Zara
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Zara
A small flat oval on a slim frame. The nineties shape, built light enough to forget you are wearing it.
UV400, blocking 100% of UVA and UVB, stated by the maker for both colourways.
Flat, not curved
Most ovals wrap slightly to follow the face. This one does not — the front is close to flat, which is exactly what made the nineties version read the way it did. It sits straight across, the lens catches light in a single plane, and the whole frame stays low against the brow.
Photographed in black. The same front is made in tortoiseshell.
As little material as possible
The rim is kept narrow the whole way round and the arms are slim, tapering from the hinge to a soft bend at the tip. There is no decoration anywhere on the frame — no plaque, no inset metal, nothing at the temple. The shape is doing all of the work.
The maker states a PC frame: polycarbonate, chosen here for impact resistance rather than for looks. On a frame this thin that is the sensible material, because it flexes rather than snapping when it is sat on.
The maker states a high-quality PC frame with strong pressure resistance.
Where it sits
- A small lens that sits high and close, well clear of the cheekbone
- The flat front keeps the frame low against the brow line
- Moulded bridge, so the height on the nose is fixed
- Light enough that it is felt on the ears rather than the nose
- Reads best on round and heart-shaped faces; on a wide face it will look small
The maker does not state measurements for this frame, so none are given.
UV400, which is the number that matters
The maker states UV400 protection blocking 100% of UVA and UVB. That figure is the whole point of a sunglass lens — it means nothing below 400 nanometres reaches the eye, regardless of how dark or light the tint happens to look.
Two tints: a near-black grey on the black frame, a warm brown on the tortoiseshell. The maker does not state polarisation on this model, so we do not claim it.
Two finishes, one shape
Black is the harder-edged of the two and disappears into most outfits. Tortoise warms the face and shows the pattern in daylight.
Why it costs what it costs
There is no hardware on this frame and no decoration to pay for, so everything in the price is going into the two things that actually matter on a small oval: a lens with a real UV400 filter, and a frame material that survives being dropped. A cheap version of this shape uses brittle plastic and an untested tint.
We sell direct. There is no shop floor and no distributor taking a cut on the way, so the retail margin that normally sits on top is not in the price. On a frame this simple that is most of what you would otherwise be paying.
- Sold direct — no retail margin stacked on the frame
- UV400 blocking 100% of UVA and UVB, stated by the maker
- PC frame chosen for impact resistance, not for cost
- No applied hardware, so nothing to work loose
- Light enough for all-day wear without pressure on the nose
| Frame | PC, black or tortoiseshell |
|---|---|
| Rim | Full rim, small flat oval |
| Bridge | Moulded, fixed |
| Temples | Slim, tapering to a bent tip |
| UV protection | UV400, 100% of UVA and UVB |
|---|---|
| Lens colours | Near-black grey, warm brown |
| Profile | Flat front, low on the face |
| Measurements | Not stated by the maker |
What does PC mean?
Polycarbonate. It is the material used in safety eyewear because it flexes and absorbs impact instead of shattering. On a thin frame it is the right choice — a rigid plastic this slim would snap.
Are the lenses polarised?
The maker states UV400 and does not state polarisation, so we do not claim it. UV400 is the protection figure; polarisation is a separate treatment for glare.
Is it too small for a wide face?
It will read small, yes. That is the nineties proportion rather than a fault, but if you want the frame to cover the eye area rather than sit on it, the oversized shapes in the range do that.
Does a flat front distort vision?
No. A flat lens is actually the simpler optic; wrapped lenses are the ones that need correcting. What a flat front does is let more light in from the side, which is the trade-off for the look.
Black or tortoise?
Black for a harder line and for wearing with anything. Tortoise if you want the frame to warm the face — the pattern only shows properly in daylight, which is when you will be wearing them.
How should it be cleaned?
Rinse under cool water to lift grit, then dry with a soft cloth. Dry-wiping a dusty lens is what causes the fine scratching people blame on the coating.
Two finishes, and the tortoise goes first
This shape is held in small numbers each season. The tortoiseshell pattern cannot be matched exactly from one run to the next, which is why it is the one that does not always come back.
Pick your colour above and add it to the bag. If it is not right on your face, send it back — the only thing you risk is missing the one you wanted.
