Celebrities’ Must-have Accessory During Fashion Month

Fashion month just wrapped up, during which many front-row celebrities and designers wore sunglasses before, during and after the show. They view eyewear as more than an accessory, but also part of their outfit or a reflection of their own personality.

Arianna Mereu, a professor of strategic foresight and trend forecasting at Florence-based fashion institute Polimoda, said luxury brands are positioning sunglasses as a cool designer purchase, shifting the trend from before when “young fashionistas had the tendency to buy ‘selfie-worthy’ and ‘entry-price’ sunglasses from the so-called ‘social brands’.”

Interest in statement eyewear is also fanned by the popularity of the ’90s and the Y2K aesthetic, associated with sunglass-wearing music stars such as Madonna, the Spice Girls and Justin Timberlake, Mereu noted.

She concluded stating that “with social media omnipresence and selfies, our face is center stage, and everything that is face adornment is gaining huge importance again: Statement sunglasses are a great media for authentic and creative self-expression, another super important trend nowadays.”

WWD asked designers and showgoers about their choice to be shaded and how sunglasses made them feel. Here’s what they said:

Pierpaolo Piccioli, creative director of Valentino

Piccioli wears sunglasses for the same reason that he dresses in black. “It helps me to keep distance from what I do,” said the designer, who took his runway bow in his signature black shades. They help him feel “a bit more protected.”

Victoria Beckham, creative director of Victoria Beckham

Victoria Beckham said that she wears sunglasses “because there are a lot of paparazzi, it’s like your armor. I don’t wear them inside, but I do wear them every day. I’ve always loved sunglasses, I’ve had them in the collection from the beginning, and I love how if they are the right shape, they can finish off even the simplest of outfits. It’s the last thing I put on before I leave the house. I have so many! Lots I put in storage, that’s why I have the best job in the world.”

Apo Nattawin Wattanagitiphat, actor

“I’ve never worn sunglasses to a fashion show before, but when I saw the Ferrari-style outfit that I chose to wear for the show, I thought it looked quite stylish and would look even better with sunglasses. The sunglasses I wore on the day I appeared with a Ferrari car complemented my outfit. The iconic Ferrari horse logo in the middle of the sunglasses and their unique shape made them look very interesting. It was the perfect Ferrari style look, and everything made me look amazing.”

Lisa Rinna, actress

“I think sunglasses bring life and accessorizes every outfit and can change your look, your mood, your whole vibe. I have more sunglasses probably than I have anything. Let’s say probably 250 pairs. My favorite pair is a Gucci aviator one with yellow lenses, superclassic, like vintage.”

Giambattista Valli, creative director of Giambattista Valli

Giambattista Valli affirmed that he wears them “because I prefer them more than makeup.” They make him feel “fresh after a long night working on the collection. I’m Roman, in Rome there is a lot of sun, so we really wear them 24 hours. It’s a little bit of dolce vita. Even at parties it’s great, I’m the only one wearing sunglasses and everyone’s looking at me. But it’s a statement, you’re a sunglasses person or not.” His favorites are “Persol. I have 10 of these, and a different one for a tuxedo. I change the color of the lens. And I think it works very well with jewelry.”

Winston Duke, actor

“I wear sunglasses because I always feel finished with a pair of sunglasses. I think it always completes the look and is a great accent piece when done with the right frames, material, and shape of sunglasses… If my outfit is a sentence, the sunglasses are the full stop. Period! They always make me feel a bit more protected. I’m very energetically and emotionally sensitive… so when there are a lot of flashing lights, constant people around you, and the general expectation of giving energy when being social… sunglasses feel almost like a protective shield that helps me to guard and ration my energetic output… So though they are aesthetically helpful, I also find them very functionally and practically helpful as well”

Ami and Aya Suzuki, influencers

“For us, sunglasses are a huge part of fashion. Thus, whenever we style ourselves, sunglasses accentuate our fashion, highlight our looks, and even complete our styling, serving an important role in finishing our outfits.”

Amber Valletta, model

“I like wearing glasses sometimes at shows for a few reasons. Sometimes it just makes the look complete. Sometimes it’s a way to sort of hide, especially when you have clothing that might be more exposed. Less intimate. They definitely give me a sense of distance from others as eyes are mirrors to the soul. It’s a little self protective in some ways. But as soon as I start speaking to someone I know, I usually remove them.”