5 Outdated Eyewear Trends I'm Saying Goodbye To—Plus Their 2024 Swaps

A collage of eyewear on the runways from Luar, The Attico, Louis Vuitton, Miu Miu, and Gucci.

(Image credit: Luar via Imaxtree; Courtesy of The Attico; Courtesy of Louis Vuitton; Courtesy of Miu Miu; Courtesy of Gucci)

Anyone who loves fashion knows what wearing the right pair of trendy sunglasses can do for your personal style and confidence. I rarely leave my apartment without sunglasses sliding down the bridge of my nose to hide from my neighbors and complete my outfit. I have a special rack just for cool sunglasses at my door, so I never leave without them. They're that powerful.

Nothing is worse than looking back at old photos and seeing myself in sunglass trends that should've been left in the dust. I've already done a sunglass purge to start the year, and I'm quick to return a style I've ordered only to discover that it doesn't pass the IRL test. To help you avoid any mistakes, I've worked with my team of fabulous fashion editors on a list of the sunglass trends of 2024 that simply aren't worth my time. Get your donation bin ready.

Shop the best trendy sunglasses 2024:

Say Goodbye To: Trendy Sporty Frames

Shop: A Classic Cat-Eye Silhouette

A collage of oval-shaped eyewear seen on the runways at shows like The Attico, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton.

(Image credit: Courtesy of The Attico, Courtesy of Gucci, Courtesy of Louis Vuitton)

While a cat-eye sounds like a bold statement, it's actually what I consider a uniform piece in any sunglass collection, especially when it's done subtly. For me, gone are the days of sports-mode sunglasses that mirror F1 racers. I want the timeless cat-eye effect.

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Say Goodbye To: Multicolored Frames

Shop: Acetate Aviators

A collage of acetate aviator eyewear seen on the runways at shows like Khaite, Efants Deprimes, and Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini.

(Image credit: Courtesy of Khaite, Enfants Deprimes via Imaxtree, Courtesy of Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini)

I used to love a colorful pair of sunglasses to match whatever I was wearing, but since I'm currently in my neutral era, those sunglasses aren't coming out very much. I also love aviators, but they needed a 2024 refresh, so I have loved seeing designers create these oversize acetate styles that will continue to be big this year.

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Say Goodbye To: Circular Frames

Shop: Clubmaster Sunglasses

A collage of clubmaster sunglasses seen on the runways at shows like Zimmermann, Saint Laurent, and Prada.

(Image credit: Courtesy of Zimmermann, Saint Laurent via Imaxtree, Courtesy of Prada)

Let's talk about 2024 ins and outs. Out? The nightclub aesthetic. In? The country-club aesthetic. When I think of clubmaster sunglasses, my mind goes to the New England fanfare around golf and pastel dresses. I'm swapping those dresses for New York City streetwear and adding Clubmaster sunglasses on top.

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Say Goodbye To: Tiny '90s Frames

Shop: Oversize 2010s Sunglasses

A collage of oversized 2010 sunglasses seen on the runways at shows like Courreges, Ralph Lauren, and Tom Ford.

(Image credit: Courtesy of Courreges, Courtesy of Ralph Lauren, Courtesy of Tom Ford)

Do you want to feel like Jennifer Lopez in a 2004 music video? If so, same. Those tiny '90s frames that were the center of attention for years are finally on the outs, and now, it's all about the bigger, the better. Nothing feels more elite than hiding behind supersize frames.

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Say Goodbye To: Printed Frames

Shop: Tortoiseshell Frames

A collage of tortoise-frame sunglasses seen on the runways at shows like Andreadamo, Miu Miu, and Luar.

(Image credit: Courtesy of Andreadamo, Courtesy of Miu Miu, Luar via Imaxtree)

Lately, I've found brown sunglasses boring, but tortoiseshell frames are all the rage. When something has the Miu Miu stamp of approval, that's all I need to know. If you plan on wearing a lot of neutrals this year, these are the sunglasses that will go right along with your look.

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This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

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Associate Editor

Sierra Mayhew was always destined to work in fashion, but she didn't know it at first. Growing up with no choice but to wear a rotation of school uniforms and activewear, her love for fashion really blossomed when she moved away for college and was able to finally define her very own personal style. Shortly thereafter, she interned at Elle magazine and instantly knew that editorial was for her. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame, she worked for ShopBazaar, contributing regularly to Bazaar.com, and finally made her way to Who What Wear, where she is an associate editor. When she’s not working, you can catch her always trying to catch a flight, trying the latest fitness craze in New York City, or exploring luxury vintage boutiques.