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Key Takeaways
- Unsurprisingly, it’s shaping up to be a Carolyn Bessette Kennedy autumn.
- Whether you’re copying her outfits to a tee or choosing pieces to make your own, these 10 pairs of sunglasses will imbue you with all the ’90s It girl energy.
Ultimately, looking cool in sunglasses is less about the pair you’re wearing and more about how you’re wearing them. There are some particularly dorky frames out there that the It girls have made so chic. Did I think I’d be lusting over tiny elongated cateye sunnies before Hailey Bieber started rocking her beloved Saint Laurent SL 557s? Absolutely not.
But before there was Bieber, there was Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. The ’90s style icon was often spotted out and about with chic oval-shaped sunnies (she favored Selima Optique’s “Aldo” frames, and had pairs in both classic black and auburn tortoiseshell shades), which she’d pair with her oft-copied outfits as she romped around in idyllic autumntime New York City.
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As CBK fever continues to rise this fall (can you imagine how big it’ll be when American Love Story actually premieres), ’90s sunnies have become all the rage. The vision is smaller frames in an oval or rectangle shape, but you can also still buy the icon’s actual favorites.
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Ahead, find 10 pairs of sunglasses to rock this fall alongside your CBK-inspired outfit. Don’t worry if it’s not particularly sunny out while you’re wearing them, your lemon blonde hair will contribute all the light you need.
Selima Optique Aldo Sunglasses
Selima Optique
Selima Optique describes the Aldo as “the frame of choice of the ‘ultimate beautiful person’ as she was voted by her high school classmates.” That’s all there is to say, really. If you want the sunglasses, these are the sunglasses.
Selima Optique CBK Sunglasses
Selima Optique
Selima Optique knows their audience. Besides the Aldos, they carry a frame called the Carolyn. The third sister, the CBK, debuted this spring to fit more face shapes. We don’t all have that bone structure.
“In the ’90s, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy helped popularize our Aldo—understated, oval sunnies that complemented her sleek, chic minimalism,” the brand shared in an Instagram post. “In the 2000s, after receiving enough bespoke requests for a softly larger version, we launched the Carolyn: an ode to the originator…with a grand total of 11 extra millimeters. Normally we’d say size doesn’t matter, but when it comes to fashion—every millimeter counts. So, now, we’re launching a third size: the CBK, with another 14mm added to ensure we have a perfect fit for anyone.”
Quince Bali Polarized Acetate Sunglasses
Quince
If you’re looking for a more affordable option, Quince has you covered (like always). “It’s giving vintage ‘90s glamour,” they wrote of their polarized, oval-shaped sunglasses. They’re available in three colorways: classic black, a chic tortoiseshell, and green.
Poppy Lissiman Monty Sunglasses
Poppy Lissiman
For those who favor a more rectangular shape (or squoval, perhaps?), Poppy Lissiman has you covered with their Monty frames. Though the tortoiseshell pair is sold out, the Australian accessories designer’s “petite unisex ’90s style sunglasses” are also available in baby blue.
Bonnie Clyde Groupie Black Sunglasses
Bonnie Clyde
’90s icon meets 2025 cool girl with these sunnies from Bonnie Clyde. Though they look more or less the same from the front, the arms have a more sculptural flair to add some extra intrigue to your look. Though there’s nothing wrong with a good turtleneck and jeans pairing, sometimes you need a little more flair.
Crap Eyewear The Sweet Leaf Sunglasses
Crap Eyewear
Crap Eyewear is cool, and so is this cherry shade. “The Sweet Leaf is a small-ish silhouette that flatters a variety of head sizes. Its thin, adjustable temples allow for a more universal fit,” shares the brand. The bioacetate frames are biodegradable and RX-ready if you want to pop in your own prescription.
UO Essential Oval Sunglasses
Urban Outfitters
Of course Urban Outfitters got in on the ’90s sunnies trend. Their ultra-affordable take comes in this funky olive shade, brown, black, and tortoiseshell (again, of course).
& Other Stories Oval-Frame Sunglasses
&Other Stories
If you’re not anticipating tons of sunlight this fall but still want to get in on the look, may I present this pair from & Other Stories? I picked up the tinted version on a recent trip to Sweden and have received so many compliments.
Luv Lou The Honey Sunglasses
Luv Lou
Let’s add some metal to the mix, shall we? Luv Lou’s The Honey Sunglasses feature the brand’s signature gold metal temple. I also love this Vintage Haze version.
Le Specs Outta Love Sunglasses
Le Specs
Behold: Revolve’s second best-seller in the “accessories” category (it must be CBK fall), but make them pink. Worn by the Hadid sisters, Dua Lipa, Olivia Rodrigo, and Zoe Kravitz, these Le Specs favorites are available in so many shades so you can really tell your own color story this fall. I’m not sure Carolyn would go for blue tiger print… but you can?