Both superstar singers have accessorised with Swedish brand Anna-Karin Karlsson
A pair of sunglasses is, at its core, a functional item. It doesn’t take much to protect one’s eyes from the sun, after all. But, over the years, sunglasses have become more and more highly stylised, elevating the wearer’s look just as much as they still retain their utility. One of the great innovators in sunglass style is Swedish designer Anna-Karin Karlsson, whose eponymous brand is both highly loved and highly exclusive.
Marketed as “eyewear couture”, these aren’t your standard sunglasses. Karlsson puts everything into her designs, with stones set by hand and lenses coated in specialised anti-reflection material. Each element of the glasses are luxe; the brand often uses Swarovski crystals and cubic zirconia stones, with frames made from stainless steel or titanium, then plated with real gold.
Photo: @annakarinkarlssonofficial
Photo: @annakarinkarlsson
It makes perfect sense, then, that two musical icons should choose Anna-Karin Karlsson to accessorise their performance looks. Beyonce and Mary J. Blige have both turned to the Shady Luv 2.0 design, pairing the glasses with glittering bodysuits and latex corsets.
Most recently, Blige styled the glasses with a rippling blue two-piece and statement bling, with Karlsson herself commenting that she was “utterly chuffed.” While it will cost you a cool €2,290 to get yourself a pair, the Swedish design provides the perfect inspiration to switch up your sunglass choices this summer.