Le Specs Sunglasses Review: Are These Trendy Shades Worth the Hype?
If you‘re in the market for a pair of chic, affordable sunglasses, you‘ve likely come across Le Specs. This Australian brand has taken the fashion world by storm in recent years, with their trendy designs spotted on celebrities like Rihanna, Gigi Hadid, Meghan Markle and Beyonce. Le Specs has also released wildly popular collaborations with designers like Adam Selman and Jordan Askill.
But with so many sunglass brands to choose from, you may be wondering if Le Specs is truly worth the hype. In this comprehensive review, I‘ll take a close look at the brand‘s history, best-selling styles, quality, customer feedback and more to help you decide if their sunglasses deserve a spot in your summer wardrobe.
About Le Specs
Le Specs was first introduced in 1979 by the Australian beauty brand Australis. The sunglasses line saw initial success in the 1980s but was eventually discontinued. In 2006, the brand was revived by Sunshades Eyewear, a company based in Sydney.
Under the direction of creative director Hamish Tame, Le Specs was reinvented as a fashion-forward, accessible sunglasses brand. With a focus on innovative design, high quality materials and affordable prices, Le Specs quickly gained a cult following in Australia and beyond.
Over the past decade, Le Specs has experienced massive international growth and success. The brand is now sold in over 30 countries through major retailers like Nordstrom, Net-a-Porter, Selfridges and more. Le Specs has been featured in top fashion magazines like Vogue, Elle and Harper‘s Bazaar and won several design awards.
In 2018, the brand opened its first brick-and-mortar store in Sydney and launched an optical collection, solidifying its status as a leader in the eyewear industry. Le Specs continues to release new, coveted styles each season and collaborate with talented designers.
Popular Collections & Styles
Le Specs offers an impressive range of sunglasses for women and men, with dozens of frame shapes, colors and lens options. While the brand is always innovating and releasing new designs, they have several core collections:
Air Heart:
These bold cat-eye sunglasses are one of Le Specs‘ all-time bestsellers. Worn by Meghan Markle and Olivia Palermo, the Air Heart features thick frames made from lightweight plastic with a metal brow bar and flat lenses. They cost $70 and come in several colors including black, tort, and oatmeal.
Tres Gauche:
Another fan favorite, the Tres Gauche are rectangular sunglasses with a slim profile and Y2K aesthetic. The frames are made from BPA-free plastic and have metal hardware. The light tinted lenses provide category 2 UV protection. Priced at $79, they come in milky pink, fawn, midnight and cocoa.
What I Need:
These bold, rimless sunglasses make a serious statement. The angular frames are made from gold and black metal and encrusted with crystals. Depending on the lens color (red, blue or smoke grey), they offer UV protection from category 1-3. Each color is limited to 300 pieces and costs $89.
Georgica Lagoon:
Inspired by vintage aviators, these sunglasses have an oversized shape and cool blue or tortoise frames. The lenses are dark and provide full category 3 UV protection, perfect for bright beach days. Complete with a 12-month warranty, they cost $99.
In addition to the core collection, Le Specs regularly releases limited-edition collaborations with fashion designers and artists. Some of the most popular have been with Adam Selman, Craig & Karl, and Cleopatra. These speciality capsules often sell out quickly.
The majority of Le Specs sunglasses have polycarbonate lenses that are scratch-resistant and provide 100% UV protection. The frames are lightweight but very sturdy and durable. Most styles have a lens width of 50-54mm, bridge of 16-23mm and temple length of 140-145mm, but check the specific measurements of each design for your ideal fit.
Quality & Durability
For sunglasses under $100, Le Specs offers impressive quality. The frames are made from durable BPA-free polymer plastic that is very lightweight but holds up well to daily wear and tear. Some styles, like the What I Need and Tres Gauche, incorporate metal hardware which feels sturdy and well-made.
The polycarbonate lenses are also high-quality and provide all the necessary features you want in a pair of sunglasses: scratch resistance, impact resistance, and complete UV protection.
"I love the sturdiness and thickness of these gorgeous sunglasses," said one reviewer about the Air Heart. Another reviewer of the Tres Gauche wrote, "They feel very well made and durable."
When handling Le Specs sunglasses in person, I was impressed by the solid weight and how substantial they felt in my hands. There were no noticeable defects, loose parts, or rough edges. Of course, no sunglasses are indestructible, but Le Specs seem built to last for many seasons with proper care.
