Arnette sunglasses are capturing the attention of a new generation of celebrities, fashion lovers, and sports enthusiasts alike. They’re fast becoming a favorite of musicians like Post Malone and Zayn Malik.
Why? Because they’re sleek, cool, and have a little edge. Find out more about the brand that’s making a name for itself in the eyewear market!
Is Arnette Considered Luxury?
Arnette isn’t the new kid on the block; it was actually created in 1992. Just like many major brands (Oakley, Amazon, Google), Arnette was born in a garage. The brand was started in Southern California by Greg Arnette. He was actually a designer at Oakley who left his job to start his own brand. His inspiration came from the ’90s youth counterculture and the contemporary fashion breaking onto the scene.
Within a few short years, Arnette took off, a combination of the ’90s fashion boom and the brand becoming a go-to for the new generation. In fact, its classic styles, including the Catfish (more on that later), have been around for decades.
After just a few short years in business, Arnette was acquired by Bausch & Lomb in 1996. Greg Arnette continued to lead the company.
The company was then bought by eyewear giant Luxottica in 1999. They must have been doing something right to be bought by two of the largest eyewear manufacturers within five years of starting!
While Luxottica (now EssilorLuxottica since the merger) creates eyewear for luxury brands, including Chanel and Prada, they have a diverse portfolio overall. They also own Ray-Ban and Oakley. Arnette is more in the category of signature brands that specialize just in eyewear.
So, in short, no, Arnette is not really considered a luxury brand. But it is a premium eyewear brand that’s made a name for itself. And the thing with Arnette is that, looking at its history, it wasn’t about luxury or glamor. They have stayed true to their roots as an edgy brand that’s focused on emerging fashion.
What Makes Arnette Sunglasses Stand Out?
Arnette sunglasses are all about that California easygoing vibe. While not strictly for surfers, they are made with sporty people in mind. Yet, they are equally about style. More specifically, an avant-garde, edgy yet casual style.
One of the cool things about Arnette is that they’ve grown with new generations, instead of staying stuck in the past. They’ve managed to innovate their materials and style to stay in step with the evolving youth culture. And now, Arnette is tapping into the energy of Gen Z.
Just scroll through their Instagram, and you’ll see what I mean. There are quirky hairstyles, eclectic and trendy outfits, and some punk energy in their photos. It’s a bit grunge, rock, and street while still being mainstream.
Looking through their socials, you could almost mistake from a contemporary brand. Part of this is because Y2K and ’90s nostalgia are big with Gen Z. Arnette’s styles fit into this nostalgia.
That’s one of the things that makes Arnette stand out as a brand. They’ve spent decades curating their image and style to talk directly to their customers.
Brands like Gucci or Prada create eyewear that works around trends. They showcase cool, fashionable styles, and people buy into the luxury branding. Arnette, on the other hand, is about the carefree persona.
They don’t try to design eyewear for everyone; they speak to a certain type of customer. Someone who enjoys fashion but doesn’t take themselves so seriously.
Celebrities in Arnette Sunglasses
Arnette sunglasses are a go-to for celebrities who enjoy experimenting with their fashion. They’ve gained cult-classic status among those who like unconventional brands.
One stand-out look comes from singer/songwriter JHart. He wore Arnette BOULEVARDIER sunglasses to the 2025 VMA awards, paired with a truly wacky jacket featuring prosthetic hands attached.
Some celebrities have also paired their Arnette sunglasses with a more toned-down look, including Zayn Malik. Zayn actually collaborated with the brand to design a collection. It included sunglasses and eyeglasses, both in typical pop/rock styles.
Rappers, including Snoop Dogg and Post Malone, have sported Arnette sunglasses at red carpet events. In fact, Post Malone designed his very own signature shades with yellow-tinted lenses. These sunglasses were later spotted on supermodel Bella Hadid, and she paired them with an oversized jacket over a matching brown shirt and pants.
Justin Bieber was also photographed in Arnette CATFISH sunglasses. He wore them with his favorite slouchy streetwear, showing that these sunglasses work with casual styles too.
Zoe Kravitz was recently spotted out in New York rocking a pair of black wrap-around Arnette sunglasses with a sporty outfit (and heels), showing that it’s up to you how to interpret street style. These sunglasses are about an attitude rather than having a specific persona.
Arnette Sunglasses Styles
Daily Sunglasses
There are several straightforward versions of Arnette sunglasses. They feature rectangular frames with colors like black, blue, and gray. These styles are perfect for everyday wear. Whether you’re hitting the beach or meeting your friends for lunch, they add cool points.
The PHOXER is one of the affordable and easygoing models. They come in five colors and are great for daily wear thanks to their rectangular frames. They currently retail for under $100, making them an affordable choice as your core pair of shades.
For a pair of casual round sunglasses, the AN4371 is easy to pull off. They come in a few color options, including blue frames with gray lenses and beige transparent frames with blue lenses. They give off that beach vibe without trying too hard. This style currently retails for under $100 and is part of their recycled collection.
