This morning, as I walked into the office wearing a simple black maxi dress, one of my colleagues said: ‘You look so good today, Charlotte.' ‘It's the sunglasses,' I replied. I was wearing my favourite pair: the Portofino frames from Jimmy Fairly, which I got at the end of last summer and virtually haven't taken off since.
They've come on every trip with me (I've worn them to go sightseeing in New York City, line dancing in Austin, après skiing in Val Thorens and weekending in St Tropez); they're also the pair I keep in my handbag at all times. And that's saying something, because I've curated a decent collection of sunglasses over the years.
Wearing the Portofino frames to stroll around NYC
The shape of the frames reminds me of the Triomphe sunglasses from Celine that have been on my wish list forever, but I just can't justify spending £400 on: not quite rectangular, not quite oval, but rather rounded hexagonal. They're sleek, with no logo or obvious branding, but still interesting enough to stand out against even the most pared-back outfits.
I opted for the light brown tortoise colour, which has dark pink flecks of colour on the temple, as well as a gold eyelet, which allows you to attach a chain or cord. (Not my vibe, but my colleague Scarlett pulls off the look.) They also come in a solid light green and a dark green tortoise colour, which is sold out at the moment.
The Portofino
£135 Shop
To say I've become a little bit obsessed with Jimmy Fairly would be an understatement. The Parisian brand is known for its priced-just-right glasses, and I may have added another pair of its sunnies to my collection this season: the Cinnamon, a playful pair of light tortoise oval frames that I'll definitely be packing for my beach holiday this summer.