Bespoke sun shades from Maison Bonnet – and lens tints

December 15, 2025

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Earlier this 12 months, I made a decision to start out the method of constructing some bespoke sun shades with Maison Bonnet. I’ve had my optical glasses from them for six years now, and so they’ve actually confirmed their value – they’re the most effective made and most snug glasses I’ve ever had. (See right here for these I’ve tried.)

Simply as importantly, I haven’t misplaced a pair of sun shades for a few years at the very least. Like umbrellas, sun shades are a straightforward factor to lose and doing so is an comprehensible motive to not spend as a lot cash on them.

Though, apparently, I’ve discovered a transparent correlation through the years between the worth I place on such objects (usually, however not at all times, linked to the value) and the quantity I lose them. I’ve misplaced a number of umbrellas, however by no means the silver one Michel Heurtault made me. I’ve misplaced one pair of pricy sun shades from Meyrowitz, however two or extra cheaper pairs.

Maison Bonnet frames are costly, and sun shades extra so for me personally – I’ve a handful of pairs, so that they received’t be the one ones worn. However €1700 doesn’t appear that a lot in comparison with the value of different luxurious issues lately.

And, just like the latest article on fellow Parisians Chapal, I do know what I’m getting – there’s little or no uncertainty when it comes to the product, the standard or the service, and the way a lot I’ll worth these issues over time.

In actual fact, it was that service that put the thought in my head within the first place. I used to be in Paris and popped into the Bonnet store to have them take a look at the match of my optical frames – that they had loosened barely, and maybe received barely squashed at one level.

Throughout that go to, ready for the acetate to be heated up and tried on, heated up and tried on, my consideration was inevitably caught by the opposite frames on show. I started zeroing in on a couple of designs of sun shades, ones with a seventies-style tackle an aviator.

The three beneath had been my favourites, the variation between them largely being within the straightness of the highest line and the squareness of the body elsewhere.

Now, I’ve written earlier than about how essential good recommendation is within the shopping for of glasses – and the way a lot that may be missing in high-street retailers or massive manufacturers. It’s one thing it is best to pay for, rather more necessary than the kind of acetate or the end of the hinges.

With sun shades, you’d suppose this design recommendation could be much less necessary, because the tinted lenses imply there’s rather more freedom when it comes to how the body interacts with the remainder of your face. (On the very least, the place of the attention throughout the lens is much less of an element.)

However, this freedom may also be harmful. It’s simple to go for one thing too dramatic, or to not contemplate the form of your face in any respect. The recommendation shifts considerably from following your forehead line and your cheek bones to concepts of non-public type, but it surely’s nonetheless very related.

Maison Bonnet is equally good at this type of recommendation, I discover – and never sparing with it both. In a manner I discover tempted to name sometimes French, the great workers in Paris will definitely (gently) let you know whether or not they suppose the body fits you or not.

In my case, of these three pictured choices, the central one was positively the most effective. Subtler than the underside one however with just a little extra type than the highest, it had that seventies really feel however with the quantity turned down a notch.

I like the Bonnet store, by the way in which. It’s so unassuming, just a bit place close to to the Palais Royale with hardly any signage. You possibly can think about Yves Saint Laurent popping in right here on a lunch break to have a fast restore carried out.

The workers are additionally at all times pleasant however environment friendly, with a mixture of ages and kinds. One morning I noticed my buddy Morgane, the communications supervisor, arrive in a glamorous coat with an armful of flowers, solely to be shortly adopted by a youthful member of workers carrying of their skateboard.

Once I went in to fee my sun shades, a number of different pairs had been pulled out that had been just like those I appreciated, and we tried on a good few, inside and out of doors (see beneath). That was useful to provide context to the design, but in addition to check completely different widths and depths.

My expertise is that it may be harmful to alter a design, as a result of even a millimetre could make a distinction with one thing worn on the face, and the design is traditional for a motive.

I used to be additionally tempted to do one thing extra fascinating with the arms (eg make them wider) however the smart recommendation was that wouldn’t be consistent with the thickness of the body elsewhere.

I obtained the ultimate glasses final month, and I’m very happy with them – superbly made after all, but in addition with the sort of delicate type I used to be after.

They’re positively of a selected period, and that period is common proper now, but it surely’s additionally a glance that has come round time and again: the design (HF-19) was first produced by Bonnet within the Nineteen Sixties, was worn by Jacques Chirac within the Nineties, and is the mannequin Franck Bonnet made for himself just lately (in tortoiseshell) for his birthday.

So quite just like the low double-breasted fits we mentioned on Wednesday, the type has mainly been coming round ever 30 years or so.

Curiously, the one factor I made a decision to alter was the tint on the lenses. I used to be just a little involved that the glasses appeared just a little blocky, being comparatively flat and darkish. The sort of mild tints lots of people put on lately wouldn’t be for me – too uncommon, too trendy – but it surely was due to their reputation that I assumed in regards to the tint.

We determined to scale back it from 85% to 75%, and I believe it made a distinction, albeit once more a delicate one. My spouse even remarked that it’s good to see my eyes just a little once I’m sporting them – nicer to speak to somebody that manner – which is one thing I hadn’t thought-about.

In fact, tints are there to guard your eyes and permit the sun shades to perform, so that is the first driver – however I do know what works for me in that regard, and examined the lighter tint exterior earlier than confirming it.

Additionally, lenses are a straightforward factor to alter on common non-prescription sun shades, so I can strive different tints sooner or later fairly simply – particularly with the sort of good recommendation you get from Bonnet as nicely after all…

Garments proven: