CHIMI

There's a Reason Celebs Love These Sunglasses

I've bought a lot of sunglasses in my life.

And like most fashion purchases, there's been plenty of trial and error. Some pairs have disappeared to places I'll never find. Others sit in a drawer because I bought them without really understanding my own face shape. Through all of it, there's been this persistent want for the one pair. The sunglasses you can carry everywhere, that actually suit you, that work as a genuine fashion piece and not just eye protection.

Because sunglasses are both. A few years back, actress Kim Hye-su mentioned that her eye doctor told her she'd barely developed presbyopia, likely because she'd been wearing sunglasses consistently since she was young. That was the moment I became a sunglasses convert. The search for the right pair got serious after that. My criteria for something most people treat as a throwaway accessory:

1. 1. Minimal design
   2. A price point I won't feel guilty about wearing daily
   3. Something that actually looks natural on my face

That search led me to CHIMI, and with summer coming in hot, I'm confident recommending them as a starting point for anyone in the same position.

Into Scandinavian Design? Meet CHIMI

The eyewear brand that people in the know have been quietly wearing for years.

Founded in Stockholm in 2016, CHIMI builds around the idea of "design for a fearless lifestyle." The name itself doesn't carry some grand origin story. The founders aren't even sure whether it comes from chimichurri or chimichangas, and they seem fine with that. The fact that the name resists a single meaning says more about the brand's attitude than any mission statement could.

©@chimi

©@chimi

What makes CHIMI work is the thing Scandinavian design does best: minimalism that doesn't feel boring. The designs are clearly considered, but they never overpower what you're wearing. They sit naturally with minimal looks, streetwear, and more dressed-up fits alike. You know how some sunglasses wear you instead of the other way around? That doesn't happen with CHIMI. Which is probably why they keep showing up on celebrities. For anyone who cares about fashion, it's a brand that manages to be both understated and genuinely stylish, and that balance is harder to pull off than it sounds.

Hailey Bieber in CHIMI Sting ©chimi-online.com

The CHIMI You Need Right Now

One Pair of Glasses, Instant Intellectual Energy

Kendall Jenner is a well-known CHIMI devotee.

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Without doing much at all to her outfit, a single pair of thin-framed glasses gives her that quiet luxury look. Intellectual, composed, with just enough edge. That effortless finish comes from CHIMI's Edith.

Kendall Jenner in CHIMI Edith ©@chimi

©@chimi

If you're after another option in the geek-chic lane, CHIMI's Lex is worth a look. It's a slightly rounder shape than the Edith, which makes it easier to wear daily and in more casual contexts while still keeping things polished.

CHIMI LEX on the left ©@chimi

The Fastest Way to Look Sharp: Oval Sunglasses

If you buy one shape, make it an oval. It's the pair you'll reach for most.

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The elongated, horizontal silhouette of an oval frame is the most classic choice for a reason. CHIMI's Edith, already known as Kendall Jenner's go-to in optical form, also comes as sunglasses, and that version gained particular attention after Jennie was spotted wearing it. The narrow vertical profile and sharp lateral lines make it ideal for an effortlessly chic look.

I've owned sunglasses in plenty of shapes at this point, and ovals are the ones I keep going back to. The compact size makes them easy to wear every day, and they add an instant edge to whatever you're wearing. If you have a longer face shape, the horizontal emphasis helps balance your proportions, which is another reason to consider them.

Jennie in CHIMI Edith ©@chimi

The other model worth highlighting is CHIMI's bestseller, Code.

It's a slim oval shape, and another Kendall Jenner staple. When someone with access to every sunglasses brand in existence keeps reaching for the same pair, that says something. The minimal frame means it won't date itself, and it elevates just about any outfit you put it with.

Kendall Jenner in CHIMI Code ©harpersbazaar.com, ©vogue.com

Y2K Is Back: Tinted Sunglasses

The pair you'll want to pack for every summer trip.

Tinted lenses in orange or green are the defining feature here, and they're an easy way to add a point of interest to a simple tee or shirt. They work especially well against monochrome outfits in black or white, where the color of the lens becomes the focal point.

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Tinted sunglasses can feel like a commitment, but CHIMI's lenses lean toward softer, muted oranges rather than anything aggressively saturated, which makes them surprisingly wearable day to day. As your outfits get lighter through summer, there are few accessories that shift the mood of a look as quickly as a tinted lens. If you're looking for something with a bit more personality, this is where to look.

©@chimi

©@chimi

Retro Presence: Aviator Eyewear

This is the shape I've been drawn to lately. I recently saw a colleague wearing aviator-frame glasses, and even though she already had the polished city-woman thing down, the glasses sharpened the whole impression noticeably. Aviators leave a mark on a look in a way that most frames don't.

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Originally developed to protect pilots from intense sunlight, aviators are defined by their teardrop lens shape and slim metal frames. They carry enough presence on their own that you can keep the rest of your outfit casual and still look put together. After seeing my colleague in hers, I've been seriously considering CHIMI's Tome Optic.

©@chimi

CHIMI Tony ©@chimi CHIMI TOME OPTIC ©@chimi

©@chimi

CHIMI's Marketing Playbook Is Different

Beyond the product, CHIMI's approach to brand storytelling is worth talking about.

In 2020, they partnered with Christer Fuglesang, Sweden's first astronaut, for a collection inspired by the conditions of space.

Christer Fuglesang  ©wikipida, ©chimi-online.com

Fuglesang shared his actual experience in space as part of the campaign. He mentioned that wearing CHIMI's sunglasses made him feel sharper and cooler, and explained that solar radiation in space is so intense that astronauts are required to wear specialized eye protection when docking at the International Space Station. That kind of firsthand context gave the collaboration a credibility that most brand partnerships don't have.
It's a good example of why CHIMI stands out. The design is strong, but the way they tell stories around it is what makes people pay attention.

Before CHIMI After CHIMI ©@chimi

 

If you've been going back and forth on which sunglasses to buy, CHIMI's combination of Scandinavian minimalism, range of shapes, and reasonable pricing makes a strong case. Here's hoping you find your pair.