Tory Burch and the Start of the Preppy Frame

Tory Burch established her namesake brand in New York City from her kitchen table in 2004, which she describes as a “distinctly American brand with a global point of view”. Tory Burch had previously worked at iconic designer houses such as Ralph Lauren, Vera Wang and Loewe, and that timeless style carries through to Tory’s brand. The brand’s collections reflects Tory Burch’s love for colour and travel, through the use of prints and special detailing. Tory Burch has quickly become a hallmark American brand, and a cornerstone of the New England preppy style. The brand has rapidly expanded and now has a global presence with over 300 stores internationally, along with the establishment of the ‘Tory Burch Foundation’ which works for the advancement of women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship by providing access to capital, education and digital resources. 

The eyeglass frame brand is most recognizable for its use of color, implementing the entire rainbow in its designs and products. Tory Burch’s double-T logo is instantly recognisable and is inspired by Tory’s travel and David Hicks’ interior graphics, and features heavily on the brand’s products. Tory’s travels to Greece, Italy, Morocco and India has inspired several of her most iconic prints. Tory Burch has a celebrity following including Reese Witherspoon, Hilary Duff and Gigi Hadid. The brand has also received the royal seal of approval from the Duchess of Cambridge, who has wore dresses from the brand to several high profile events, and her sister Pippa Matthews is often spotted wearing Tory Burch. 

Tory Burch’s eyewear and sunglasses range was launched in October 2009 in partnership with Luxottica, who produce some of the most recognisable designer eyewear pieces on the luxury market, guaranteeing that the Tory Burch eyewear range has the same high level of craftsmanship as their mainline products. The classic style of the eyewear range is inspired by the personal style of her parents Buddy and Reva, and reflects the timeless vintage style of the 1960s and 1970s, with a modern feel to reflect the brand’s New England style.

Their range of eyewear is targeted at women who value both style and functionality, and several of the sunglasses are inspired by some of Tory Burch’s best selling products. The ‘Miller Square Sunglasses’ are part of the brand’s iconic logo collection that is one of the most recognisable ranges in the brand. The classic style features a minimalistic logo and gradient lenses, and comes in several colours including transparent red, dark tortoise and black. The square style of sunglasses best suits round and oval faces, but the timeless style is easy to wear for any face shape. 

The most trendy of the Tory Burch eyewear are their modern interpretations of the classic and universally flattering aviator style. Their ‘Cut-out Temple Pilot Sunglasses’ first appeared in their Spring/Summer 2020 collection and is a unique twist of the timeless style with a combination of lacquered metal and perforated templates. The style is available in both gold and silver, making it great for any complexion and skin tone. For those who want a softer style of aviators, the ‘Half-Rim Pilot Sunglasses’ are flattering for almost every face shape, and update the original style with a metallic bridge. The sunglasses, with their gradient lenses, are available in several colour ways including and metal types, including rose gold metal with matching tinted gradient lenses. For fans of the half-rim style, Tory Burch has also incorporated the style into oversized squared sunglasses with their ‘Half-Rim Wire Sunglasses’ which provides a modern twist on the vintage style and adds definition for oval, oblong and round face types. 

If the classic aviators are more your style, Tory Burch stocks the traditional sunglasses style with their ‘Dimensional Overlap Pilot Polar’ sunglasses which featured silver lenses, while the ’T-Logo Pilot Sunglasses’ have polarised lenses and the metal temple bar is inspired by the gold jewellery in the brand’s collection. 

The ‘Reva’ sunglasses range is Tory Burch’s best sellers eyewear collection and is named after Tory’s mother, featuring the gold double-T hardware on each temple. The collection includes large square sunglasses and gradient frames, available in both blue pearl tortoise and dark tortoise, for a Jackie Kennedy inspired look. The sunglasses are also available in the ‘Reva Round Sunglasses’ in classic black. As well as having sunglasses named after her mother, Tory Burch’s ‘Buddy Sunglasses’ are named after her father and first appeared in Spring/Summer 2019, and are inspired by Buddy’s go-to glasses. The style is a timeless rectangular shape with green-tinted lenses and are available in classic black and the brand’s ‘Marbled Horn’ print.

Several of the sunglasses take their inspiration directly from the height of 1970s fashion, including the ‘Logo-Temple sunglasses’, a favourite of Tory Burch’s, which brings glamour to everyday life while incorporating modern trends with the gradient dual-tone acetate frames.

While the brand’s focus is on timeless designs, some designs are street-style ready. The ‘Rectangular Logo Sunglasses’ are made of tortoise-patterned acetate with gradient colour, going from tortoise through to olive green and then a clear tone. The signature T logo hardware is a great way to incorporate a more minimalistic take on the logo-mania craze.The logo motif continues in the ‘Logo Hinge Sunglasses’ with contrasting frames and legs, and the butterfly shape sunglasses would have been Lee Radziwill approved. 

The most street-style appropriate statement piece in the eyewear range are the ‘Octagonal Sunglasses’ which featured a modern and geometric shape that can be worn every day to elevate any outfit. The cut-out logos and transparent acetate give the sunglasses a futuristic feel that can be dressed up and down. 

Tory Burch sunglasses are a great investment piece and come with a protective case in the brand’s signature orange colour. They are the perfect choice for the woman who appreciates vintage style and timeless fashion, and who wants to emulate it with a modern twist. 

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