I recently broke my two only pairs of sunglasses, one right after the other. I buy cheap sunglasses, obviously, and I wear them to death. I used to wear ‘90s style sunglasses, because I’m a ‘90s Girl, like little frames and all. In the ‘90s, we liked the retro ‘60s vibe, and John Lennon’s little circular frames were back in style. At some point, I realized that those frames looked ridiculous on me, nevermind the fact that they didn’t do much to actually block too-bright sunlight. So I switched to Jackie O-type sunglasses – slightly oversized, rectangular-shaped frames and I’ve never looked back. I bought myself three pairs of cheap-ish oversized frames in the New Year. They make me feel glamorous. I’ve always hated aviator frames too, no matter what the fashion.
Why the discussion about frames and sunglasses? Because Kanye West is apparently trying to bring back ‘90s style frames, and he’s using Kim Kardashian to do it.
It’s no secret that Kanye West has played a major role in Kim Kardashian’s style evolution since the now-married couple first started dating in 2012. Over the past year in particular, Kardashian started favoring ’90s-inspired fashion, which resulted in her swapping out her once-signature oversize sunglasses for teeny tiny frames. And of course, it was West who convinced the KKW Beauty mogul to bring back the throwback trend straight out of The Matrix.
“[Kanye] sent me a whole email like, ‘You cannot wear big glasses anymore. It’s all about tiny little glasses.’” Kardashian said on Sunday’s episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, where she wore a skintight bodysuit, black leather mini skirt and tiny frames that she said were hand-selected by her husband. “He sent me like, millions of ’90s photos with tiny little glasses like this.”
After West’s fashion prediction, the tiny sunglasses trend grew in popularity over the summer, with more members of the KarJenner family — like Kendall Jenner and Kourtney Kardashian — sporting the style, along with other fashionistas like Bella Hadid and Selena Gomez.
I’ve been trying to figure out Kim’s current face and how to describe it – oval-shaped, right? I don’t know “the rules” for why certain kinds of frames look good on certain face shapes, I just know when a pair of sunglasses isn’t working for a particular person. I tend to think the Jackie-O style sunglasses work on most face shapes, and they would work for Kim too. The smaller frames don’t seem to work, and neither do aviators or anything else. Anyway… I love talking about sunglasses, even if it’s boring. I have a round face so I’m pretty limited as to what works on me.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid.
My life changed the day I discovered that the dollar tree sells $1 shades. I buy like 10 at a time LoL.
And they are sturdy. I buy my “cheaters” there and they last l9 get than the $20 ones from other stores.
I have a round face and think smaller sunglasses look ridiculous on me. I just ordered two pair from Nordstrom Rack but they are both going back. (Free shipping so I gave them a try) Aviators look horrendous on me but great on some people. My favorite pair was a cheap pair I got at Marshall’s but they’re scratched to hell. My search continues! 😎
I have a hard time determining the shape of my face and an even harder time finding flattering frames. So hard! Petite-sized, so standard oversized are like too oversized, but I love the idea of oversized. I just got diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma on my lower eyelid and will need to have monsieur surgery in March. Now I committed to finding several pairs of perfect “oversized” yet somehow flattering shades. It will be my new MO. I need help though… Why is it so hard?
Katie, look in the mirror with your hair pulled back. Take a bar of soap and trace the outline of your face on the mirror. That should help you evaluate the shape. Clean the mirror!
Katie, I am so sorry to hear about the carcinoma but it sounds like it was caught in time so I wish you a speedy recovery and a cancer-free future. Hang in there–we’re all sending positive thoughts your way.
One way to determine your face shape is to trace the outline of your head/face in a mirror (use lipstick or some other non-permanent method of tracing, of course) then compare it to a face shape guide (tons of those online). It’s not foolproof but at least it gives you a start.
If you don’t feel up to sunglass shopping at a store, you can always try out frames from sites like Warby Parker. No obligation to buy and they let you try out the frames for a week or so to see if you like any of your picks and if nothing worked, you just ship them back.
I have an oval-shaped face and I also used to wear those 90’s sunglasses…back in the 90’s. I guess if people like wearing small glasses that don’t actually block out much light, go for it?
Like you, Kaiser, I love me some Jackie-O styles! That and slight cat-eyes. I don’t like aviators either, they look ridiculous on me. I honestly can spend an hour just trying on sunglasses, I love them so much.
I found out I needed glasses in the 5th grade – in the late 90s. I wanted the smallest glasses possible – and the next few pairs were incredibly tiny.
Now I will never go back to small glasses. The larger the frame the less blind spot I have. I wear my contacts most of the time – so switching over to glasses and having spots that aren’t covered with lens drives me nuts.
I can do aviators – but I usually just go with the more wayfairer type. I love the slight cat-eye glasses and sunglasses too – I think my next pair might end up being more of that style. I think my insurance flips back over in May as far as covering new glasses goes.
