I Wear My Great Big Sunglasses at Night: Oversized Sunglasses Stick Around

Like so many fashion trends, oversized sunglasses have been recycled more than once by the fashionable set. Originally hot in the 1950s, they’ve been back in vogue now for a few years, and will probably be current right through 2009. If you decide to try oversized on for size, make sure you think about HOW you wear your big sunglasses. Done right, they can become part of a dressed-down ensemble—the slouchy socialite look—or the finishing touch on a sharp hipster vibe. Done wrong, enormous sunglasses can look a little bit 1970s bingo parlor or a tad too Mary Tyler Moore.

Part of the problem is that big, big sunglasses draw attention to your face even as they hide a lot of it. Your nose, forehead, and chin become focal points—seeing as how they’re the only parts of your face left exposed—and if you’re not happy about the shape of your nose, or happen to have a particularly horrible pimple on your chin this week, you probably will not want to pop on a face-swamping pair of big round sunnies.

The shape of your face also matters. Angular or oval faces benefit from oversized shades; softer, rounder faces will simply be made to look more round and more soft, which might not be the desired effect. Frame shapes, whether round or oval, cat’s eye or square, can also clash with your face’s bone structure, making you look like you’re a six year old who’s stolen Grandma’s glasses (this happens to the Olsen Twins a lot) instead of a savvy, fashionable woman on the go (think Jackie Kennedy, the late First Lady).

You can safely test the oversized trend with designer knockoffs from a cheap accessories shop. Try out different shapes, colors, embellishments, and sizes—and take them out of the store to get a good idea. What seems like the right shape under florescent store lights with a tag hanging off the bridge might not work out in day-to-day life. If you decide the trend works for you, go ahead and upgrade to a designer statement pair. If you like the retro look (think leading ladies of Italian Cinema) Tom Ford’s oversized Alessandra sunglasses work, as do the Tom Ford Emanuella glasses. People wanting to tap a more sleek, modern vibe should choose Bulgari designer sunglasses or Prada designer sunglasses. Bulgari’s 8024 or 8022 models have a distinctly trendy wide plastic frame, and Prada’s oversized SPR181s have a wild, vaguely butterfly-shaped lens. For seriously flashy oversized sunglasses, try anything from either of the Cavalli ranges—Roberto Cavalli sunglasses come with animal print frames as well as big lenses, and Just Cavalli designer eyewear has lenses in a wide array of colors, including purple. The big impact on your personal style could make oversized sunglasses well worth it.