I Never Leave the House Without Sunglasses—These Are My Absolute Favorite Brands

Just last week, I was rummaging through my bag and muttered, "I need my sunglasses," to which my boyfriend playfully replied, "I've never heard that one before." It's easily one of my most repeated phrases. Sunglasses are one of those must-haves for me, and if I forget them, I'm definitely trying my hardest not to complain about it every five minutes.

I'm pretty sure I inherited this obsession from my parents. Growing up, my mom's three nonnegotiables were: coffee first thing in the morning, a sweater on hand no matter the season (she hates being cold, as do I), and sunglasses every single day of the year. If she forgets them, she'll turn the car around. To this day, she still talks about a beloved pair of Persols she lost many years ago. For both of us, leaving the house without sunglasses just feels wrong.

My dad's no different. I called him recently to ask him how many he owns. After tallying them up—three Ray-Bans, two Versace, two Carrera, and one Police—that's eight pairs. And that's not even counting his optical frames, of which there are a lot.

Even beyond practicality and fashion, I personally feel like sunglasses serve a psychological purpose, too. Earlier this week, I joked with a musician friend about whether he ever wears sunglasses on stage. He laughed and said, "No, never." I told him that, despite how stereotypically pretentious it can be, I probably would. There's something about them that makes you feel less exposed—a little buffer. Similar to when you're nervous and want something to do with your hands, sunglasses are the eye-contact version of that.

Since I never leave the house without them, here are the brands I've been loving lately.

Chimi

I first came across Chimi on TikTok. The Stockholm-based label was created in 2026 by childhood friends Daniel Djurdjevic and Charlie Lindström. The brand's styles range from sporty to minimalist. I've been eyeing the Split or the Code for months.

It's now one of Sweden's leading eyewear names, and it has just opened a store in SoHo, NYC. You can shop them in-store, on the website, and at retailers like Revolve, Shopbop, and Ssense.

Bonnie Clyde

If one pair of sunglasses defined 2024, it was Baby by Bonnie Clyde. (Hailey Bieber wears the optical version.) The brand has also been seen on Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, and even Bad Bunny.

I've been wearing my black pair nonstop since I got them, and my best friend's obsessed with her Coco ones. There's a flagship store in L.A., and you can shop everything online, too.

Lexxola

Lexxola, a London-based line, has been a NYC favorite over the past few years. Founder Zane Saleh saw a gap in the eyewear market for Gen Z and millennials, and built his own company in response.

Its opticals are so cute, too. I remember first spotting the Alba style on a girl in a bodega, instantly recognizing them by their signature "XX" logo on the temples. At the moment, Lexxola is only available through its website.

DMY Studios

British label DMY Studios was launched by Demi Mae Yip in 2018 with a focus on understated, seasonless design. The aesthetic is elegant and refined, meant to be worn for years.

You can find the pieces its website as well as on Revolve.

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