5 Brands of Sunglasses that you may love

Shield your baby blues in style with cool-kid shades that are way more than meets the eye. These sunglasses aren’t shady at all when it comes to the core values of integrity, sustainability, and social responsibility. Behind their handsome frames is a range of initiatives that give back — in more ways than one — providing a whole new way of seeing the world with 20/20 vision.

1. Woodzee


Before we even scratched the surface of Woodzee’s dedication to protecting the environment through the use of natural, renewable resources and nontoxic materials, we were already sold on the impressive collections that include chill wayfarer-style frames made from bamboo and a full set of colorful shades created from re-purposed maple wood skateboard decks.

However, it’s the American-made brand’s new collaboration with Maker’s Mark that really commanded our gaze. You can have your drink and wear it too with these unique, hand-charred sunglasses crafted from the small-batch bourbon whiskey company’s recycled wooden barrels. As if you needed any more reason to order up a pair, Woodzee plants a tree for each and every pair of sunglasses sold. Going against the grain never looked so good.

2. Grown


Creating the change they wanted to see in the world, a passionate group of Australian-based surfers rallied together to launch Grown, a company that designs, produces, and provides original, organic, and sustainable wooden eyewear that not only looks awesome but “does good,” too. You may recognize the company from Shark Tank, where it showed off its socially conscious sunglasses that are handcrafted from ethically sourced, renewable bamboo and hardwoods.

What stands out most about the shades is their unique, one-of-a-kind grain patterns from woods including carved maple, zebrawood, and Pacific ebony. But the real eye-opener is the company’s responsible capitalism. With every item purchased, Grown fully funds sight-restoring eye surgery for one person or diagnostic eye exams for 12 children.

3. Warby Parker


The Warby Parker model is simple — and simply impactful for its domino effect. You buy a pair of glasses; they give a pair to someone in need. Not a bad exchange, especially when their frames are known for being some of the most trendsetting on the block.

Take, for instance, the retro Winston in a ginger lemonade hue that’s the exact fusion of 1960s cool and 21st century bold, and the oversized swagger of the whiskey tortoiseshell Lowrys that ooze pure attitude. Or go classic mod with the angular Halfords, which are inspired by the iconic aviator shades.

The options truly are endless, and with its try-at-home program, you can choose up to five sunglasses to order online and take for a test drive.

4. Parkman Sunglasses


Ever wonder what happens to the leftover wood in the guitar-making process? No, you probably don’t. But Parkman Sunglasses knew exactly what to do with those wood scraps, turning them from trash to treasure in a collaboration with Patterson Guitars. Both Parkman and Patterson share a passion for handcrafted, American-made products so the match was a perfect fit — as are the resulting “Bombay” shades.

Made from the mahogany bodies and rosewood fretboards of the guitars, the frames have the distinct benefit of being both environmentally responsible and naturally beautiful. In the same vein, Parkman has imbued old vinyl records with a bright new tune, re-fashioning them into another version of the “Bombay” model. We’d recommend snagging both pairs so you can channel your inner guitar hero and hipster DJ, depending on which mood may strike.

5. Dick Moby


When surfers Tim Holland and Robbert Wefers-Bettink were angered by the sheer amount of plastic waste floating in the ocean, they decided to take matters into their own hands and find the “sunny side of plastic” with Dick Moby. Indeed, plastic never looked better than in this Amsterdam-based, sustainable sunglasses label that will immediately land you in the street-style club with a single pair of their shades.

The all-black frames are constructed of 97% recycled industrial plastic waste while the colorful bio-acetate versions are the epitome of hipster cool with punchy hues including chalk, forest, peach, and ink. All handmade in Italy, they feature a variety of quirky, retro frame shapes named for and inspired by iconic cities and their airports — think LAX, LHR, ORY, SFO, and more.

In addition to making good use of old plastic, Dick Moby gives 10% of revenues to innovative projects to address plastic pollution in collaboration with the Surfrider Foundation and Terra Cycle. Last year, they even also organized 30 beach cleanups and collected more than 5,200 gallons of plastic waste on beaches. We’ll catch that wave any day.

Uvex Variotronic S Sunglasses

The Variotronic S uses a light sensor that toggles between two tints automatically, unless you want to control it manually.

