Small Luxuries: Sunglasses

Discover how sunglasses evolved from simple eye protection into one of fashion’s most powerful statements of identity and style.

Small Luxuries: Sunglasses explores the enduring appeal of one of the world’s most visible—and accessible—luxury accessories. Equal parts function and fashion, sunglasses occupy a unique space: protecting our eyes while signaling who we are. From Hollywood icons to street-style influencers, from vintage collectibles to modern designer frames, this richly illustrated volume reveals how sunglasses became cultural shorthand for individuality, status, and taste.

Through engaging, image-driven entries, the book traces the evolution of sunglasses from utilitarian object to global fashion essential. Along the way, it highlights the styles, brands, and cultural moments that transformed eyewear into an “identity-defining” accessory embraced across generations. Alongside captivating photography and period advertisements, you will find:

• A concise history of sunglasses, from early protective lenses to modern fashion statements
• Iconic styles and silhouettes, including Aviators, Wayfarers, cat-eye, browline, and wraparound designs
• Profiles of legendary brands and styles, from Ray-Ban and Persol to Oliver Goldsmith and beyond
• Pop-culture connections, featuring figures like JFK, Jacqueline Kennedy, Audrey Hepburn, James Dean, and Bob Dylan
• Collector and style insights, spanning vintage treasures to contemporary must-haves

Driven by their unique blend of utility, accessibility, and aspirational design, sunglasses have become a gateway to luxury—especially for new generations of consumers seeking meaningful, expressive purchases. Small Luxuries: Sunglasses captures that appeal in a compact, giftable format that celebrates both craftsmanship and culture.

Small Luxuries celebrates the artistry of the everyday objects that shape our style and stories. Each volume explores the craft, culture, and character behind these beloved obsessions, revealing how they evolve into lifelong passions. Richly illustrated and insightfully written, the series is a tribute to the makers, materials, and memories that turn familiar belongings into extraordinary icons of personal expression and style.

Also available from the series:

• Small Luxuries: Vinyl
• Small Luxuries: Watches
• Small Luxuries: Sneakers
• Small Luxuries: Film Cameras