Summer 2026 is not about following trends — it is about owning pieces so well-made, so perfectly suited to your face, that you reach for them every single day for years. At The Last Optical, we have spent the past six months testing, wearing, and obsessing over the new collections from our designer partners. The result is this edit: eight sunglasses that represent the absolute best of what independent luxury eyewear offers right now.
Every frame in this guide is available to purchase online at thelastopticalshop.com with complimentary U.S. shipping and worldwide delivery. And because we are opticians first, every pair can be fitted with your prescription — polarized, photochromic, or clear — at no compromise to the design.
1. MYKITA Margiela MMRAW020 — The Architectural Statement
Origin: Berlin, Germany
Material: Stainless steel + raw acetate
Price range: $650–$780
The ongoing collaboration between MYKITA and Maison Margiela continues to produce some of the most intellectually compelling sunglasses in the world. The MMRAW020 features MYKITA's patented spiral hinge — no screws, no welds — wrapped in raw-cut acetate that deliberately exposes the layered material beneath. It is industrial, sculptural, and unmistakably avant-garde. The flat Zeiss lenses provide edge-to-edge optical clarity with full UV400 protection.
Best for: The person whose wardrobe is 90% black, white, and architectural silhouettes. Pairs beautifully with linen suits and minimalist jewelry.
2. Garrett Leight Kinney Sun — The California Classic
Origin: Venice Beach, California
Material: Japanese-crafted acetate + CR-39 lenses
Price range: $380–$455
Named after the iconic Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice Beach, this frame is the platonic ideal of a California sunglass. The proportions are universally flattering — a soft square shape with enough curve to suit round, oval, and angular faces alike. For Summer 2026, Garrett Leight introduces the frame in Woodglen Tortoise and Pinewood — earth tones pulled directly from the California landscape. The CR-39 mineral lenses are lighter than glass with superior optical clarity.
Best for: Weekend brunches, coastal drives, and anyone who wants to look effortlessly put-together without trying too hard.
3. Lindberg Sun Titanium 8907 — The Featherweight Luxury
Origin: Aarhus, Denmark
Material: Aerospace-grade titanium
Price range: $600–$750 (custom configuration)
At just 1.9 grams for the frame alone, the Lindberg 8907 is so light you will forget you are wearing sunglasses — until someone asks where you got them. Every Lindberg frame is custom-built to your exact measurements from a choice of over 300 color combinations. The titanium is hypoallergenic, corrosion-resistant, and flexible enough to survive being sat on. For summer, we are recommending the polished gold front with matte espresso temples, fitted with Lindberg's proprietary polarized lenses.
Best for: The perfectionist who wants bespoke luxury without ostentation. Ideal for all-day wear — boating, golf, driving, or simply living well.
4. ic! Berlin Raf S. — The Indestructible Traveler
Origin: Berlin, Germany
Material: Sheet metal + patented screwless hinge
Price range: $420–$520
If you travel frequently, the ic! Berlin Raf S. is the sunglass that will never let you down. The patented screwless hinge means there are literally no parts that can loosen, break, or fall out — even after thousands of open-close cycles. The sheet metal construction is flexible enough to twist without deforming and light enough to wear from sunrise to sunset. The oversized navigator shape provides excellent coverage while the gradient lenses add a touch of sophistication to the industrial aesthetic.
Best for: Frequent flyers, road trippers, and anyone who has ever lost a screw from their sunglasses at the worst possible moment.
5. SALT. Optics Quinn Sun — The Coastal Sophisticate
Origin: California, USA
Material: Plant-based acetate + Japanese titanium core
Price range: $460–$540
SALT. Optics builds sunglasses the way a master watchmaker builds a timepiece — with obsessive attention to materials and finishing. The Quinn Sun features plant-based bio-acetate (derived from cotton and wood pulp rather than petroleum), a hidden Japanese titanium core wire for structural integrity, and Carl Zeiss polarized lenses with anti-reflective coating on the back surface to eliminate bounce-back glare. The result is a frame that feels as premium as it looks.
Best for: The environmentally conscious luxury buyer who refuses to compromise on quality. Perfect for coastal living, sailing, and garden parties.
