New Shades That Break The Pattern

While on the lam in "North by Northwest," Cary Grant disguises himself with black sunglasses. Immediately someone asks, "What's wrong with your eyes?" Attempts at traveling incognito might fail just as badly with this season's bold, patterned sunglasses. Once limited primarily to tortoiseshell, prints now come in all shapes and stripes.

The king of patterns, Emilio Pucci, places his iconic abstract designs on the arms of magenta frames ($285; neimanmarcus.com). Yves Saint Laurent sees spots through its leopard motif ($250; bergdorfgoodman.com). Zebra stripes are also popular; Leiber's white and purple lines are the result of minuscule mosaics on an amethyst-hued background ($775; bergdorf goodman.com). Moss Lipow makes an arresting pair of cherry-colored lenses surrounded by strips of red leather, but also creates custom patterns ($1,100–$4,000; mosslipow.com). And like a funky lining under a no-nonsense coat, Thakoon's jet-black frames hide a navy and white tie-dye print ($315; iloristyle.com). If someone inquires about problems with your peepers, respond in kind with Cary Grant's comeback: "They're sensitive to questions."