1 | THIERRY LASRY
BACKSTORY The son of an optician father and designer mother, the Frenchman comes by his talents naturally. KNOWN FOR Handmade
sunnies with major attitude. His "futuristic vintage" sunglasses are the toast of elite beaches, city streets, and fashionable spots around the world. OPTIC VERVE Lasry meticulously sandwiches layers of acetate to create the confetti-colored, limited-edition "Sexxxy V646." And, yes, they're sexy enough to warrant triple Xs.

2 | KYME
BACKSTORY The moniker, pronounced key-may, is a riff on the Latin word for wave, chosen for its metaphoric reference to energy. The designers behind the Italian company remain intriguingly anonymous. KNOWN FOR Covetable and cool handmade Italian frames, frequent fodder for the world's top fashion blogs. PERFECT WAVE The ovoid "Frank," a tortoiseshell acetate frame with brilliant gold reflective lenses, is ideal for chasing the sun or posing nonchalantly for street-style paparazzi.

3 | GREY ANT
BACKSTORY Founded as a clothing label in 1998, Grey Ant approximates a Southern-drawled version of founder Grant Krajecki's first name. The New York-based brand's focus shifted to eyewear in 2010, and in 2014, Krajecki and partner Natalie Levy added CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Finalist to the company résumé. KNOWN FOR Chunky "Status" sunglasses and exaggerated styles featuring notched-out or partially rimmed frames. ROAD TEST A round, smoky lens floats from the glossy black acetate top bar of the "Autobahn" frame.

4 | SUPER BY RETROSUPERFUTURE
BACKSTORY The Italian line of super-cool, super-stylized, handmade sunglasses founded by Daniel Beckerman in 2007 boasts a fan base that includes Kanye and Beyoncé. VIVA ITALIA Focused on Italian design and craftsmanship, the Spring/Summer Collection finds inspiration in "bold characters-the Mastroiannis and Lorens of our times," and the carefree imagery of Italian beach vacations. FEAST YOUR EYES ON In ivory acetate with gold detailing, the '70s-vibing "Santa Tintarella" recalls the creamy hue of vanilla ice cream and heady aroma of coconut-scented sunscreen.

5 | ILLESTEVA
BACKSTORY Founded by Daniel Silberman and Justin Salguero in 2009, the Tribeca-based brand "combines classic styles with contemporary Downtown New York City aesthetics." The bold, often oversized frames are crafted by hand in Italy and France. KNOWN FOR Finalist status in the 2012 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund-and a major celeb fan base. KEEP YOUR EYE ON The "Leonard," a bookish style inspired by 1950s Havana, with high, squared-off temples and a keyhole bridge. We love it in two-tone acetate with emerald green mirrored lenses ($177). -Stacy Girard

6 | Courrèges
BACKSTORY The 1960s futurism trend wouldn't have been the same without the creations of French fashion designer André Courrèges -especially his iconic 1964 "Space Age" collection. KNOWN FOR Fast-forward 50 years and designers all over the world still reminisce about the clean cuts and mod silhouettes first introduced by Courregès. Thankfully, the house continues to create colorful yet minimalist ready-to-wear along with its iconic sunglasses. FEAST YOUR EYES ON Courregès' latest hit is the new Fluorescent Plexiglas Over-Eye Sun Visor, sold exclusively in the U.S. at Neiman Marcus. We loved seeing Kendall Jenner wearing the orange visor in Estée Lauder's campaign, which automatically made it a must-have for the sunny days ahead.