When Lana and Lilly Wachowski directed The Matrix in 1999, they could scarcely have imagined the impact their film would have: not only did they introduce the theory of hyperreality to the masses, but nearly 20 years later the eyewear of the season owes a debt to Neo and Trinity. Whether through the illusion of reflected coding that appears on Chanel’s wraparound shields, or the thoroughly millennial appearance of Courrèges’ tinted, clip-on lenses, the angular translucency of Céline’s styles or the strange sculpturalism of Hood by Air’s, it is clear that a need to pay homage to that era’s shades has taken hold. And it’s an era we’re longing for in other ways: while the internet no longer has an exotic allure, we feel nostalgic for the sound of dial-up and the Wild West web. That simpler time, with far fewer feeds to scroll through, now feels (and looks) rather appealing.
Hair by Alexander Soltermann using Phyto; Make-up by Celia Burton using Jurlique Skincare
This piece originally appeared in AnOther Magazine S/S17.
