Sunglasses for the festival season

SUN N’ STYLE N’ ROCK N’ ROLL: WHAT'S HOT AT THIS YEAR’S FESTIVALS?

With Glastonbury, T in the Park, Latitude, Wireless, Lovebox and Wakestock still ringing in our ears, the festival season is in full swing. So, amongst the beer tents and the crowd barriers, what sunglasses are doing the rounds at the UK’s biggest music events?

Not that the weather ever put anyone off, but so far the summer’s been a scorcher, with record temperatures at Glastonbury giving rise to a huge sales increase for sunglasses. But while – let’s be honest – the real point of sunglasses is to look cool, it’s important to keep out harmful UV rays.

Perhaps that’s why we’re seeing the decline of Kanye West-style ‘shutter shades’. Instead, artists from Katy Perry to Lily Allen are all sporting a retro chic look that will be the trend of the summer season. Who’s leading the trend? Who else: Ray-Ban...

Never a year goes by without Aviators or Wayfarers on show, and not just because the brand has strong sponsorship ties to many festivals. Year after year, these eyewear icons make headline appearances.

Talking of headlines, the festivals have been oozing with the usual mix of celebrities all sporting great shades. Jameela Jamil, Corrine Baily Rae, Pixie Geldof and Kate Nash were all snapped wearing Wayfarers. However, just like Stevie Wonder at Glastonbury, it’s an old favourite that’s really turning heads. The Ray-Ban Clubmaster – the icon of Woodstock 1969 – is once more in vogue with celebs Katy Perry and Coco Sumner rejuvenating the quirky Clubmaster.

Jameela wears: Ray-Ban Original Wayfarers RB 2140 Black with Crystal Green Lenses 901.	Pixie Geldof wears: Ray-Ban RB 4141 Black with Black Crystal Green Lenses 601.	Lily Allen wears: Ray-Ban Original Wayfarers RB 2140 Dark Violet with Crystal Green Lenses 966.	Katy Perry wears: Ray-Ban Clubmasters RB 3016 Top Blue with Black Crystal Green Lenses 984.
Kate Nash wears: Ray-Ban Original Wayfarers RB 2140 Tortoise with Crystal Green Lenses 902.	Jade Jagger wears: Ray-Ban RB 3025 Dark Violet with Crystal Brown/Violet Gradient Mirror Lenses 076/70.	Corrine wears: Ray-Ban Original Wayfarers RB 2140 Black with Crystal Green Lenses 901.	Coco Sumner wears: Ray-Ban Clubmasters RB 3016 Mock Tortoise with Crystal Green Lenses W0366.

Festival-goers’ taste for retro chic sunglasses is turning to the frames originally made famous by US counter-culture intellectuals, Hollywood royalty and stars like Beyoncé Knowles and younger sister, Solange. But this year, hip fashionistas from The Strokes to Florence and the Machine are bringing their Clubmans to the festival circuit.

So while novelty frames donned by the season’s more outgoing, funky acts like Scissor Sistersand La Roux are sure to grab attention, the forecast once again predicts a Ray-Ban-dominated summer. Step aside, Lady Gaga…