglasses, £390, by Celine Homme by Hedi Slimane. Top, £650; jeans, £559; hat, £650, all by Celine by Hedi Slimane. Sunglasses, £325, by Serengeti. Dress, £475, by Nanushka. Boots, £890, by Celine by Hedi Slimane Opposite, clockwise from left, sunglasses, £390, by Lindberg. Sunglasses, £330; dress, £1,290; boots, £3,500, all by Fendi. Sunglasses, £685; jacket, £2,180; trousers, £4,440; hat, £575, all by Gucci. Sunglasses, £315, by Cutler and Gross. Shirt, £175, by MHL by Margaret Howell. Tie, £95, by Margaret Howell. Jeans, £189, by Sandro