6. Face à Face Bocca Lova Sun — The Bold Statement
Origin: Paris, France
Material: Multi-layered French acetate
Price range: $520–$640
Face à Face does not make wallflower eyewear. The Bocca Lova Sun is a celebration of color, craftsmanship, and Parisian audacity — featuring hand-polished multi-layered acetate that reveals different colors at different angles. The oversized cat-eye silhouette is unapologetically feminine and dramatic. Each frame takes over 100 steps to produce, with every edge hand-tumbled and every surface hand-buffed to a jewelry-like finish.
Best for: The woman who considers her sunglasses the focal point of her outfit, not an afterthought. Pairs magnificently with bold lipstick and structured handbags.
7. Robert Marc 942S — The New York Power Frame
Origin: New York City, USA
Material: Italian Mazzucchelli acetate
Price range: $480–$560
Robert Marc has been the quiet authority in New York luxury eyewear for decades, and the 942S represents everything the brand does best: impeccable proportions, rich Italian acetate, and a silhouette that communicates confidence without shouting. The frame uses Mazzucchelli acetate — the same material house that supplies Hermès and Chanel — hand-finished to a depth of color that mass-produced frames simply cannot achieve. The slightly squared-off shape reads as decisive and polished.
Best for: The professional who wants sunglasses that transition seamlessly from a business lunch to a rooftop cocktail. A power frame in the truest sense.
8. L.A. Eyeworks Dap Sun — The Creative Original
Origin: Los Angeles, California
Material: Premium Japanese acetate
Price range: $440–$520
L.A. Eyeworks has been making frames for people who refuse to blend in since 1979. The Dap Sun continues that legacy with a shape that is neither round nor square — it occupies its own geometric territory. The proportions are generous without being oversized, and the temple detailing adds visual interest without weight. Available in colorways you will not find anywhere else, because L.A. Eyeworks develops proprietary acetate colors that exist exclusively in their collection.
Best for: Architects, artists, creative directors, and anyone whose personal style defies easy categorization. A conversation-starting frame.
How to Choose: A Quick Decision Framework
With eight exceptional options, choosing can feel overwhelming. Here is our optician's shortcut:
If you prioritize weight: Lindberg 8907 (1.9g) or MYKITA MMRAW020 (ultra-light stainless steel)
If you prioritize durability: ic! Berlin Raf S. (screwless, virtually indestructible)
If you prioritize sustainability: SALT. Quinn Sun (plant-based bio-acetate)
If you prioritize color and artistry: Face à Face Bocca Lova or L.A. Eyeworks Dap
If you prioritize versatility: Garrett Leight Kinney or Robert Marc 942S
If you prioritize avant-garde design: MYKITA Margiela MMRAW020
Every Pair Available with Your Prescription
Here is what separates The Last Optical from every other online eyewear retailer: we are opticians. Every frame in this edit can be fitted with prescription sun lenses — single vision, progressive, or occupational — in polarized, photochromic, or tinted configurations. We use Essilor and Zeiss ophthalmic lenses exclusively, cut and mounted in our Montgomery, NY workshop.
This means you do not have to choose between seeing clearly and looking extraordinary. You get both.
Shop the Edit
Every frame featured in this article is available now at thelastopticalshop.com with:
• Free U.S. shipping on all orders
• Worldwide delivery to over 50 countries
• Virtual consultation — book a 15-minute video call with our opticians for personalized fit advice
• Prescription fitting — add your Rx to any frame at checkout
• Authenticity guaranteed — every frame comes with manufacturer warranty and certificate
Not sure which frame suits your face shape? Our opticians offer complimentary virtual styling consultations. Call (845) 606-4220 or book online.
Visit Us In Person
Prefer to try before you buy? Our full collection is available at our Montgomery, NY boutique — just 60 minutes from Manhattan, 20 minutes from Newburgh, and easily accessible from Middletown, Warwick, Wallkill, New Paltz, and Beacon. Walk-ins welcome, or schedule a private appointment for dedicated one-on-one styling.
The Last Optical
77 Clinton Street, Montgomery, NY 12549
(845) 606-4220