Mirrored sunglasses are having a moment

Mirror mirror on the wall, what type of sunglasses should I be wearing this fall? Hint: the answer is in the question. From numerous streetwear snaps and this season's fashion weeks to every corner of our Instagram feeds, sunglasses with mirrored lenses have suddenly become high fashion’s must-have accessory.

The style that was once reserved for the slopes and cycle paths has been reintroduced as a modern day trend, but is it really that surprising though? After all, fashion is undoubtedly cyclical and now that we’re currently living through the second coming of the Y2K sunglass revival, it seems only appropriate that the ‘90s-inspired mirrored lens trend has been reignited.

If you’re not sure if that whole reflective look is your thing, here are a couple tips and tricks on how you can sport the eyewear trend.

Chances are you’ve seen mirrored sunglasses more than a couple times in your life, but explaining what they are exactly might be a different story. Besides adding a futuristic vibe to your look, mirrored lenses were first made for a functional purpose. Layered in a special reflective coating, these lenses bounce light away from the eyes, effectively reducing eye strain by minimizing the amount of light that goes to your eye, and effectively protecting your vision in the process.

Because mirrored lenses act as one-way mirrors from the outside, the durable quality of the lenses make them the perfect choice for sports and outdoor activities – especially when there is a lot of bright light and glare is an issue.

Mirrored sunglasses and polarized sunglasses share a lot in common, a subtle difference is the way that they filter light. Polarized sunglasses make vision more comfortable by blocking glare, instead of reflecting it. Made with filters that allow vertical light, polarized lenses stop glare from horizontal surfaces, (think roads, snow slopes, water) and are great for people who suffer from light sensitivity.

The differences between mirrored and polarized lenses are minimal but the main point of difference is perhaps the outward appearance: mirrored lenses have a reflective coating, while polarized sunglasses don’t, making them look a lot like normal lenses.

But you don’t have to pick one over the other. Lenses can have mirror-coating and be polarized at the same time, allowing double layers of visual protection. Marry the two features in our selection of polarized mirrored sunglasses.

The answer is yes - most mirrored lenses can be made to fit your prescription, as they’re not mutually exclusive features.

Trends of the moment are showcasing variations on the theme with collections moving away from the typical sports look to other silhouettes, as we’ve seen with the latest take on mirrored offerings by Gucci and Versace to more classic takes from Oliver Peoples. This season’s collections show us that mirrored lenses can also be elegant and streamlined, for those who don’t always want to look athletic-adjacent.

Alternatively, if the sporty look is what you’re after, you can’t go wrong with eyewear legends Oakley and Ray-Ban mirrored sunglasses.

Recent women’s fashion weeks have shown us that accessories are front and center to any look, and sunglasses are no different. From oversized mask silhouettes to shocking touches of bright colors, it’s no wonder that eye-catching mirrored lenses are also popping up everywhere.

And if you’ve been on Instagram lately, you might have been seeing mirrored mask sunglasses worn by the likes of Kim Kardashian and Chiara Ferragni. Because of their statement feel, styling mirrored lenses comes easy. Whether you pair them with an all-black ensemble the look is as striking as it is when you pair it with more trendy, neon shades of electric blue, green or even barbiecore pink.

Find the next pair of sunglasses you can’t live without with these latest arrivals of mirrored women’s sunglasses.

Mirrored sunglasses for men have always been a key trend for eyewear, but high fashion options were always limited. Now, thanks to the recent iterations on the trend, mirrored sunglasses for men don’t always have to look sporty when the rest of the look is sleek. Latest men’s styles have been showing a popularity for the blue mirrored sunglasses look like these ones from Gucci for a strikingly electric accent.

Looking for that perfect style accompaniment? Complete your look with our edit of mirrored men’s sunglasses.

With shades becoming a more central piece of your look, the latest arrivals of mirrored sunglasses take inspiration from gold, chunky jewelry, captured through their high-octane shine.

Discover the metallic look with our selection of gold mirrored frames.

The perfect answer to sleek styling, silver mirrored sunglasses have also been trending for a moment now. If you like the metallic look but lean more towards a cooler-toned silver rather than gold, recent releases were made for you: just take a look at Balenciaga’s latest mirrored arrivals.

While shape is a personal preference for mirrored lenses, popular styles lean towards the dynamic aviator shape for a look that is all together retro and futuristic. Marry the best of both worlds together with our edit of mirrored aviator sunglasses.

Cat-eye sunglasses have always been in style, and now designers are experimenting with the classic shape by adding mirrored lenses to them too. Imbued with a high level of glamour, these swooping frames add a timeless touch to your look while their mirrored lenses give them an unmistakable contemporary twist. Discover your next pair of cat-eye mirrored sunglasses here.

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