We've long been fans of Uvex's light-sensitive Vario lenses, which get lighter or darker depending on the conditions. The only drawback to the photochromic technology: a slow transition from dark to light, which can make high-contrast riding difficult.

Uvex has cracked that problem with a new LCD lens that toggles instantaneously between dark and light. Powered by a USB-rechargeable battery, which is inconspicuously hidden in the frames and is said to last up to 50 hours on a single charge, the Variotronic S shifts from 64 percent light transmission in its brightest state to 16 percent light transmission in its dark mode—and the change happens in one-tenth of a second. The auto setting uses a light sensor to toggle between the two tints, though there's also a small button on the underside of the left temple that allows you to make the switch manually.

Best of all, the Variotronic S glasses look and feel like any other riding shades. The lenses will initially come in just two models, a full-frame version and sport shield, both of which have excellent coverage, fully adjustable nose pads, and non-slip rubberized temples.

Ralph Lauren's Aviator Sunglasses

An aviator with a twist, these shades are reminiscent of vintage automobiles—and make the perfect road-trip accessory.

Hitting the open road on a gorgeous day (preferably in a convertible) is the perfect start to any road trip, and I was lucky enough to do just that recently, when I was invited to spend an afternoon doing one of my favorite things—driving a gorgeous car. My weapon of choice? The Ferrari 458 Spider from Classic Car Club Manhattan, which allowed me to leave the steaming city in my rear-view mirror (if only for a few hours). And because no top-down, late-summer drive would be complete without a great pair of shades, I donned a pair of aviators from the new Ralph Lauren Automotive Eyewear Collection for a road test.

In terms of sunglasses and road trips, the collection is a match made in heaven. In fact, the shades were created using materials inspired by autos. Perforated leather—the same kind found in traditional driving gloves and car seats—wrap the ends of the arms, and the frames themselves are made of the sleek, lightweight aluminum that's found in many racing machines. And it's no surprise who inspired the collection. The designer Ralph Lauren has an impressive collection of cars, including a 1958 Ferrari Testa Rossa, a 1938 Alfa Romeo Mille Miglia Spyder, and even newer treasures, like a 2010 Lamborghini Murciélago Super Veloce. The mirrored lenses give a too-cool-for-school look, and the shades appeal the inner car enthusiast in all of us (including passengers).

Once free from the city, I headed north to take a quick spin through the hallowed halls of United States Military Academy at West Point and then to Storm King Art Center, a 500-acre sculpture park about 65 miles north of Manhattan. The alfresco art retreat has colossal structures stretched across open fields (a must see if you have not been), before turning around and heading home. Although it was a short trip, it gave me a much-needed break. And the sunglasses were the perfect accessory to have on hand as I barreled toward home down the West Side Highway during sunset.

You Need 5 Styles Of Chic Sunglasses For Fall

Despite the smattering of summer heatwaves that have been bouncing around the US for the last few weeks, cooler temperatures and gloomier days are, indeed, on the horizon. As we slowly begin to transition out of the dog days of Summer and into the harvest season, many beloved accessories will disappear to the depths of our closets, not to be seen again until next year. Swimwear doesn’t particularly have a place in Fall wardrobes, nor do floppy brimmed hats and as such, they’ll be packed away to hibernate through the winter months.

One seemingly Summer oriented accessory that you may want to think twice before stowing are sunglasses. Sure, your shades may not get quite as much wear in the coming months as they have throughout the summer, but just because you won’t be hitting the beach and BBQ’s doesn’t mean your need for a pair of chic shades won’t stretch past August.

Celebrities and social influencers have been sporting some majorly envy inducing styles this season, so it’s only right that we, the fashion forward, take heed and add them to our arsenal of accessories for the Fall and beyond. Here are some of the Summer’s very best styles that can be easily incorporated into your Fall looks for a year-round sophisticated edge!


