Sunglasses in winter: stone-cold taboo?

Wearing sunglasses in winter has, for some reason, always been something of a taboo. Some haters say it’s just not that sunny outside. Others associate the look with the archetypical Londoner who’s always in a rush. (You know, the arrogant type striding through Shoreditch, constantly jumping the queue, loudly chatting away into a Bluetooth headset and talking over everyone.)

But in reality, sunglasses have both a stylish and a functional role to play when the temperature drops. Once we reach for our thick knitwear and wool overcoats, sunglasses are the perfect complement to balance a wardrobe of heavy silhouettes and complete any cold-weather outfit. Winter can also serve up some serious sun glare, so it’s still crucial to protect your eyes during this time of year.

It’s important to keep in mind how much the winter colour palette differs from the lighter pastel shades of summer. That means no to soft and subtle, yes to dominant and dynamic. When it comes to ‘sunglasses season’, prominent designer brands such as Oakley, Gucci and Celine are on the side of us taboo-breakers, and there’s no good reason to doubt these fashion authorities – not with such splendid pieces to be had!

These oval sunglasses celebrate Gucci’s design heritage. With their neon-yellow frames, they look like a nostalgic hit from the 70s. Even in the darkest corners of the dreary months of winter, you won’t risk going unseen.

In a similar vein is this heavy-hitter from Celine. A more square counterpart to oval-shaped sunglasses, they’ll catch the eye of anyone who wants to be seen in shades in winter. Also, their brown lenses keep your eyes safely under wraps when faced with the dazzle of white snow. 😉

When you’re looking for solid protection from serious snow storms and ice-cold wind gusts, all paths lead to Oakley. In fact, the WIND JACKET 2.0 sunglasses operate best under these sorts of weather conditions. Wearing them in summer when it’s T-shirt weather, well… that might be a bit awkward.