We’ve mentioned that oversized sunglasses have mutated from overly-feminine, thick, pink-and-sparkles frames to classic thinner models in black, tortoise, or red, but over the past few weeks, another variation on this trend emerged: butterfly sunglasses. Similar in facial coverage as oversized frames, butterfly sunglasses have a triangular appearance that fans out from the middle. Unlike their oversized counterparts, butterfly frames are often angular, which is often a friendlier shape for those with round faces.

Early in December, perpetual party girl Paris Hilton was spotted in Tom Ford butterfly sunglasses. Despite the fact that the heiress essentially made oversized frames trendy early in the aughts, she goes for a classic look here, with what appears to be black angular frames with gradient brown lenses.

Khloe Kardashian, another reality TV celeb, was seen with a similar pair of Tom Ford butterfly sunglasses. While Khloe is often considered the least attractive yet the most logical out of the older Kardashian sisters, her choice of butterfly sunglasses shows she knows her fashion. The geometric style – which is supposedly in for this upcoming spring – flatters her face shape.

Jennifer Lopez, who has seen her music career get back on track over the past year, was also spotted in a similar pair of Tom Ford butterfly sunglasses. Like Paris and Khloe, J. Lo’s use of them is casual, although the classic look is ideal for nearly any occasion.

Tom Ford, at least amongst the stars, seems to be the brand of choice for butterfly sunglasses, and the high-end brand has at least three options: Calgary Butte, which has a rounded shape, and FT0175 and Nico, both of which are more geometric. Although high-end, Tom Ford isn’t known for bright colors and glitter, so all sunglasses under the brand stick with a palette of black, brown, tortoise, or Havana, with solid or gradient lenses.

While no stranger to eyewear, luxury women’s line Carven is introducing a line of sunglasses. A brand worn by fashion icons Alexa Chung and Emma Watson, Carven hasn’t included sunglasses in its line for nearly 30 years, but at the recent Paris Fashion Week, several models were seen wearing the new styles.

Carven was reinvigorated by Givenchy designer Guillaume Henry, and sunglasses appear to be one change for the line. While the designs can be seen online, they won’t be available until spring 2012. Retro styles have been in for sunglasses over the past few years, and Carven’s new frames are no exception. Based on the glamour of Paris in the 1950s, Carven offers classic looks in tortoise, and more eye-catching styles in bold and bright colors are included. For the latter, the frame may be a solid or translucent plastic.

As far as the design is concerned, Carven’s new style – only one look seems to be available for now – mirrors the clubmaster frame offered by Ray Ban. There’s only one notable difference – a lack of angles. While Ray Ban clubmasters are a half-frame style with a plastic horn rim on top and rounded lenses, Carven’s eschews the angular look for a rounded top. For a specific touch, all sunglasses by Carven will have wood or metal accents, as well as a subtle “C” to note the brand.

Compared to Carven’s older sunglasses from the ‘50s to the ‘80s, the newer designs are far bolder. Older styles stuck with a classic pallet of black and tortoise with gradient lenses, no matter if the frame was a wayfarer, oversized, or cat eye. Although a fairly high price tag is attached ($165 to $235), Carven’s sunglasses are expected to be the “it” luxury look for next year.

Although the price tag can be a turnoff for some, would you wear a pair of sunglasses similar to Carven’s new styles? Or, would you stick with the retro and classic look of a pair of Ray Ban Clubmasters?

Classic sunglasses styles are nearly always neutral. The black-on-black Ray Bans or Carerra aviators could look just as good on a man as they do on a woman. Yet, with such classic styles becoming the norm, what can a woman do to be in style but still have a feminine edge? Cat eye sunglasses seem to be the answer.

Now part of several designers’ lines, cat eye sunglasses have grown in popularity over the past year and several celebrities have been spotted in them. Aesthetically, cat eye shades merge the angular and curved qualities of 1980s wayfarers with ‘50s sunglasses. The result is a frame that is swooped on top and curved on the bottom.

At the same time, though, cat eye sunglasses don’t have a unified form. Some pairs are all swoops and curves, without a single sharp angle in site. Others, in emulating wayfarers, go for an angled top half and rounded bottom. A few even are exclusively angular. Additionally, cat eye shades can be on the smaller site, hinting at the ‘50s influence, while others are nearly oversized.

