Optic Verve: The Most Rakish Sunglasses This Summer

Eyevan 7285 is a new favourite for The Rake. It’s not often that one finds a company so passionate about combining the oldest of manufacturing techniques with the modern man’s need for functional, stylish accessories. Eyevan 7285’s name comes from the years between which the house’s designers draw inspiration – their archives dating between 1972 and 1985. With this in mind, Model 308 is based on a Sirmont prototype from the early 90’s, giving the shades a double layer of vintage authenticity that is still today ineffably wearable and cool. The contrasting frames in black and tortoiseshell offer the perfect balance between the sophisticated and the informal and will take you effortlessly from business meetings to beach weekends. Green lenses are as flattering as they are functional, and these are also available in blue and red. Price on request, www.eyevan7285.com.

Legend has it that Steve McQueen – superlative rake and style icon – once cancelled a date with the divine Ali MacGraw to stay at home to wax his Belstaff jacket. Evidently, he was a truly dedicated advocate for the brand – he recognised the importance of loyalty and commitment (perhaps not to his dates - admittedly he had his priorities a little wrong…) and applied that to his love of his favourite Belstaff products. The Ryder frames, designed in collaboration with eyewear connoisseurs Native Sons, drew on Belstaff’s heritage of military supply to develop a high-grade titanium frame, constructed in Sabae, Japan, and with only 100 available, they truly are a once in a lifetime purchase. The elongated shape, clean lines and midnight blue lenses come together with a sleek simplicity and functionality that McQueen would have been proud to wear – whether on the race track or off. £295.00, www.belstaff.co.uk.

Born of the eponymous Alfred Dunhill’s passion for automotive accessories, this is a brand well versed in the needs of the modern gentleman. As an essential accessory for day to day use, especially when spending time behind the wheel, Dunhill’s sunglasses are a beautiful blend of Italian crafted acetate and British design, but this doesn’t mean that they compromise on functionality. On the contrary, the focus on wearable protection and anti-glare lenses is driven by a sense of autonomy within the brand; they offer the whole package from sleek leather goods to stylish menswear down to the last cufflink, money clip and pocket hanky. This pair of tonal tortoiseshell shades emulate the old-school driving ‘goggle’ with their generous size and dark lenses, the gold accents adding a contemporary, slick edge. The geometric faceted print over the bridge and at the hinges is an elegant detail – whilst the ‘Icon’ family is a perfect demonstration of Dunhill’s inherent understanding of classic cool. £259.00, www.dunhill.com.

Zegna is taking it back to nature with their statement shades. These glossy frames are generous in size and the asymmetrical stripes add an interesting dimension to the rounded shape of the lenses. The rich multi-tonal amber and caramel palette will complement a range of warm complexions and hair colours and the semi-reflective satin gold bridge insert adds a touch of discreet glamour. Heightening the sense of distinguished exclusivity is the hand-stitched XXX emblem at the temples, a discreet symbol of excellence. Zegna is internationally recognised for its chic and authentic history; currently run by a fourth generation family member (Ermenegildo himself), ‘Gildo’ takes a truly involved and hands-on approach to all of the house’s collections, an honourable trait that shines through in the consistency of his creations. With high-performance lenses, this particular pair of shades takes a gentle approach to contemporary design, using only the finest materials – naturally.£750.00, www.zegna.com.

Nackymade is the brainchild of Naoki Nakagwua and Tomoko Nakagawa. Naoki is one of the few Japanese artisans left in the world who can independently hand craft a pair of glasses from beginning to end. His commitment to bespoke products was triggered by a retail job selling glasses, none of which he found he really wanted to wear. Eight years of hard work and devotion to the craft, studying the manufacture and design of spectacles and Nackymade was born. The brand’s recent collaboration with luxury British haberdasher Drake’s, is a meeting of minds in sophisticated accessorising. These subtle camel frames include a beautiful fusion of Japanese acetate and European antique styling, with a fresh perspective on traditional eyewear; the two brands perfectly complement each other, and the style is equally flattering for faces of all shapes and sizes.£445.00, www.drakes.com.

The definition of louche, TOM FORD’s gold plated sunglasses win first prize for over the top, but still devastatingly desirable shades. In rose gold with green tinted lenses, they are reflect Mr Ford’s penchant for pushing boundaries and playing with traditional elements. The foldable clip-on component brings an extra dimension to the glasses should you so wish, whilst the plated rose gold frames reflect and refract the light which the lenses so successfully block out. The horn-tipped stems are a subtle and elegant detail, enhancing comfort and durability. This is an accessory that does all the talking, leaving you to look nonchalantly on in serious style. (Disclaimer: hazards may include heightened appeal to the paparazzi and increased insurance). $1950.00, www.tomford.com.

The name alone has us signing away our souls for a pair of Moscot’s super-louche lenses. The word ‘mensch’ refers to a person of integrity and honour, a description we feel we can apply to all of our readers with the utmost confidence, and hope to represent ourselves. Acquiring a pair of these will take you from Clark Kent to Superman in a flourish, with a timeless rounded frame typical of the heroic heartthrob. With a dash of geek-chic and a touch of leisurely vintage luxe, Moscot provides the perfect balance of serious style and intellectual charm. The shop’s undeniably downtown feel is globally recognised and internationally lusted after, a truly heart-warming example of the American dream come true; original Moscot patriarch, Hyman Moscot, began selling ready-made eyewear from a pushcart on Manhattan’s Lower East Side at the turn of the 20th century, opening his first store in 1915. More than 100 years later, we’re still hooked. $280.00, www.moscot.com.

Persol’s Vintage Celebration collection is a range of sunglasses that has mastered a combination of both stylistic time-travel and futuristic technology. This style, memorably named PO9649S 24/57, is a superlative example of this amalgamation of tradition and tech. Patented ‘Meflecto’ technology allows the stems to be flexible, reducing pressure on the head and eliminating the possibility of discomfort. Not only do these Persols utilise an intriguing construction, their design is flattering and versatile. The generous, soft tear-drop shaped lenses are reminiscent of classic aviator style and have received a modern update in the form of tortoiseshell acetate. The gently sloping outer edge is considerably more subtle, complemented by the brand’s signature arrow shaped hinge, inspired by the swords of ancient warriors (an utterly rakish detail we couldn’t possibly resist)... £141.95. Available in store.

The Rake’s online atelier, as ever, enjoys challenging convention and now has created some sunglasses for gentlemen who like to do the same. These iconic wayfarers from Italia Independent represent a subtle sartorial rebellion, employing a utilitarian camouflage print, with a playful sense of bravado. Each layer of the pattern is individually hand-painted onto the super-lightweight metal of Italia Independent’s iconic 0024 frame, every single item (there are only ten exclusive pairs) is completely unique, and is printed with the name of your favourite magazine on the stem interior – think of it as our very own stamp of approval. Inspired by and designed in collaboration with Mr Lapo Elkann, these sunglasses are constructed with as much swagger and suavity as the man himself. £160.00, www.shop.rake.webdezign.uk.