In 1968's The Thomas Crown Affair, Faye Dunaway's entrance is made exceptional with her incredible tortoise shell cats eye sunglasses. She is stunning and it's really those shades that stand out and make her look like a star. Though seen in early classic cinema such as 1944's Double Indemnity, the cats eye shape probably reached its peak of popularity in the 1950s and 1960s. Along with Faye, the style was seen on fashion icons Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, and Marilyn Monroe. These women--with very different body types--show how surprisingly flattering the cats eye frame can be on a variety of face shapes. One reason is that the sunglasses range in details from the width of the lenses to how much the frame flares up on the sides. Personally, I prefer a wider lens and only a slight upturn to the outer frame, which is reflected in the ones I feature here.
The cats eye look is on trend for Summer and has been in editorials and features for all the magazines lately--Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, Lucky, and Allure (below) among others. One option is to try the amazing vintage frames available out there--Etsy is always a good place to start. But of course modern designers are interpreting the look for their lines as well and one to watch is new friend Leisure Society. Southern California designer Shane Baum used to create all the eyewear for Louis Vuitton and Marc Jacobs before starting his own collection four years ago. You'll see some of his incredible takes on this timeless classic below.
Fashion houses like Prada, Gucci, and Ralph Lauren have also been offering their own updates. You can find these brands and their cats eye sunglasses at Sunglass Hut, which makes online shopping fun with free shipping and returns. Hello Summer!
Grace Kelly in her white cats eye sunglasses in To Catch a Thief (above)
and the modern update Swanbourne from Leisure Society
Audrey Hepburn in her tortoise shell cats eye sunglasses in Breakfast at Tiffany's (above)
and the modern update Montalivet from Leisure Society
Michelle Williams channeling Marilyn Monroe for Vogue (above, with pic that inspired the styling below)
and the modern update Swanbourne from Leisure Society