There was a time when wearing sunglasses post-summer was met with suspicion. A time when perhaps only Milanese men, with their dedication to tailoring and decent facial hair, could get away with it.
Then men’s sunglasses got better. Much too good to only wear for a quarter of the year. The person we have to thank for this sudden change? Why Jerome Mage, of course. The man reinvented eyewear when he set up his now-cult brand Jacques Marie Mage in 2014.
The LA-based label is instantly recognisable for its architectural, unabashedly angular frames, so oversized they make Michael Caine’s iconic Curry & Paxton opticals look puny by comparison. Weighty on the bridge of your nose (just how we like it), and with signature flourishes such as 18 karat gold filigree arms or sterling silver arrowhead pins, these chunky acetate sunglasses feel worth their considerable price tag. Luxury? Yes. Quiet? Definitely not.
Clearly, we’re not the only people to think so highly of Jacques Marie Mage. In 2023, the brand confirms they’ve experienced ‘significant growth year over year since inception’ and ‘high double-digit growth’ this year alone. This makes sense, when you consider the fact that searches for the brand have doubled since this time last year.
The sheer number of cultural moments the brand's amassed, not to mention the roster of celebrity fans, is a bit of a hint, too. After all, Jacques Marie Mage sunglasses were as much as part of Kendall Roy’s Succession wardrobe as his Loro Piana coat, cashmere baseball cap and Gucci trainers. Jeremy Strong was an instant fan of his character's sunnies, taking them home from set and promptly contacting the brand to work together on a custom design.
Jeff Golblum was perhaps the earliest adopter of the heavy-set Jacques Marie Mage look, though, having switched from his then-signature Tom Ford opticals around 2017. The actor even collaborated on a capsule earlier this year.
Mahershala Ali wore a pair on the cover of Esquire UK back in 2019. Austin Butler sported them on the red carpet last year in Cannes. Brad Pitt, like Strong, wears his both on and off screen. As does serial dater and funny boy Pete Davidson. Pharrell, Lewis Hamilton and Kristen Stewart are also fans.
Jacques Marie Mage Sunglasses Celebrities Can't Get Enough Of
As seen on Brad Pitt and Kendall Roy in Succession.
Jacques Marie Mage Molino
As seen on Jeremy Strong, Austin Butler and Lewis Hamilton.
Jacques Marie Mage Supersonic
As seen on Pete Davidson.
Jacques Marie Mage X Lou Doillon The Burn
As seen on Pharrell.
Jacques Marie Mage + Jeff Goldblum Jeff
As seen on Jeff Goldblum. Naturally.
![jacques marie mage sunglasses](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/austinbutler-64d4cb949145c.jpg?resize=980:* ""Elvis" Photocall - The 75th Annual Cannes Film Festival")
Whether these sunglasses are gifted to celebrities of such stature is the million dollar question. The brand insists it does not engage in any form of influencer marketing. And we were cheeky enough to ask if Jeff himself nabbed a free pair when the label first launched, which their rep artfully dodged. ‘Our focus has always been organic growth and adoption. Our partnerships are fuelled by shared values and affinities, and we’re grateful to have been able to develop special relationships that span music, film, and fashion that have resulted in exciting, limited-edition luxury goods.’
But these sunglasses aren’t just for celebrities. Oh, no. Sure, many balked at the price point when Jacques Marie Mage first launched: £400 for a pair of sunglasses, you say? (That was then. Sadly, they’re now approaching double that.) But when you consider that most of our go-to eyewear brands – Prada, Persol, Oliver’s People and Ray Ban – are actually all churned out of the same factory; and that truly independent labels that stick to their design guns are getting hard to come by; oh, and the hand finish that goes into each pair, your disposable income suddenly seems worth it. These sunglasses are a work of art. These sunglasses will never date. They’re as luxurious an investment as a Rolex or Loro Piana loafers.
So, what makes a pair of Jacques Marie Mage worth the hefty price tag? There’s a 300-step process involved in these shades, which takes nearly 18 months from start to finish. Each one passes through 50 pairs of artisan hands, with every component being exclusively made for the brand. ‘Our eyewear is handcrafted by our esteemed ateliers in Japan and Italy that are steeped in a rich heritage that extends nearly a century into the golden age of eyewear production,’ the brand tells us.
What's more, these sunglasses are hard to get your hands on. 'We serialise our frames and only make certain batch numbers. Once they're gone, they're gone.' There's nothing like exclusivity to make you want something that much more.
Before it comes to this painstaking and frankly religious production, the design concept is already reigning supreme. With names like 'Cash', 'Yves', 'The Jagger' and 'Ranch', the frames are inspired by old Hollywood films, 1960s style icons and all things Americana. And the label doesn't hold back when it comes to these references (Jerome Mage is said to harbour a collection of 1000 vintage sunglasses, after all).
Jacques Marie Mage's best sellers are the Dealan, Zephirin and Molino. The Last Frontier collection is a winner, too. The good news is, if you missed a drop, there is still a chance this shape will be re-issued in a new colourway. So if you're still saving up for a pair you spotted a few seasons ago, there's still hope for you yet.
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