Creeper surveillance sunglasses are out. Here’s what’s actually in in eyewear.
Summer is the optimal—pun intended—time of the year to bring out the best of your eyewear repertoire. No longer considered last-minute add-ons and instead regarded as key styling elements, frames have become essentials in any wardrobe, particularly as travel season peaks and summer delivers extra bright and sunny days.
In July, as Europe recorded unprecedented temperatures, the World Cup unfolded and glamorous vacationing prompted international sojourns, celebrities slipped into their best shades. And boy, did they offer style inspiration.
Flat-top frames, oversized shades, tinted glasses… we saw it all and here’s the takeaway: although companies and influencers are vainly trying to convince us that AI-powered and smart glasses are the future, some (still sane) celebrities are showing us how great style without privacy breaches actually looks like.
Below, find the celebrity eyewear moments from July we can’t stop thinking about.
Tom Holland goes classic in Jimmy Fairly
Perhaps no other celebrity in the world (except for his wife and co-star Zendaya) has had such a busy and red-carpet-packed summer as British actor Tom Holland. Between promoting Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey and the latest installment of the Spider-Man saga, Holland has made stylish stopovers in various cities across the world.
He, of course, crafted a wardrobe suited for every appearance with his longtime fashion stylist Crystalle Cox. And though they opted for sleek tailoring to promote The Odyssey and red-tinged looks for the Spider-Man press run, one thing remained consistent: the eyewear. Cox and Holland curated a selection of classy square acetate frames by Jimmy Fairly. The idea was clear: the eyewear was chosen so it wouldn’t overshadow his ensembles but wouldn’t appear like an afterthought in his lookbook either. Needless to say, the pair accomplished the mission.
Dua Lipa is all about oversized frames in New York
Fashion insiders can’t stop talking about the oversized and bug-shaped glasses taking over the world this summer. And for good reason—they’re everywhere, from the runways to the streets. One of the celebs spearheading this style revival, which saw its heyday in the late 200s and early 2010s, was none other than newlywed Dua Lipa.
Spotted in New York, the “Radical Optimism” singer made a case for ultra-large frames—the kind that cover half of your face—with a pair of dark-tinted Gucci sunglasses. Keeping up with the oversized theme. Dua also sported a pair of flat-top shield-style shades, which she paired with casual Y2K-infused outfits. Dua rounded out her finely curated selection of sunglasses with a pair that accompanied her everywhere: the Jacques Marie Mage’s Dealan sunnies, a bold style inspired by ‘60s music icons. We’ll be talking about Dua’s picks for a while.
Ananya Panday’s occasion-sensitive frames
Between Haute Couture Week and The Championships, Wimbledon, among other commitments, Ananya Panday had quite a stylish July. The Indian actor tuned her wardrobe for every occasion, opting for brands like Chanel (for which she serves as an ambassador) and Ralph Lauren.
Eyewear-wise, however, she found the perfect middle ground between necessity and style statement by keeping her oversized sunglasses secured on the top of her head. For Haute Couture Week, Panday went for a pair of large oversized acetate frames with Chanel’s classic two-tone combination on the temples and dark lenses. Meanwhile, at Wimbledon, the actor styled her red summer dress with a pair of squared tortoise-frame glasses (the RL Ricky design), with gold hardware and the brand’s stacked logo on the temples.
And no, no matter what anyone says, wearing sunglasses as a headband is in and, as the internet jargon goes, chic af.
Katseye wear AWD sunnies in the “Animal” music video
Girl group Katseye released their latest music hit, ”Animal,” on July 24, accompanied by a cinematic music video featuring a cameo by Demi Moore. Past the striking visuals, dynamic settings and the group’s commanding presence, the styling continued to build upon Katseye’s cool-girl signature.
Although the “Animal” music video is packed with noteworthy fashion moments—from the showgirl-inspired costumes to the sleek tailoring—the eyewear did not go unnoticed. As Katseye scrambles to find something to wear in their closet (with a little help from Demi Moore), you can spot Lara and Yoonchae wearing AWD Eyewear’s Ora design, a pair of wraparound sunglasses that perfectly align with every it girl’s (and it boy’s) current obsession with shield frames. Per the brand’s description, the piece features translucent acetate frames and warm bronze nylon lenses, offering a ton-sur-ton effect and retro-futuristic appearance.
Katseye’s new music video and this eyewear moment, more specifically, will be living rent-free in our minds for the rest of the summer.
Hande Erçel has the ultimate guide to summertime eyewear
What would summer be without Hande Erçel consistently delivering style slays? Thankfully, we don’t ever need to find out as the Turkish actor has kept her social media following properly updated and inspired.
