Known for its modern interpretations of classic designs, daring use of color and eclectic detailing, Tory Burch eyewear effortlessly blends timeless elegance with a bold, urban edge.
In this guide, we’ll take you through everything you need to know about the American luxury lifestyle brand. We’ll cover the history behind the company and its inspirational founder, its unique design style and aesthetic and its extensive line of sunglasses, including available styles and where to get them.
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Beginnings
Tory Burch grew up in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania in a well-to-do family. Her mother, Reva, was a former actress. Her father, Ira Earl “Buddy” Robinson, was a successful investor and businessman.
Her parents traveled the world extensively. Burch’s mother shopped a great deal during her travels, buying pieces that would ultimately influence her daughter’s sense of style. For example, Reva bought tunics in Morocco that would later inspire some of Burch’s most recognizable designs.
After high school, Burch attended the University of Pennsylvania where she completed a degree in art history. Upon graduation, she moved to New York City.
From kitchen to retail mecca
In the Big Apple, Burch worked for Zoran, a Yugoslavian fashion designer favored by her mother, before moving on to Harper’s Bazaar magazine. From there, Burch moved into marketing and PR, spending a decade with iconic fashion brands such as Ralph Lauren, Vera Wang and Loewe.
After marrying retail tycoon Chris Burch in 1996 and soon finding herself in a house filled with children, Burch decided to become a full-time mom. But as a career-oriented woman, she quickly started to feel restless and began playing around with fashion designs.
Although she had been working in fashion, she had no experience as a designer. She didn’t let this deter her, though, and she zealously threw herself into her newfound passion, famously starting her company in her apartment’s kitchen. Her goal was to fill a gap in the market for affordable luxury. After receiving a $2 million cash infusion from her husband, Burch launched her first fashion line in 2004 and opened her first boutique in Manhattan’s retail mecca of NoLita.
Overnight success
Burch’s early signature pieces included the now-iconic “Reva” ballet flats and tunics (inspired by and named after her mother). In 2005, her brick-and-mortar location was followed by her online store, ToryBurch.com. Her clothing line was described as preppy-bohemian or preppy-boho and has been credited with making T-shirts fashionable again.
While Burch saw early success, it was Oprah Winfrey who made her a household name. After gifting Oprah a tunic from her collection, she was invited to appear on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” where her brand was introduced as “the next big thing in fashion.”
The rest is, as they say, history. Sales skyrocketed overnight as Burch’s website received over eight million hits. Global expansion followed, with flagship stores in New York, Los Angeles, London, Rome, Tokyo and Seoul.
Today, Tory Burch LLC is valued at $3.5 billion. It has more than 300 stores worldwide and its products are sold in more than 3,000 department stores, including Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s.
But Tory Burch’s success goes beyond financial achievements. The brand has won numerous accolades, including the 2005 Rising Star Award for Best New Retail Concept by the Fashion Group International and the 2008 Accessories Designer of the Year by the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Burch herself appears regularly on the Forbes list of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women, ranking in the 88th position as of 2020.
A philanthropist at heart
Despite a somewhat privileged upbringing, Burch is a person who cares deeply about empowering those less fortunate than her. In 2009, she launched the Tory Burch Foundation, which is committed to supporting the advancement of women entrepreneurs. It helps small businesses get affordable loans and provides access to mentoring and networking opportunities as well as educational programs.
Burch says that her motivation is not to provide charity but to help “to empower women to help themselves.” Burch is also a board member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and the Startup America Foundation.
The Tory Burch style
Tory Burch’s creations are the embodiment of Burch herself. Her preppy-bohemian designs take inspiration from a variety of sources, most notably her parents and the styles of the 1960s and 1970s, combined with a love of art, music, culture and travel.
Graphic prints, bold colors and unique details are all signatures of the brand, which seamlessly combines a preppy-chic aesthetic with a bohemian influence. Tory Burch’s product line encompasses everything from ready-to-wear, shoes and handbags to accessories, watches, home décor, a fragrance and beauty collection and, of course, sunglasses.
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Tory Burch sunglasses
In 2009, Tory Burch joined forces with eyewear conglomerate Luxottica Group and launched its sunglasses collection. Just like the rest of the company’s product line, Tory Burch sunglasses showcase the brand’s signature colorful preppy-boho aesthetic.
With affordable luxury at its core, Tory Burch sunglasses combine an audacious modern look with a sophisticated, elegant sensibility. Tory Burch women’s sunglasses are made for those who appreciate the finer things in life but who also want to express their edgy side and are not afraid to be noticed.
Targeted at women ages 25-45, Tory Burch women’s sunglasses come in a large variety of frames, with shapes ranging from retro-inspired round and oversized vintage-look models to angular, contemporary styles. From thick, sleek acetate frames to classic thin metal frames, the brand offers something for everyone.