Sticking with the neutral theme, cat eye sunglasses often come in a palette of black, tortoise, or white. Gradient lenses add some variation.

If such a style appeals to you, which type of cat eye sunglasses fits your face best? Because the geometric look is predicted to be in for 2012, expect more angular styles, which are ideal for those with round faces. Cat eye frames that are all curves, on the other hand, smooth out a visage characterized by a square jaw, high cheek bones, or sharp lines. As far as the hybrid type of frames is concerned, they are a better match for someone with an oval-shaped or angular face.

Although working consistently since The Smiths called it quits more than 20 years ago, guitarist Johnny Marr has flown under the radar. Despite doing three Electronic albums with New Order’s Bernard Sumner, touring with his own band, and playing on a few Pet Shop Boys records, Marr will mostly likely always be associated with singer Morrissey. Musical endeavors aside, however, Marr made news recently for designing sunglasses for Ray-Ban. Bringing back yet another classic style, Ray-Ban collaborated with the guitarist to re-launch Signets.

While the designer sunglasses brand is bringing back a full line, Marr has his own limited edition pair. With a clubmaster-like style, Marr’s limited edition Signets are characterized by a thin metallic frame and mirrored blue lenses.

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Marr told the magazine: “How many people get to design their own sunglasses, you know what I mean?” He then said: “I got to take my pick. I didn’t really have it as an ambition – it’s something that just came along.”

Unlike the countless other actors and musicians that start clothing or accessory lines, Marr never designed before. For Ray-Ban, he is the first musician to design a new pair of classic shades. To tell the difference between standard Signets and Marr’s style, the limited edition frames have the guitarist’s signature by the temple.

In 2008, Ray Ban brought back their Clubmaster shades, which were introduced in the 1980s. Combining angular and curved lines, Clubmasters have a half-rim style and, like many Ray Ban sunglasses, are available in several colors. Signets, on the other hand, merge Clubmaster and aviator aesthetics to create a metal-framed design of a sleek horn rimmed-like top with rounded lenses. For those that find the colored frames of wayfarers and Clubmasters too tacky, the Signet has the same style but in subdued form.

The clothing takes center stage at Fashion Week, and the accessories play a distant second fiddle. Nevertheless, without fine-tuned observation of the handbags, sunglasses, jewelry, or shoes accompanying the rest of the garments, how are you supposed to know what to wear for the upcoming season? Designer sunglasses styles for spring 2012 have gradually been rolled out since the spring 2011 Fashion Week, and more came out during the last series on shows in September. So, if you’re looking to get up to date with the latest eyewear, what’s in – and what’s out – for men and women?

It’s all about the colors for this upcoming spring. The colored frames of your Ray Ban wayfarers are no longer sufficient. Rather, designers like Fendi and Anna Sui take it a step further and just color the full pair with a solid shade; red, purple, and gold appear to be the most popular colors for women. In the case of Fendi, the colored sunglasses are rimless and transparent. For other designers like Dolce and Gabbana, the frames are solid colored plastic.

Men’s sunglasses, while likely not red or purple, don’t fall far out of the realm of this trend. Expect to find some shades in gold, and if you still own a pair of colored plastic framed aviators, hold on to them.

On the same note, metallic looks are in for both sexes. Although mirrored lenses were a trend for men over the past summer, they’ve now extended to women. Metallic sunglasses for both sexes, on the other hand, won’t just stick with silver or blue; rather, gold too is predicted to be popular. If the mirrored look doesn’t suit your tastes, gradient lenses are making a comeback.

As far as shapes are concerned, the more angular, the better. But, oversized sunglasses are still on the fashion radar for women – just as long as the rims are round. A hybrid style – angular with rounded edges – is too ambivalent, and for a pair, go with either a round or fully angular design – whichever fits your face shape. Or, a cat eye pair has the right amount of angles and curves for women – a straight slant on top and a rounded swooped line on the bottom.