While the star has the world accustomed to versatile displays of personal style, in her July Instagram posts, Erçel favored statement eyewear that we can’t describe as anything but “main character sunglasses.” Her repertoire spanned wraparound acetate shades with gray lenses by Miu Miu, Prada’s Shadowplay sunglasses, which feature a flat top, tortoise frames and clear lenses, as well as a pair of large round sunglasses. Earlier this summer, the actor also wore the chic, pillow-shaped Tom Ford Achilles Ft1182, in a black frame and light blue lenses colorway.
Consider this dynamic lookbook the ultimate lesson on how to style eyewear in 2026.
Hudson Williams shows off his eyewear collection in Europe
The internet is collectively obsessed with everything Hudson Williams does or touches and his eyewear repertoire is no exception. July was quite a busy month for the actor and he, naturally, had the shades to match every occasion, from Fashion Week to a Euro-summer getaway.
Here’s a debrief: upon touching down in Paris for Haute Couture Week, Williams was spotted in a pair of square-frame Balenciaga glasses, a style he reprised in Seoul with pink-tinted Gentle Monster shades (the Soho 01, if you’re wondering). Joining the roster of A-listers making a case for shield glasses, the actor also donned a pair of wraparound shield frames—Balenciaga, of course—to attend Pierpaolo Piccioli’s first haute couture show. Spending time vacationing in Europe, the actor also opted for oval frame glasses, identified by his fans as the Persol PO1024S, a design with ‘80s influences that speaks to this year’s revival of retro eyewear.
Felix and Jungkook’s wholesome concert (eyewear) moment
If you’ve been living under a rock, you probably missed out on one of the coolest concert and celebrity friendship moments of the summer. If you’re chronically online, then you’ll know what we’re talking about in great detail, so let’s sum it up. South Korean act Stray Kids held a second date of their “‘RUN IT” concert in Seoul. One of the celebrities in attendance was none other than Jungkook (solo artist and BTS member, if you need a quick reminder).
At some point during the concert, Stray Kids’ resident long-haired icon, Felix, threw his sunglasses to the crowd. And guess what? They somehow ended up in Jungkook’s hands. The star wore the stylish frames as he cheered on the band, eliciting an internet frenzy. The “Seven” singer later explained that a manager caught the sunglasses and handed them to him. Jungkook reportedly returned the item after the concert.
260626 RUN IT Seoul D2 HD#felix #필릭스 #straykids #스트레이키즈 pic.twitter.com/ya6ys656Ar
— Flash (@Flash_Felix0915) July 26, 2026
Beyond the fun coincidence, the fact that the sunglasses resisted being thrown in the air certainly commanded attention in fashion circles. And if you’re wondering about the exact item and brand, we got you covered. They’re the Gentle Monster Futura 02—Felix is an ambassador for the brand after all. Similar to other designs in this list, this is a wraparound silhouette with grey mirror lenses. However, instead of the classic acetate frame, the Futura 02 features a thin metallic frame with knots inspired by plant stems and matching thin temples. The futuristic touch is unmissable and, as proven by Felix and Jungkook on the same night, you can wear this style almost with any outfit.
Manifest’s Esin Bahat has an it-girl eyewear wardrobe
Turkish girl group Manifest has been on a roll this summer and accordingly, each of the band’s six members has brought out the very best of their style book on and off stage.
Offering a glimpse into her summer, member Esin Bahat posted two Instagram posts recapping the band’s Spain trip. The highlight? (Other than how wholesome the trip seemed) Bahat’s cool-girl eyewear. She wore all the ultimate Gen-Z essentials, starting with a pair of statement Bayonetta glasses, popular since the office siren aesthetic took flight in 2024.
The singer also donned a pair of Prada acetate frame sunglasses, accentuated by a bold rectangular shape and the classic Prada logo on the temples. Completing the lineup were a pair of Prada PR C57S sunglasses, first spotted in the brand’s Fall/Winter 2025 runway. The futuristic item paired a rimless design with bold metallic details and clear lenses with a subtle gradient.
Jungkook takes Proper Eyewear to the World Cup halftime show
The FIFA World Cup dominated a good percentage of global conversations in the first half of July and to no one’s surprise, that also included the event’s first Halftime Show. While much can be said of the big occasion, BTS offering a style-forward homage to football culture and their national team drew its fair share of headlines. A highlight among highlights was Jungkook’s biker-core-inspired outfit, which aligned seamlessly with the singer’s personal affinities.
Topping the ensemble was a pair of Y2K-leaning sunglasses by Serena Del Signore’s Proper Eyewear. Titled the “Cortina SUN,” the design was an apt throwback to the shield and gradient styles predominant in the early aughts—the kind that Paris Hilton and Britney Spears were so adept at. Proper Eyewear’s take, however, also updated the look with an upper wire frame, stud accents and five colorways (Jungkook is wearing the Dark Brown iteration).
Win Metawin wears Gentle Monster at the World Cup
While the World Cup final remains iconic, not all the style action happened at the Argentina Vs. Spain matchup. Attending the Spain Vs. Belgium game, Win Metawin delivered not one but two standout eyewear moments, courtesy of South Korean brand Gentle Monster.
