Summer is not a season of niceties. From the swelling of heat waves to the smearing of eyeliner, and all the travel that veers too close for comfort in between, it can make for such a mess, really. As scorching double digits rise to searing triples, there’ll come a point when you’ll have no choice but to strip all excess and return once more to square one. Much as you’d like to cling to your accouterments, there is truly no use in rebelling. Over sweltering days and feverish nights, even the most resolute devotees will eventually shed their layers of ornament, while burning no less to up their game. That’s just the paradox of style in summer.
Those in the know, however, really know that subtraction needn’t be tantamount to compromise. It can actually be an art, whose mastery hangs solely on the approach. It’s done so less by instinct than method, one which Ray-Ban, the New York-native pioneer of UV-defiant shades, and Sunglass Hut, the Miami-born luxury eyewear mecca, have spent much time refining in their latest collaboration. With a capsule collection spanning four summer-ready specs, both eyewear visionaries go face-to-face (or rather eye-to-eye) with the summertime conundrum amid quite the heat-up. And as the season heads for the very peak of its climax, you’ll want to learn the trade of turning out looks so hot they rival the red of rising thermostats—minus the meltdown.
The governing logic of the season is stark minimalism, as deduced by both brands. Monochromy and utility are its tenets, as evidenced by the retina-riveting white frames bordering polarized grey lenses. Among its offerings are the Zena, Mega Wayfarer II, Wayfarer Puffer, and RB4441D. The former two, both Sunglass Hut exclusives, bring an angular attitude into focus with turns so sharp they slice through the noise of exclamative eyewear. With a geometric verve, the Zena reimagines the eternally coveted cat eye, as playful angles mischievously cut corners among its gleaming frames. All the while, the Mega Wayfarer II, with its name that could easily pass for a summer blockbuster, channels all the spectacle of the big screen into a pair of head-turning sunglasses via its larger-than-life silhouette.
Eye up the Wayfarer Puffer. Cranking up the bold factor ever higher on perhaps Ray-Ban’s already boldest style, these shades are all about volume. With puffed-up frames crafted in überglossy nylon, they give a subtle nod to the panache of '90s hip hop—without the inflated ego. Now, if yearning for a silhouette that curves with space-ready sleekness, simply shift your gaze to the RB4441D, where you’ll find pillow-shaped frames bordering polarized lenses. And while its name might sound like some code whose numbers and letters pulse with the promise of a summer side quest worth cracking—eyes on the prize! These frames are for those who dare to make spectacles with those that sit on their temples.
“Ray-Ban has shaped self-expression for generations. With this capsule, we are creating a global moment that celebrates individuality,” shared Filippo Resini, President of Sun Retail at EssilorLuxottica. Hence, the bright gallery-white. Like a blank canvas, a pair of white specs can offer some fresh perspective, even amid dizzying heat. And though summer will test your personal style to its limits, you might just be surprised to find, through the methodical exercise of subtraction, a new outlook once the air is no longer heavy with steam and salt. One framed by a lustrous pair of Ray-Bans isn’t a bad place to start.
Click here to discover the collection.
