Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Fashion & Style

Solar Circle: 14 of the raddest round sunglasses

By

Aviators are awesome and Persols are pretty much always sure things. But for those of you looking to add a bit of rock star steez to your look in these final weeks of summer a pair of round sunglasses may be just the thing to help you achieve that. Inspired by Victorian-era and steampunk goggles, round glasses have generally gone in and out of fashion over the years but always were – and in some cases still are – the favorite specs shape of musicians such as John Lennon, Joey Ramone and Tom Petty (not to mention Ozzy Osbourne…but we really don’t recommend having him as your fashion role model!).

In recent seasons, round eyewear has quietly circled back in men’s fashion and has been given the seal of approval by brands and designers such as Public School, Rochambeau and David Hart (who included a mismatched pair with one red lens and one yellow one in his New York men’s fashion week presentation last year).

Recommended Videos

Aesthetics and personal taste aside, spherical lenses are obviously not for everyone. If you have a round face, for example, wearing them will only result in awkward looking geometric overkill – so leave them to your buds with mugs that are longer or heart-shaped.

Here are 14 of my favorite round sunglasses currently available for purchase with price tags that range from super affordable to rather wallet-busting. As John Lennon never badly punned, perhaps it’s time for you to give these pieces a chance…

Dita
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Journey model in 18K gold by Dita, $500

Leisure-vallejo
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Vallejo model with 12k silver-plated titanium by Leisure Society, $940

Rayban-round-metal
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Round Metal model with Green Classic G-15 lenses by Ray-Ban, $200

Rayban-oval
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Oval Flat Lenses model by Ray-Ban, $150

Salt-lion
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Lionel model by Salt Optics, $460

Sunday-charlie
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Charlie model by Sunday Somewhere, $290

Sunday-raine
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Raine model by Sunday Somewhere, $290

Soleil
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Soleil model by Sunday Somewhere,$290

Sunday-somewhere
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Yetti model by Sunday Somewhere, $290

Toms-Jarret
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Jarrett model in gunmetal by TOMS, $139

Topman-clearn
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Clear frosted round sunglasses by Topman, $25

Topman-silver
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Silver metal round sunglasses by Topman, $20

Warby-gellhorn
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Gellhorn model by Warby Parker, starting at $195 (including polarized lenses)

Warby-1
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Phipps model by Warby Parker, starting at $195 (including polarized lenses)

Christopher Blomquist
Christopher Blomquist
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Christopher is a native New Yorker who lives and works (mostly) in Manhattan. A longtime fashion journalist, he served as…
Audemars Piguet unveils the dazzling 38mm Code 11.59 Flying Tourbillon
A Code 11.59 with a selfwinding flying tourbillon
Code 11.59 Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon

Audemars Piguet gave the Code 11.59 a beautiful retouch that takes it to the next level: the 38 mm Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon.

Every single element on this model, from the casing to the lug, screams luxury. For starters, the lugs are accentuated by brilliant-cut diamonds of multiple sizes. Audemars Piguet also set some diamonds on the casing to complete the whole look.

Read more
Citizen Tsuyosa 37mm: Retro vibes meet modern style in a compact design
Smaller Citizen Tsuyosa timepieces
Citizen Tsuyosa 37mm

Smaller case sizes are trendy, and every brand wants a piece of the pie.

Citizen just rolled out new Tsuyosa timepieces, designed to keep up with the changing times. While the brand worked on 40 mm Tsuyosa watches, it is now downscaling the size, just a little bit, to 37 mm. Thanks to its striking colors, the Tsuyosa collection has dominated the industry in the past two years. Well, this is the perfect time to take over again with a watch that has a compact size. Even though this watch is smaller than the 40 mm version, it still sits perfectly on the wrist.

Read more
Sorel, Madeira, and bourbon? Bardstown says yes with this Manhattan riff
This unusual recipe shows off the French Oak finish of a fine bourbon
Bardstown Bourbon Communion Cocktail

Bardstown is going bold with its latest cocktail offering --  the drink stars the bourbon brand's new release, its Cathedral French Oak bourbon. It also makes use of Sorel Liqueur, a hibiscus-flavored liqueur inspired by the traditional Caribbean tea drink. Hibiscus is a great ingredient to incorporate into cocktails, as it has both a sharp, berry-like quality and a floral softness, and Sorel incorporates ingredients like ginger, cassia, and cloves as well as hibiscus to give the liqueur a spicy note.

There's also Maderia in this cocktail, which is a much-maligned wine style but one that's becoming increasingly popular in cocktail circles, where its fortified nature and bold sweetness make it an interesting substitution for vermouth. In fact, this cocktail is really a kind of Manhattan variation, with bourbon rather than rye, the addition of a floral liqueur, and the use of Maderia in place of the vermouth.

Read more