Barbadian singer Rihanna poses as she arrives to attend Christian Dior 2014/2015 Autumn/Winter ready-to-wear collection fashion show, on February 28, 2014 in Paris. AFP PHOTO/PATRICK KOVARIK (Photo credit should read PATRICK KOVARIK/AFP/Getty Images)


US designer Nicole Richie arrives on March 4, 2013 to attend Stella McCartney’s Fall/Winter 2013-2014 ready-to-wear collection show in Paris. AFP PHOTO/BERTRAND GUAY (Photo credit should read BERTRAND GUAY/AFP/Getty Images)


CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 17: Actress Salma Hayek during the 68th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2015 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Alex B. Huckle/Getty Images)


UNIVERSAL CITY, CA – JUNE 23: TV host Maria Menounos attends the premiere press event for the new Universal Studios Hollywood Ride ‘Fast & Furious-Supercharged’ at Universal Studios Hollywood on June 23, 2015 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Sunglasses to Shield the Sun in Style

Think about it: Shading your eyeballs from the sun is kind of a no-brainer, but chances are that while you're carefully curating your next-day outfit, the last thing you're thinking about is what kind of fashion statement you're making with your sunglasses. Well, it's time to prioritize your style goals. Sunnies, after all, are your "most important commuter accessory," according to E! Style Collective style expert Lindsay Albanese.

Need proof? Take a glance at head-turners like Raven-Symoné and Gigi Hadid who top off even the most basic of T-shirt and jeans combos with "over-the-top statement shades that are all about dressing for the element of impact," said Lindsay.

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Sunglasses are an essential and very practical element in your wardrobe, and unlike a trendy top or skirt that won't get much mileage, you can pick a flamboyant pair and re-wear them day after day without getting tired of them. "You don't have to consider dress codes or anything like that, so all fashion rules go out the window," insisted Lindsay.

If this is your first foray into statement sunnies territory, "dip your toes in the trend by going with a mirrored lens or a clear frame in a classic retro shape like the cat-eye or wayfarer, easing your way into the more artistic, obscure versions."

For veteran shady ladies, challenge yourself to step out of your comfort zone and opt for an intermediate style—something that's a little bolder than just a reflective lens, like an out-of-the-box shape or a festive pattern.

Fashion risk-takers in the advanced category know that "the purpose of statement shades is to be artistic and to make an impression," said Lindsay. At this level, candy-colored frames in asymmetrical shapes might seem a bit over the top, but, hey, isn't that the point?

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Regardless of how out-there you want to go, Lindsay assured us that no style is "too much" and that "the only rule in the sunglasses equation is that you have to have the confidence to wear them." Luckily, with no hard-and-fast rules to follow, upgrading your look in one simple step is a cinch.

Protect your eyes from UV rays

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Sunglasses are the perfect summer accessory. But fashion aside, they should also protect your eyes.

At Portland’s Casey Eye Institute Dr. John Clements said 80% of UV light damage happens before your 18th birthday.

“There is a cumulative effect of UV light damage throughout a person’s life,” Dr. Clements explained. “So those years during childhood, those count toward later in life developing UV light-related damage.”

Dr. Clements said the sun’s UV radiation can cause cataracts, cancer and even growths on your eyes.

“If untreated, these can grow and if it’s on the surface of the eye, it can actually protrude off the surface of the eye and inhibit the eye from closing,” he said. “That can be intensely irritating.”

According to Dr. Clements, you should always take precautions if you know you’re going to be in the sun. He recommends children as young as toddlers start wearing sunglasses.

“I have pictures of my 18-month-old wearing sunglasses around,” Dr. Clements said.

There are currently no federal sunglass requirements regarding UV protection. According to reports from the American Optometric Association, many sunglass labels can be misleading.

“I don’t know how you can easily distinguish a counterfeit pair of sunglasses from a sunglass that is truly 100% UV blocking,” Dr. Clements said. “If the sticker says 100% UV blocking, that’s a very good start.”

Dr. Clements said price isn’t necessarily a gauge for good eye protection, either. He recommends a pair in his hospital’s showroom that goes for $155 and comes polarized to combat reflective glare.

“It’s difficult to recommend extremely cheap sunglasses because we don’t know necessarily about their manufacture process or the authenticity,” he said. “But certainly, some type of sunglass is better than none.”


Dr. Clements also said not to be fooled into thinking dark-colored lenses offer more protection. Actual UV protection is clear-coated and not visible to the eye.