Offering a glimpse into one of the season’s hottest trends, the Thai actor veered towards Y2K eyewear with the first choice: the Paranoyd 02 design. The squared eyewear model features a metal frame and clear mirror lenses, making a case for retro sunglasses. In contrast, the second option (the Madlenne BR2) tapped into the futuristic codes that Gentle Monster has made its signature. The pieces checked all the boxes for it-boy eyewear: a skinny cat-eye silhouette, acetate frames and dark tinted lenses.
Richard Carapaz conquers Le Tour de France with chic performance eyewear
While performance eyewear is on a league of its own, it’s impossible to ignore that trends also shape what the world’s most lauded athletes wear during competitions. At the 2026 Tour de France, for instance, polygonal shapes, mirrored lenses and futuristic, brightly colored shades were the norm.
Not for King of the Mountain and most combative player at Le Tour, Richard Carapaz, though. Channeling his reputation as one of the last old-school cyclists in the scene, the Ecuadorian athlete kept things chicly simple. (Evidently, looking fashionable was perhaps the last of his concerns, but he still delivered style inspo.) Carapaz achieved the feat with a selection of POC’s Elicit sunglasses: frameless designs with the classic wraparound shield silhouette and bio-grilamid temples. And yes, these are performance sunglasses, but the design could’ve easily belonged to any runway at the latest editions of Fashion Week.
Lamine Yamal celebrated World Cup win with a pair of collector sunglasses
Lamine Yamal was one of the youngest ballers at the World Cup, but he didn’t go unperceived. The Barcelona winger stood out throughout the tournament with his footwork and fly pre-game outfits.
At the World Cup final, Yamal continued his winning streak with fashion to match. And the eyewear, for sure, stole the spotlight. As he basked in the glory of becoming one of the youngest players to win a World Cup, Yamal wore a rare pair of vintage sunnies. Purchased at the OnBond Showroom in New York, the piece belonged to the 2009 Y-3 runway and tapped into futuristic codes: geometric wraparound shape, sculpted arms and tinted lenses. The Tech Visor Sunglasses also feature an eye-catching orange flat-top acetate frame, making it the ideal eyewear statement for a memorable celebration.
RM makes a case for conceptual eyewear with Kuboraum
RM, frontman and leader of South Korean septet BTS, made quite a powerful appearance at the World Cup Final Halftime Show, wearing eyewear by the Berlin-based Kuboraum. Part fashion item, part conceptual art, the piece merged a sharp silhouette and angular temples with softly elongated lenses that channeled the techno and rave subculture codes that Berlin design is so recognized for. Adding dimension, the pair of sunnies was complete with skived and beveled lens contours.
In an age where industries keep pushing for smart sunglasses with divisive qualities (surveillance included), what stands out the most from RM’s eyewear choice is the concept behind the product. Kuboraum introduces their eyewear as “masks” that serve to shelter the wearer, creating what they describe as “cubical rooms.” In this new dimension, people can “live [their] intimacy and look at the world through two lenses.” But this is in no way to abandon or hide their identity, quite the opposite. At the core of Kubaraum’s masks is the idea of highlighting the wearer’s personality and features and unabashedly free themselves. That’s insanely cool.
Syifa Hadju rocks eyeglasses like no other
Another newlywed in this list is Indonesian actor and singer Syifa Hadju. Exemplifying that eyewear is not limited to dark tints and statement sunglasses during summer, the actor rocked chic eyeglasses that punctuated her looks without taking attention away from her fashion choices.
Starting strong, the star wore a pair of oval-shaped glasses during a Venetian getaway with husband El Rumi. The gold-rimmed piece leaned on minimalism, but featured a small hardware accent on the temples. Later in July, Hadju shared an Instagram story rocking optical glasses by Chanel. This time, the pair featured a rectangular shape, thin gold frame and pearl details at the temples. Despite the subtle differences, both designs aligned perfectly with Hadju’s signature wardrobe: understated, girly and elegantly chic.
Emi Tharson had first dibs on the Gentle Monster x Prada collab
At the end of June, South Korean giant Gentle Monster joined forces with Italian powerhouse Prada for an exclusive collaboration geared at the Asian market. The team-up birthed three new designs inspired by the dialogue between precision and fluidity. Sleek lines, sharp contours and titanium details, combined with a flipped Prada logo, marked this one-of-a-kind release.
Among the Asian superstars rocking this new collection was Thai actor Emi Tharson, who shared photos wearing the Prada Gentle Monster 1(01) model. Unlike most of the sunglasses in this list, these sunnies embrace a skinny silhouette with ultra-slim arms and squared-shaped lenses that complement smaller and angular faces. Not to mention that despite the lack of adornments or statement details, these shades exuded boss energy.
