Sunglasses are much like handbags and trainers, in that every so often, a new 'cult' style emerges and promptly becomes the must-have of the season. Who could forget the obsession with Prada's rectangular Symboles a few years ago? Or, for that matter, the classic Céline Triomphe and Miu Miu Glimpse designs that have been everywhere more recently? All of these remain much-loved staples to this day, of course, but with a new sunny season finally on the horizon, thoughts naturally turn to which styles might be set to blow up next.
And now, having spent the past month keenly observing what fashion insiders were wearing to attend the AW25 shows, we can reveal that there's one sunglasses style that seems poised to dominate above all... Enter, Tom Ford's oversize aviators.
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A longtime signature of the iconic American fashion designer himself, the luxury brand has been releasing new iterations of the distinctive design for many years now – but it's the latest, more supersized versions that have particularly piqued the interest of the street style set. Little wonder: they are famously a group drawn to the dramatic and statement-making, and these offer precisely that. Especially if you opt for the mega, shield-like Rellen style, that takes the look to a new extreme.
Meanwhile, ELLE UK's senior fashion coordinator, Natalie Zannikos, was an early adopter of the chic Cecil design, and remains a die-hard fan. 'I have a penchant for sunglasses, specifically styles that teeter on the border of looking just downright obnoxious,' she says. 'In the best way possible, these Tom Ford sunglasses are truly that. They are severe in their aviator shape, oversized to the point where they cover half my cheeks, and remarkably versatile with their brown tortoiseshell frame. They tick every box.'
It seems she's not alone in thinking so, either. Net-A-Porter reports that in the past three months alone, customer searches for Tom Ford sunglasses have grown by 104%, while those seeking some of the brand's OG vintage styles have taken to Depop, where searches have also surged by 117% since December. By all accounts, interest is only set to increase as the summer draws closer.
Indeed, it only took a single try-on of my colleague's pair for me to also find myself completely hooked – and I am no natural trend adopter. Within seconds of wearing them, I felt my otherwise low-key outfit go from 'fine' to 'fabulous', and as though I had instantly gained about 1,000 cool points. The tinted lens makes the world look distinctly brighter and better, too. Needless to say my forever-favourite Célines haven't seen the light of day since.
Want to get in on the trend before everyone else does? Keep scrolling to shop the best Tom Ford oversize aviator sunglasses now:
Tom Ford Troy Aviator Sunglasses
Tom Ford Rellen Mask Sunglasses
Tom Ford Achilles Sunglasses
Tom Ford Cecil Pilot-Frame Acetate Sunglasses
Tom Ford Bronson Aviator Sunglasses
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Clementina Jackson is Acting Site Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, working across news and features, trends, e-commerce and SEO. She was previously Fashion Editor at Cosmopolitan and Women’s Health, and Acting Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, where she was named as a PPA 30 Under 30 award winner for her work on size inclusivity. An experienced fashion, travel and luxury lifestyle journalist, Clementina has also written for Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair, Condé Nast Traveller, Tatler, Red and Italy Segreta.
