Trend-spotting at the Australian Open

The tennis season has begun with the first of the Grand Slams, the Australian Open, starting at the outdoor hard courts of Melbourne Park. The tournament will carry on until the 1st of February and promises to be a cracker of a game. Stan Wawrinka from Switzerland is the defending champion in men’s singles. The women’s singles defending champion Li Na from China is no longer in the running, since she announced her retirement last year, so the field is wide open for the ladies! Here are some of the stars you should watch out for, especially if you’re looking for cues on the season’s trends in sunglasses.

We are the Champions

Defending champion Stan Wawrinka is ranked 4th in the players’ seeding. While the burly Swiss doesn’t sport sunglasses on the court, off-court he has been seen promoting his home brand Visilab, with a particularly flashy pair of orange-framed sunglasses. It’s all about colour in 2015, so go for those neon and acid coloured frames. Top-seeded Novak Djokovic is partial to the classic Ray-Ban Aviators, with gold frames, while 2nd-seeded Roger Federer seems to prefer Ray-Ban Wayfarers with thick black frames. The sports luxe trend is big for Spring/Summer 2015, so these classy, sporty styles are spot-on.

Amongst the ladies, top-seeded Serena Williams is known for her flamboyant style, on and off the courts. She is the poster girl for the 70s retro-chic look, often seen in oversized Dolce & Gabbana or Jimmy Choo frames. 2nd-seeded Maria Sharapova is the brand ambassador for TAG Heuer and favours the iconic aviator style or a slightly oversized round framed (very much in vogue) look in various colours – from ivory frames with blue lenses to dark plum shades with pink lenses.

Before You Buy Sunglasses

What could be easier than popping into a store and buying sunglasses, right? But being stuck with the wrong frames is no fun. Here are some tips to remember before you buy sunglasses.

The first and foremost consideration should be the UV eye protection offered by the sunglasses. Choose sunglasses that block out 99% to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays. Cosmetic sunglasses and sunglasses that have no UV protection information are best avoided.

Try on the sunglasses and make sure they fit well. The frames should not pinch the sides of your face, and your eyelashes must not touch the lenses.

Make sure your sunglasses suit the shape of your face.

If you have a round face, select rectangular frames.

Choose Aviators if you have a heart shaped face.

If you have an angular face, go for round frames.

If you’re blessed with an oval face, most styles will suit you.

Get the Look

Choose from a wide range of designer sunglasses at your local Leightons Opticians and Hearing Care branch. We have the latest styles from the most fashionable names around the world. Whether you’re looking for some classic style with Chanel or Prada, something sporty like Oakley, or the timeless Ray-Bans, we have something for you. While you’re at the store, take an eye examination to make sure that your eyes are in good health. In case your prescription has changed, we can customise the lenses of your new sunglasses according to the new prescription.

So drop in at your nearest Leightons Opticians and Hearing Care branch or book an appointment online. Flash the latest trends in sunglasses this sporting season!