Since spring, classic sunglasses by top designers have been the “it”-look for celebrities? And, why not? It’s about time the stars started wearing something practical, a style that doesn’t alienate budget fashionistas. No matter if it’s Prada or Ray Ban, these classic styles stick with black and tortoise, with the occasional gradient lenses, and run the gamut from wayfarers and clubmasters to oversized and aviator frames.

At the same time, though, some celebrities are still having fun with their eyewear. After all, basic black starts to seem boring after a while. Despite its versatility, black often takes a backseat to brighter shades, and a handful of celebrities have been keeping this in mind over the summer.

While bright colors rarely end up on men’s shades, actor Emile Hirsch was spotted in neon green and black striped wayfarers. The design certainly pops out and, with his otherwise-plain look, they say, “I’m casual but still spontaneous.”

Whitney Port of MTV’s canceled The City also went for an out-there look while on the beach with a pair of Karen Walker Bunny sunglasses in translucent orange. Not practical in any way, Port’s Walker sunglasses are strictly for fun.

Rather than go with a bold color, Ashley Olsen’s Prada sunglasses stand out on shape alone. How often do you see oversized sunglasses with curved ends and prominent curlicues near the temples?

Or, as U.K. singer Cheryl Cole shows, embellishments glam up an ordinary pair of oversized sunglasses. Her Swarovski Amazing sunglasses (pun intended, I think) go beyond basic oversized shades with crystals and texture along the edges.

But what if you’re not a celebrity? Certainly a basic black or tortoise pair of shades should be in your wardrobe, but for a bit of fun and in casual settings as these celebrities show, a bright, embellished, or uniquely-shaped pair of designer sunglasses enhances an otherwise-ordinary look. If you have to have two pairs of sunglasses, mix them up: a practical set for everyday wear and a fun one, such as bright-colored wayfarers, you know you’ll wear often.

Basic is back for sunglasses, and it’s rare these days to catch a star wearing a novelty pair of frames, unless it’s Lady Gaga. While Ray Ban always seems to be the go-to brand for such a classic look, Carrera has been spotted on several celebrities as of recent.

One in particular is Pete Wentz, former bassist of Fall Out Boy and ex-husband of Ashlee Simpson. But rather than wear a single pair, Wentz is rumored to have stolen 10 from a recent event. How did he go about doing that? According to gossip blog Socialite, Wentz was supposedly approached by a Carrera rep to wear free sunglasses at Perez Hilton’s One Night, and the bass player is reported to have taken 10 pairs, amounting to $1,600, dumping them in his swag bag. Although the rep tried to stop him, Wentz took off with the merchandise.

Other celebrities, on the other hand, wear their Carrera sunglasses honestly – and out of style. Model Heidi Klum was spotted in Cancun wearing a pair of Carrera aviators at a photo shoot for an ad campaign for her upcoming fragrance this past week. Similarly, former Disney star Hilary Duff, who recently announced she’s pregnant, was also seen in Carrera aviators. But, while Klum went with a basic black, Duff’s Endurance pair seems to take a lighter approach, with gradient lenses and a tortoise frame. Additionally, Glee’s Dianna Agron was seen recently wearing a pair of oversized Margot Carrera shades.

So, what’s the appeal of Carrera sunglasses? As celebrities appear to be going moderately economical with their looks by choosing classic sunglasses, Carrera sticks with basics – no crazy colors and no rhinestones. Essentially, a pair of Carrera sunglasses goes with practically any outfit and will be in style for a few seasons.

In January, the Jersey Shore star mentioned that she was getting into fashion. Since then, Snooki’s empire inspired by her fashion sense and tastes has expanded. While her most prominent items of the moment are slippers and jewelry, the pint-sized guidette is including sunglasses, according to a recent tweet: “My sunglass line coming out in the fall! Black frame pink writing says POOF NATION =D”

She followed it with a twitpic of one of her designs, an oversized pair of sunglasses with hot pink and black frames printed with the words “Poof Nation.”

For many fashion writers and journalists, Snooki’s fashion tastes are considered subpar. Tim Gunn, in fact, went as far as saying her style is similar to a monkey house at the zoo. But, is this the case with her sunglasses line?