Customer Reviews & Feedback
To get a better sense of how Le Specs sunglasses perform in the real world, I analyzed customer reviews from the brand‘s website, Amazon, Trustpilot, Reddit and several other retailers. Overall, the feedback was very positive, with most styles receiving 4+ star ratings.
The most commonly praised aspects of Le Specs sunglasses were:
- Stylish, on-trend designs
- Lightweight and comfortable to wear
- Great quality, especially for the price
- Durable frames and lenses
- Work well for a variety of face shapes
"These sunglasses are amazing! They‘re oversized but very lightweight so they‘re comfortable to wear all day," said one happy customer. "I get so many compliments on them and the price point is unbeatable for the quality."
Another reviewer shared: "I‘ve owned several pairs of Le Specs and they hold up so well. I‘m pretty rough with my sunglasses and these never feel flimsy or get misshapen. Plus the designs are super fun and flattering."
While the vast majority of reviews were glowing, I did find a few complaints about Le Specs. The most frequently cited issues were:
- Some styles run smaller/larger than expected
- Lenses are prone to smudging and not the easiest to clean
- High-shine frames can cause glare
- Nose pads are not always the most comfortable
It‘s important to note that most of these problems were not widespread and seemed to vary based on frame style and personal preference. Many reviewers noted that any discomfort from sizing or nose pads was resolved by choosing a different style or making small adjustments.
Warranty & Customer Service
Le Specs stands behind the quality of their sunglasses and offers a 6-12 month warranty against manufacturers‘ defects. To file a warranty claim, you need to provide proof of purchase and it can take up to two weeks for processing.
The brand also allows returns and exchanges within 30 days of delivery. The items must be unused and in their original condition with all packaging and tags. Customers are responsible for the return shipping costs unless the reason for the return is not their fault (damaged item, wrong product sent, etc.).
Le Specs provides customer support via email, live chat, and phone. In reviews, most shoppers had great experiences with the brand‘s service and found the representatives to be very helpful and responsive to questions or issues.
"When my original order got lost in the mail, the Le Specs team was so kind and immediately sent a replacement pair," said one customer. "They responded to my email right away and made the whole process stress-free."
Ordering & Shipping
You can purchase Le Specs sunglasses directly from the brand‘s website, lespecs.com, as well as through a number of authorized retailers like Nordstrom, Selfridges, Bloomingdale‘s, Anthro, Shopbop, Net-a-Porter and many more.
On the Le Specs site, you can browse sunglasses by gender, collection, shape, color and size. The product pages have detailed descriptions, high-quality photos, and a "Find My Fit" tool to determine your ideal frame size. You can also read customer reviews.
Shipping is available to over 30 countries. Prices and delivery times vary based on location but generally take 5-10 business days. Orders over $150-$200 get free standard shipping. They also offer expedited shipping at an additional cost.
Le Specs frequently runs sales and promotions. You can get 10% off your first order and early access to sales when you join their email list. They also have occasional "Buy 1, Get 1 Free" deals.
The Verdict
After carefully evaluating all aspects of Le Specs, I confidently recommend checking out this brand if you‘re looking for stylish, high-quality sunglasses at an affordable price point. While designer shades can cost upwards of $200, most Le Specs sunglasses retail for $55-$120.
The brand‘s designs are very fashion-forward and innovative, with options for every personal style. From classic black aviators to colorful cat-eyes and quirky avant-garde frames, Le Specs offers something for everyone. The fact that their sunglasses have been worn by so many celebrities and style influencers is a testament to their trend appeal.
Looks aside, I was legitimately impressed by the quality and durability of Le Specs sunglasses. The frames are lightweight but very sturdy and feel like they will hold up well over time. I appreciate that most styles have full UV protection and are made from BPA-free materials.
The thousands of glowing customer reviews prove that Le Specs sunglasses perform just as well in the real world as they do on paper. While there were a few negative experiences, the vast majority of wearers love their Le Specs and find them comfortable, flattering, and built to last.
The main downsides are that some styles run small/large, the lenses can be smudge-prone, and the brand doesn‘t offer free returns. However, you can minimize your risk by reading the reviews and size charts before ordering and taking advantage of the generous warranty if needed.
All in all, I was very pleased with Le Specs and their impressive collection of stylish, well-crafted sunglasses. If you‘ve been eyeing a pair, I say go for it – your inner fashionista will thank you!