Indeed, Tory Burch sunglasses’ color choices are as varied as their shapes. Colors range from slick, elegant blacks and grays to more vibrant and bright casual colors like red, blue or orange. You’ll also find different-colored tortoise shell options and plenty of patterns.
Carefully crafted, Tory Burch sunglasses feature quality spring hinges, adjustable nose pieces and moldable temples. Each pair provides full UVA and UVB protection. What’s more, many models also come with polarized or gradient lenses.
Some Tory Burch sunglass frames also offer the option of blue light filtering lenses, which are non-prescription clear lenses designed to improve visual comfort in front of digital devices such as computer screens.
Popular Tory Burch sunglass frames
Here’s a closer look at Tory Burch’s most popular sunglass frames.
Tory Burch cat-eye sunglasses
Cat-eye glasses are a symbol of the 1960s, a decade that lies at the heart of the Tory Burch aesthetic. Also known as horn-rimmed eyeglasses, their retro shape makes them both fashionable and functional. There are three different styles of Tory Burch cat-eye sunglasses available that offer different takes on the classic design.
Reva cat-eye sunglasses
Named after Burch’s mother, the Reva cat-eye sunglasses showcase the classic retro shape and feature the signature gold TT logo at each temple. They’re available in classic shades of black and dark tortoise.
Kira cat-eye sunglasses
The Kira model is a more modern take on the classic cat-eye design, presenting a contemporary update to the flattering oversized shape. It comes in four colors: dark or olive tortoise, black and blush.
Gemini Link cat-eye sunglasses
A nod to Burch’s twin sons and her zodiac sign, these shades feature symmetrical double-link hardware. With a black cat-eye shaped acetate frame and gold metal temples, it shows a graphic abstraction of the brand’s logo
Tory Burch aviator sunglasses
Aviator sunglasses are a timeless style. With their distinctive design — the thin metal frame, double bridge and teardrop-shaped lenses — you can’t go wrong with a pair of Tory Burch aviator sunglasses. Tory Burch’s version (called “Pilot”) comes in both classic and bold new designs.
Miller Pilot sunglasses
With slim gold-tone metal frames, the Miller Pilot sunglasses represent an updated take on the classic aviator design, with cut-out logos at the temples. They’re available in shiny gold metal and with both solid or gradient lenses.
Kira Pilot sunglasses
Kira Pilot sunglasses elevate the classic aviator style to new heights. Available in metal frames with subtle striped details as well as solid acetate in tortoise colors, they're flattering on nearly all face shapes.
T-Logo Pilot sunglasses
Inspired by the brand’s jewelry designs, the T-Logo Pilot sunglasses accent a metal frame with tortoise details via the acetate temples. They’re available in gold/black, porcini/silver and rose pearl tortoise/rose gold.
Tory Burch square sunglasses
Tory Burch square sunglasses will get you noticed. Their oversized square frames come in a whole range of colors and styles with chic embellishments.
Kira square sunglasses
With acetate frames and metal temples, the Kira square sunglasses are a modern take on classic square frames, designed in a flattering oversized shape. They’re available in black, honey wood, dark wood and dark tortoise with solid-tint lenses.
Reva square sunglasses
Featuring acetate frames and temples, the Reva Square sunglasses have a classic square shape and gold double-T hardware at each temple. They’re available in a stunning blue pearl tortoise frame with gradient lenses, as well as a classic black frame with polarized lenses.
Square acetate sunglasses
Available in navy and bordeaux color choices, these vintage-inspired square logo temple sunglasses are subtle and elegant and can bring understated glamour to everyday looks. Frames are available in solid or dual-toned acetate.
Tory Burch round sunglasses
Inspired by the 1970s, the Kira striped, round sunglasses were part of the Fall/Winter 2020 runway collection. They feature oversized round frames with subtle striped details that lend a touch of fabulousness. They’re available in dark tortoise, navy and black.
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Tory Burch oval sunglasses
Oversized oval frames with slim temples and a bold, golden T as the hinge, the Single T oval sunglasses are definitely going to get you noticed. Their oval shape looks particularly good on square faces as they balance the facial angles.
Tory Burch black sunglasses
From the Spring/Summer 2019 runway collection, the black Buddy sunglasses pay homage to Burch’s father, who wore a pair just like them in the 1970s. They are timelessly elegant, featuring a classic shape and green-tinted lenses.
Tory Burch Panama sunglasses
Marrying the signature retro style with a touch of tomboy, Tory Burch Panama sunglasses effortlessly add a hint of understated appeal to any look. Made of dual-toned acetate, the rounded frame is detailed with a signature T logo on the temples and comes in various colors.
How to get your own Tory Burch sunglasses
If you have decided that Tory Burch sunglasses are the perfect style for you, there are plenty of places where you can buy them, including directly from Tory Burch, both in-store and online, from many online retailers, like FramesDirect.com, or from local optical stores.
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