FASHION NEWS

Virgil Abloh, Renaissance Man, Is Now Designing Sunglasses for Warby Parker

The Off-White designer has teamed with the eyewear brand on a limited-edition collection.


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Virgil Abloh is building out his resume once again. To date, it’s a lengthy CV that includes co-founding a popular Chicago store, working as Kanye West’s creative director, founding his own popular fashion label Off-White, and somehow still maintaining a career as a DJ. Today, Abloh is adding sunglasses designer to the list, with the release of Off-White’s new collaboration with eyewear powerhouse Warby Parker.

Beginning today, a limited-edition range of styles co-designed by Abloh will be available in Warby Parker stores, as well as in Off-White’s own Toronto and New York stores. The range includes three styles ranging in size, and appropriately named “Small Sunglasses,” “Medium Sunglasses,” and “Large Sunglasses.” All three styles feature a angular, rectangular style done in black acetate with blue anti-reflective coatings on the inside. Each pair will be available for a very Warby Parker standard cost of $95, in keeping with the brand’s low price model.

The partnership marks one of Warby Parker’s first major collaborations with a designer, having focused primarily on partnering with personalities like writer Amanda de Cadenet and YouTube star Tyler Oakley in the past. This is, after all, a man who arrived at the 2017 CFDA Awards with Bella Hadid on his arm, meaning it is only a matter of days until a Hadid or Jenner is seen sporting a pair. What’s more, the small style fits in perfectly with this summer’s Matrix-inspired glasses that has been a favorite of the Millennial set.

This is not Abloh’s first foray into the collaboration world, however—that resume is no joke. Last year, he teamed with Levi’s to co-design a collection of jeans and outerwear. And just a few days prior, the designer teased his forthcoming collaboration with Nike, posting a picture of none of than Hadid, of course, wearing a pair of black-and-white kicks while out and about.

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Oliver Peoples recently launched their gender neutral Cary Grant style inspired by the 1959 Hollywood classic North by Northwest.

Buy Now: Oliver Peoples, teal acetate frames with grey lenses, $415. saksfifthavenue.com

There is something effortlessly cool about Celine’s sleek metal frame sunglasses. The aviators feature mirrored lenses and two silver bridges.

Buy Now: Celine, metal frame sunglasses, $460, celine.com

Make a statement with a pop of canary yellow.

Buy Now: Carolina Lemke, round yellow sunglasses, $75, carolinalemke.com

French designer Alexandre Vauthier has once again teamed up with Alain Mkili to create a futuristic take on a slim cateye.

Buy Now: Alain Mikli, black triangular sunglasses, $455, barneys.com

Los Angeles based brand Jacques Marie Mage and actress Kate Bosworth designed these frames by drawing inspiration from old Hollywood and the iconic Marylin Monroe. The round navy frames are complemented with a subtle cat eye silhouette.

Buy Now: Jacques Marie Mage, blue acetate frame and lenses, $625, jacquesmariemage.com

In 2015 indonesian model and environmental activist, Fahrani Empei, launched Pawaka, an innovative eyewear label inspired by Indonesian heritage and modernity. These geometric sunglasses stand out with a half moon shaped frames in purple acetate.

Buy Now: Pawaka, half moon sunglasses, $410, modaoperandi.com

These sheer lenses are an easy everyday wear, even on an overcast day.

Buy Now: Stella Mcartney, white metal aviator, $215. modaoperandi.com

Mykita and Maison Margiela collaborated to create an elevated take on the matrix sunglasses trend.

Buy Now: Mykita, black metal sunglasses, $447, farfetch.com

Jimmy Choo’s debuts a unique take on a dramatic cat eye.

Buy Now: Jimmy Choo, cat eye sunglasses with grey lenses, $235, jimmychoo.com

Parisian designer Ahlem Manai-Plat names each pair of frames after a neighborhood in Paris. The Champ De Mars black frame are sleek yet classic and the perfect everyday shades.

Buy Now: Ahlem, black acetate frames, $440, Ahlem.com

Handcrafted in Italy, Saint Laurent’s cateye lenses come in a bold red. For the perfect off duty look, wear them with your favorite denim and a basic white tee. Buy Now: Saint Laurent, red cateye sunglasses, $420, bergdorfgoodman.com

Inspired by the sixties, Miu Miu created a round tortoise frame with brown gradient lenses. These sunglasses are elegant with a vintage touch. Buy Now: Miu Miu, round tortoise sunglasses, $260, mythersea.com

Garrett Leight’s 80’s inspired metal framed sunglasses are an accessory worth investing in this season. The rose gold lenses add a high fashion feel to any look.

Buy Now: Garrett Leight, rose gold metal frames, $365, shopbop.com

Lowercase’s modern sunglasses have been crafted in Brooklyn from hand polished acetate. The square black frames with basil colored lenses are perfect for weekend city strolls.

Buy Now: Lowercase, hand polished frames with basil colored lenses, $350, barneys.com

Spotted on the duchess herself, Megan Markle loves Illestevia’s amber shades. The round cateye and stainless steel arms create a lovely femme look.

Buy Now: Illesteva, round amber sunglasses, $240, illesteva.com

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