JOSEPHSON OPTICIANS 60 Bloor West, 416-964-7070, josephson.ca
The brightest sunglasses I’ve spotted all season were at Josephson Opticians earlier this month, when designer Frédéric Beausoleil was in town for a trunk show. Part of the Nouvelle Vague collection, the vintage-inspired specs are reminiscent of a retro Cadillac with their glossy black shine, finely fluted metal arms and a shape that sweeps up to the temples.
Those by-special-order sunnies have a lot of competition for most distinctive frames on the eyewear flagship’s shelves, from Jérémy Tarian’s 80s-inspired acetate aviators to standout Mykitas in fluorescent metal. For the more trend- and investment-conscious, Robert Marc wins best in tortoiseshell, and Claire Goldsmith does a sharp round frame in white.
If all these options still feel a bit staid and you really, really want to stand out at the beach, Oliver Goldsmith is your go-to label, with pieces shaped like butterflies or a pair of striped, triangular sails.
Josephson picks: A Paul Smith pair features finely laminated layers of brown, grey and green acetate, $280 summer’s best tortoiseshell has the high-contrast, speckled look of a soft square style from Robert Marc, $525 wear a Mykita pair with blue mirrored lenses for a serious pop of colour, $530.
Look for: The store’s vintage archive, including scissor-, guitar- and bicycle-shaped sunglasses displayed on an equally sculptural ceiling-high corrugated cardboard shelf.
Hours: Monday to Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 9:30 am to 6 pm, Thursday 9:30 am to 8 pm.