While only one design, pictured above, has been revealed, it appears that the Jersey Shore castmember is in sync with the latest trends – but gives them her own style. Celebrities, as we saw a few months ago, are still keeping oversized sunglasses in trend rotation, but rather than the thick frames of five years ago, they prefer thinner designs and a palette of red, black, and brown shades.

Snooki’s twitpic shows that, for this particular oversized look, she chose the latest trend, which is somewhat surprising. Considering the Jersey Shore cast’s penchant for tackiness and rhinestones, you’d think that she’d go for the older look, especially as nearly a year ago, she was spotted in shield-style shades covered in rhinestones – even the lenses.

Nevertheless, Snooki’s style, at least from the single picture, is not subdued – but it’s not overly opulent, either. The colors and wording are her touch. The full line is expected to appear in about a week, so what do you think the rest of the styles will look like?

Designers and fashion magazines seldom talk about men’s sunglasses. It’s as if just black lenses on a metal frame will suffice and simply go along with the latest trends, be it a wraparound, aviator, or wayfarer style. More recently, metallic lenses have turned into a trend for men, although such sunglasses often need more care. However, if you’re a guy looking to do something different with your eyewear and still be in style, the latest look for men is geometric sunglasses.

Celebrities from B-list actors to A-list rappers have been seen sporting these styles recently. Ryan Phillippe, for instance, was spotted in angular Miyagi Dominic 1421 sunglasses. Much like wayfarers, the Miyagi sunglasses worn on Phillippe have an overall angular look softened by rounded corners; with a thin metal frame, these sunglasses can look good on just about any guy.

George Clooney, similarly, choose a neutral geometric look with a pair of Persol sunglasses. With rectangular-shaped lenses, Clooney’s Persol sunglasses have a hint of a ‘90s wraparound style. But, the ‘90s are supposedly coming back, so such a look won’t make you seem dated.

Granted, the look appeared in a music video, but the square-shaped shades worn by Will.i.am give Ray Ban’s Wayfarer Square a run for its money in terms of angularity. Designed by Mykita in conjunction with Rad Hourani, these to-the-extreme square sunglasses go in line with the Black Eyed Peas’ general fondness for less-traditional eyewear.

No matter if the rounded square style of Miyagi Dominic or the sharp angles of Mykita sunglasses appeal to you, not everyone should wear geometric shades. The angles particularly benefit those with softer or round faces, as the style adds some definition. Nevertheless, those with angular visages – square jaw looks – should think twice about going with geometric styles. While the shapes may seem congruous, the angular design of the sunglasses can make a person’s square-shaped face appear too boxy.

Attaching a celebrity name to a product often ensures that it will sell – even for a little while. Some celebrity brands have even become successful, such as Britney Spears’, Paris Hilton’s, or Antonio Banderas’ perfume lines or Jessica Simpson’s eponymous clothing and shoes. So, considering the moderate to mega success of such brands, why wouldn’t a star want to attempt to put together a fashion line?

Robert Pattinson, the actor best known as Edward Cullen from the Twilight movies, seems to be considering such a venture. According to his Twilight co-star Kellen Lutz (Emmett Cullen), “Rob and I were talking about clothing lines, he found out I was doing one and was like, ‘I should do one.’ He’s always so hipster.” Lutz himself is involved in fashion with his Abbott & Main collection that recently debuted in the United States.

Paris Hilton, similarly, is expanding her brand overseas and into eyewear. While the heiress is no longer tabloid fodder, or at least as much as she used to be, she’s developed a successful brand that includes clothing and perfume and is expanding to eyewear, including sunglasses and contact lenses. The former Simple Life reality star said, “Every girl knows that a great wardrobe of glasses is key to getting the right ‘look’ each season. I am so excited about working with OEM, who have brilliantly interpreted my style into a range of must-have frames and cute colored contact lenses for fashionable girls across Asia.” Considering the recent hype surrounding the diamond contact lenses, what do you think Hilton’s products will look like? More importantly, will her sunglasses line hark back to her oversized signature look, circa 2006, or be more modern?

Hilton, as well, went to Manila this weekend for an opening of a luxury fashion outlet for her brand. While news outlets are primarily talking about the heiress losing two phones in flight, she is going to be in the Philippines for a week for the opening of her Hilton Fashion and Handbag store.