It doesn’t get more ’90s than the AN3096, which is a rimless style that features metal arms. They have a few different colorways available, including a gunmetal option that looks straight out of The Matrix.
The option featuring pink lenses is also a good choice. They’re perfect for having some fun with your fashion.
These sunglasses are currently priced around $100, making them a bargain.
Sporty Sunglasses
Arnette offers a wide range of wrap-around glasses as well as some mask styles. These are perfect for sporty users. The specialized shape is ideal for performance, whether worn on the slopes or the trails.
The CATFISH sunglasses are slick, perfect for slicing through the air while biking or running. The wrap-around shape makes them practical and stylish. This was also the style seen on Bieber himself. They’re currently priced around $100, which shows that even mega-celebrities own more affordable shades.
For those of you who enjoy making a fashion statement with your eyewear, the Bounce model is the way to go. My favorite colorway is the option featuring black and neon green lenses. This combo could go so wrong, but instead it has the right dose of counterculture and street fashion. They currently retail for under $100, making them perfect for hitting the ramps without overthinking it.
While most sunglasses come in different colorways, their focus is on the quality and materials. It’s less about popping prints and funky shapes. The logo is also sleek and simple, adding to the discretion.
Arnette’s Stance on Sustainability
Some brands have added sustainability side-missions to their ethos, and Arnette also stands out in this arena. On their site, they have a front-and-center link in their header that takes you to an in-depth page about how they make their eyewear more sustainable.
Bio-Based Frames and Lenses
Arnette uses bio-based acetate frames in some of the main collections. They’re created from a mix of cellulose acetate, a fiber derived from cotton or wood. They top it off with a bio-based plasticizer, which is also renewable. They say it avoids the use of fossil-based plasticizers, and these frames contain between 61% and 67% bio-based carbon content.
Arnette also makes bio-based nylon frames, which are an alternative, more eco-friendly material. The fossil fuel in the process is replaced by castor oil.
The lenses used in Arnette’s bio-based acetate frames are also made from bio-based nylon lenses. They contain at least 41% bio-based carbon, which comes from renewable sources. They claim that the quality and features are otherwise the same as those of their traditional lenses.
In 2024, they also added new lenses, which include bio-circular polycarbonate. They are made by mixing standard fossil-based feedstock, recycled waste, and biological residues, such as used cooking oil. The final result is a pair of glasses with at least 60% bio-circular content.
Recycled Plastic Frames
Arnette collects the waste that comes from the production of their eyewear and then recycles it. The end result is frames made from 95% recycled plastic.
What Do Customers Think?
Sunglasses aren’t all made equal, and the price by no means dictates the quality. So while Arnette sunglasses are premium but not luxury, they’re still designed to perform well in situations such as playing sports or being at the beach on a bright day.
One in-depth customer review shared how the sunglasses he bought fit well and felt lightweight and comfortable, but didn’t stand the test of time. He mentioned that although they felt sturdy and had amazing polarized lenses that provided crystal-clear clarity, they unfortunately were prone to scratching.
While that particular review is a few years old, it does raise the question of whether Arnette sunglasses are more about fashion than performance. After all, the brand doesn’t position itself as a direct competitor to major sports eyewear brands like Oakley or Maui Jim, which are trialed and tested for extreme sports like motorcycle riding and surfing.
Redditors, of course, weighed in, leading to mixed reviews. One commenter recalled how iconic the brand was in the ’90s, with Tom Cruise wearing the Raven sunglasses in Jerry Maguire. However, other reviewers noted the lenses’ lackluster quality.
Trustpilot reviews aren’t really stellar either. Some reviewers commented on poor customer service, while others complained about construction. One 5-star review mentioned that the buyer had owned his sunglasses for five years and how trustworthy they are.
So overall, it’s a mixed bag with Arnette sunglasses. Are they likely to be the highest quality shades you can get on the market? Probably not. But are they stylish and good for daily activities? Yes, they can be.
If you’re looking for an exclusively sports-focused brand, this may not be it. However, with many (if not most) styles retailing under $100, they won’t break the bank either.
They also offer Klarna on their website, which allows customers to pay in installments, making it easier for a wider range of buyers to access their premium sunglasses.
TL;DR
Arnette sunglasses have been around for a few decades, but in recent years, they’ve become a celebrity cult classic.
- Their casual, easygoing ethos is obvious in their eyewear collection. There are laidback styles and sporty shapes made for the beach, the slopes, and biking.
- Celebrities, including Post Malone and Zayn Malik, have designed their own Arnette sunglasses, cementing the brand’s cool factor.
- Major figures like Justin Bieber, Snoop Dogg, and Bella Hadid have been spotted in the brand.
- Some of their top styles include the rectangular PHOXER model, the classic Catfish wrap-around sunglasses, the round Arnette AN4371 pair, and the rimless Arnette AN3096 sunglasses.
- Arnette focuses on making sleek eyewear that performs. They put a focus on using sustainable materials and recycling.
Will you add a pair of Arnette sunglasses to your collection?
