Oversize glasses are the stars of summer 2026 The return of maxi frames on the runway and beyond

If there is one accessory defining the aesthetic of this summer, it is the oversized sunglasses, seen on the runways of Balenciaga, Saint Laurent, Prada, Tom Ford, and Willy Chavarria, as well as on the faces of Bella Hadid, Rihanna, Jennifer Lawrence, and Victoria Beckham, who in recent months have brought large frames and wraparound lenses back to center stage. On the red carpet at Cannes 2026, supermodel Hadid paired an oversized oval frame with a Prada gown, demonstrating how even a single seemingly everyday accessory can hold its own at a major event.

Their return, however, is not merely an aesthetic matter. Maxi frames speak to a deeper shift in the way fashion constructs contemporary identity: no accessory can so instantly alter the perception of a look as a pair of glasses.

From icons of the past to Fashion Week

Sunglasses have always played a special role in the construction of fashion imagery. Jackie Kennedy's large black frames defined a sophisticated elegance, while Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's transformed oversized glasses into an iconic element of the female wardrobe. And if in the Seventies shapes expanded even further, becoming more theatrical, in the early 2000s wraparound frames and bold volumes embodied the futuristic aesthetic of the era.

After years dominated by clean aesthetics, barely-there makeup, and very fine-framed glasses, the pendulum has swung decisively in the opposite direction. At the most recent Fashion Weeks, enormous glasses and oversized masks made their appearance. Pierpaolo Piccioli, influenced by Demna's style, brought bug-eye glasses of exaggerated proportions to the Balenciaga SS26 runway, with wraparound surfaces and a futuristic attitude that recalls the house's technological and post-digital aesthetic. Loewe, meanwhile, opted for large sport-inspired masks, reinterpreting the language of performance eyewear through aerodynamic shapes and a more experimental approach.

At Gucci, for FW26, maxi tortoiseshell frames and aviators of considerable size were brought back to the scene, evoking a jet-set imaginary rooted in the '70s and reinterpreted in a contemporary key. Valentino, meanwhile, amplified the maximalism through thick glossy acetate frames capable of creating a contrast between elegance and dramatic presence. Finally, Saint Laurent reinterpreted the trend through a more sophisticated lens, true to the house's aesthetic. The maxi frames of the SS26 collection take on a cinematic allure, with dark, structured shapes that evoke the house's signature glamour.

Shifting to the world of film and television, no character better embodies this energy than Maddy Perez, one of the protagonists of Euphoria. One of the most talked-about moments of the show's latest season is the one in which Maddy, running into Cassie after the falling-out that marked their friendship, wears a fur coat despite the sweltering heat, luminous makeup, and enormous animal-print sunglasses covering half her face.

Why are giant glasses making a comeback right now?

The return of maxi frames is not simply about an aesthetic shift, but reflects a broader transformation in the way fashion interprets accessories. After years dominated by quiet luxury, sunglasses have become one of the most immediate tools for building recognizability.

It is no coincidence that eyewear has become a strategic category for the luxury market. More accessible than a handbag or a ready-to-wear piece, glasses allow consumers to enter a house's universe at a semi-accessible price point. At the same time, they represent a highly profitable segment with strong communicative power for brands: in 2025/2026, the global luxury eyewear market was estimated at around 17 billion euros, while Kering Eyewear posted revenues of approximately 1.6 billion euros, confirming the category's growing weight in the strategies of major groups.

The success of maxi frames, however, does not depend solely on their economic value. At a time when many wardrobes share the same elements, differentiation is increasingly achieved through accessories. Glasses alter the proportions of the face and transform even the simplest look, becoming a narrative tool to be deployed every day.