I started wearing glasses in 3rd grade and those tiny glasses in the 90’s ticked me off. I’m legally blind and not a candidate for laser eye surgery, I wear my contacts most of the time but desperately need glasses just in case. I remember needing a new pair of glasses in college in the 90’s and asking “don’t you have any bigger frames”?? They were all like, no this is what people wear now and actually they’re better blah blah blah. I was so happy when I could get my hands on decently sized frames. I’m never going back. I love the slightly oversized square, slight cat eye and slightly rounded sunglasses. Since my eyes are really sensitive to the sun, I always have at least one pair on hand.
He can have my oversized frames when he pulls them off my cold, dead face.
I HAAAATE tiny frames. Hated them growing up in the 90’s, hate them now.
I collect sunglasses, and I noticed the trend coming back last summer, but I refuse to buy any. My fave pair are aviators from Tiffany’s, but I have a darling pair of round, winged frames that are Betsey Johnson and I get more compliments on those $30 sunglasses than some I’ve paid $500+.
Samigirl, my favorite pair is also my Tiffany aviators. ❤️
And the oldest Kartrashian daughter wears the tiny 90’s sunglasses all the time. Sorry, but they look stupid on her.
Yeah, I am not participating in this trend. I heard perms are back too. No thanks!
Scrunchies too. It’s scary.
Preach. From my cold, dead hands, Kanye!
Same here.
Recently around here there was a post of Angelina wearing amazing oversized aviators. Commenters here kindly gave me the designer ID (Christian Dior) and I promptly purchased a pair as a gift to myself. One of the very few things I splurge on are designer sunglasses and I absolutely LOVE the Dior pair I just got 😀
I thought they were already in style since last summer. He’s late to the game. 🤔
I was just about to write the same thing. I’ve been seeing them all over the place for a least a year now. As far as fashion goes the 90s are back and have been for a minute.
So did she put up with it??? If someone ever told me what kind of sunglasses to where, I’d tell them where to put their dumb matrix sunglasses.
Is that what their lives are reduced to? Sending never-ending rants BY EMAIL (can’t you have a normal face-to-face conversation with your significant other?) about how your partner “cannot” wear something anymore? Really, she CAN’T wear this or that? As if their lives were in danger for some piece of clothing or accessory? All this fame, money and freedom to do what they want with their lives for… that? Don’t they have deeper interests? Are their minds and souls just this empty? Sad, just really sad.
That’s what I got from it – they spend so little actual time together that he sends her EMAILS about her fashion. Unreal.
LOL, that’s what I got, too. He only sees her when he catches an article about her in the Daily Mail.
Large sunglasses make me look like a bug.
But why is anyone taking fashion advice from Kanye West?
Right? I wouldn’t take fashion advice from either of these doofs.
Um, too late? They’ve been around for quite a while now.
I love slightly cat-eye frames. I too have a roundish face and can get away with everything except small sunglasses. Aviators are OK if the size is right.
What kind of husband sends his wife an email to tell her what kind of sunglasses she has to wear? Kanyes not a very romantic guy.
Small round and aviators look horrible on me, so I always wear Ray Ban wayfarer sunglasses
Give me Ray-Ban Wayfarers, or give me death!
I hate those tiny glasses Kourtney keeps wearing. They’re hideous. No tiny glasses look stupid.
Who keeps telling Kanye he knows fashion??
His own gargantuan ego, ugh.
World hunger.
War.
Evil politicians.
Healthcare and basic freedoms under attack.
Thank god we’ve got these two working on the really important things. Millions of dollars and millions of social media followers, doing the hard work, getting the tough messages out there.
Its ok to be interested in fashion, it doesnt mean those things you list arent important too.
The 90s have been back for a while now, he’s tardy to the party.
Right? Huffpost did an article back in August about the Hadid sisters wearing them and how they were back..
They’re trying to bring the 90s back and THEMSELVES.
Boring and irrelevant, both of them.
Jackie O- frames for life for me!!! I will never go back. Blocks the sun, and they just work for my face. I feel so pretty in them! Ha!
I literally have NEVER bought sunglasses bc I can’t figure out what kind fit my face :/ And also, EMAIL??!!! Kanye emails Kim about this kind of stuff?? LOL Weird.
Back away from the lip fillers, girl.
He’s not bringing back anything! God, talk about emperor’s new clothes, him and all the Trashians, just go away already!
I love aviators! They make me feel so Top Gunish…
I used to stick with my small 90s frames because I have a tiny head and face, but once I got migraines, I fell in love with the ginormous Jackie O frames, and now I will not go back! The more sun they keep out of my eyes, the better.
Much as it pains me to agree with a Kardashian, I gotta ride on the small lane side of the road.
But totally for function. Between need uber-dark lenses for major eye sensitivity (Just developed epilepsy & the resulting seizures following last years massive car accident when I was hit by a drunk driver) but the same thing that means bright lights screw me sideways ALSO means I need as much side light coming in to have a hope in hades of guessing the color of something bright. Always struggled with pale tones (pastels are ALL brown) but these days? Without all the extra light I can grab, can’t tell neon green from royal blue. Might not be my fashion style of choice, but they DO serve a valid use for at least a few of us freaks out here.
Kim K needs big glasses to balance out those fake lips…
I have a giant forehead, so this is not allowed. LOL!
Did anybody else notice how weird their relationship is? Who writes their spouse an email to tell them not to wear a certain type of sunglasses anymore?