One of the biggest trends we saw for 2011 sunglasses trends was oversized sunglasses. Oversized sunglasses are a style of retro sunglasses which originally became popular in the 1970s, overtaking the cat-eye sunglasses which were popular in the 1960s. Vintage designer sunglasses with oversized frames and bug-eye lenses remained popular in the 1980s and 1990s, particularly with celebrities.

Celebrities who get swarmed by the media paparazzi typically don these oversized sunglasses so that they can slip by in crowds unnoticed. The lenses cover a very wide portion of the face and can help to conceal a celebrity’s identity. Even though that practical value isn’t really applicable to most of us, wearing large oversized sunglasses can provide the rest of us with an added benefit —the “star look.” Who are some of the celebrities who have been spotted wearing bug eye sunglasses? Bug-eye sunglasses are favorite styles of Paris Hilton, Victoria Beckham, Nicole Richie, and Cheryl Tweedy. They were also made famous by historical celebrities like Audrey Hepburn. Oversized sunglasses are popular for both men and women but are mainly a women’s sunglasses style.

Oversized glasses come in many different styles; some are oval shaped or circular, others are rectangular, and many are shaped in the bug-eye style. While the two terms are often used interchangeably, oversized indeed refers to a size, while bug-eye refers to a common shape of oversized glasses. There are other styles of oversized glasses as well including oversized wraparound sunglasses. Manufacturers of oversized designer sunglasses include Burberry, Oakley, Gucci, and Marc Jacobs, among others.

At the other end of the spectrum we have petite sunglasses. Not only are petite sunglasses a growing trend, but they also flatter some facial structures far more than oversized sunglasses. One reason petite sunglasses came into fashion in 2011 is that oversized sunglasses are so popular. This might seem counterintuitive, but just as many people flock to oversized styles for their celebrity flair, many other people also find them overwhelming.

It's all about options—some people express themselves differently, and that’s why petite sunglasses are such a big counter-trend. Not everyone wants to hide their faces, after all! In particular, people with very small bone structures can benefit from petite sunglasses. Even if you don’t wear petite clothing, you might still have a fine bone structure in your face. If for example you’re used to picking out children’s glasses and hats because adult sizes don’t fit you, petite sunglasses may well fit you.

Women’s aviator sport sunglasses are one common example of popular petite sunglasses, and similar petite sunglasses are taking the fashion world by storm. Petite sunglasses aren’t just a sport fashion; they’re also great for casual daily wear. They’re comfortable and attractive and they show off your features instead of conceal them from the world.

These days, it isn’t just the new and modern which is fashionable, but also the retro fashions of yesteryear! Trendy people are shopping for rare vintage sunglasses and vintage inspired sunglasses. You don’t have to look for a vintage sunglasses shop just to buy vintage sunglasses, though, since this style is so popular that many mainstream sunglasses stores also sell vintage inspired sunglasses.

Aviator sunglasses, Ray-Ban wayfarer sunglasses, oversized bug-eye sunglasses and horn rim cat eye sunglasses are all examples of vintage styles which have made a comeback during the Aughts. These styles were fashionable in 2011 and will be even more so in 2012. We’ve been seeing a lot of celebrities wearing cat eye sunglasses recently including Zoe Saldana, Ke$ha, and January Jones. In particular, oversized sunglasses have become a top-selling sunglasses trend.

Any of these looks for men or women can really give you a unique, old-school style which will set you apart from the crowd. Since vintage fashion trends made a comeback in the Aughts as well, vintage style sunglasses inspired by sunglasses from the 60s, 70s and 80s can really stand out as accessories paired with vintage clothing.

Polarization is an amazing technology which has made glare-resistant sunglasses possible. These days (and probably forevermore), it is very trendy to wear polarized sports sunglasses. Polarized sunglasses can eliminate glare from non metallic surfaces like water, which makes them excellent for water sports, and in particular for fishing. If you enjoy sports fishing (or you fish for a living), polarized sports sunglasses are a must; they will remove the glare from the surface of the water and allow you to perceive depth and see what’s underneath the surface.

Other people who wear polarized sunglasses for occupational reasons include truck drivers and others who spend a lot of time on the road. The polarization can help to eliminate some of the glare of the road and the landscape. Bicyclists and others who do outdoor sports on the road and elsewhere can also benefit from polarized sunglasses. Note though that polarization won’t help reduce glare when it comes to snow. Why are polarized sunglasses more popular than standard dark sunglasses? Darkened lenses which aren’t polarized reduce the brightness of everything.

Polarized sunglasses for men and women are selective and only dim the glare you don’t want to see. They aren’t as clear as non-darkened glasses but they still help you to see more effectively than darkened lenses. Shades ranging from light gray to vary dark gray are available, and some polarized lenses are adjustable. Brands include Ray-Ban classic, Oakley Half Jacket, and more.

Going into 2012, what color is the new black—stylish and sophisticated and perfect for all occasions? Looking back at fall and winter of 2011 we saw a lot of subdued beiges, burgundies, purples, tans, and neutral tones. This is only natural, considering that many people think of autumn and winter as subdued times of year—times when we rest up for next spring and summer. The colors which we saw last autumn and winter were restful shades that made sense for the season. We also saw some bright, bold yellows and pinks thrown into the mix to liven things up a bit. There’s nothing like bright yellow to remind us of the light of the sun on those grey winter days when everything seems so bleary and cold.

White was also big last year in all four seasons, which makes it of special interest in determining the new black. We may need to go back further to look at last spring and summer for more inspiration though since colors are seasonal and as we enter 2012 we’ll once again be looking at spring and summer shades for sunglasses. Honeysuckle was huge last year, as were pale oranges, yellows, greens, blues, and greys. Brown was also big earlier in the year. This year we may see some of these colors returning, along with a continuation of the neon trend which sprang up last year. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen neon fashions, but ultra-bright clothing is becoming more popular. Perhaps we’ll also see the same trend in sunglasses.

Neon sunglasses, white framed sunglasses— these are both trends we should expect to see going into 2012. White-framed sunglasses work great with most skin tones, which is a big plus, although they will support cooler palates better than warmer skin tones. These are just a few ideas to keep in mind when you shop for your next pair of trendy sunglasses for 2012. Remember though to also consider your own skin tone and wardrobe when you shop for sunglasses; you won’t want to go with a color that clashes with your natural palette or your clothing, even if that color is “in” right now. Figure out if you have a warm or cool skin tone and plan accordingly.

Cool skin tones usually look better with blues, greens and purples and silvers, while warmer skin tones look better with reds, pinks, coppers, golds, and other shades of green and purple. Of course there are no hard and fast rules on color coordination, but it’s a good place to start. You should also keep in mind that even though white may be the new black, black will always be the old black, and will always be in style. Have a look at celebrity sunglasses in 2011 and you’ll be sure to notice this trend.
There are plenty of colors of celebrity sunglasses frames of course, but you’ll see that the vast majority of the time, celebrities choose black. Even though celebrities love to experiment and are often trendsetters for unusual styles, they always come back to black—and so will everyone else, year after year.