Why you need Timothée Chalamet’s sexy ‘Matrix’ sunglasses

The Y2K look is back for Y2K25

By Johnny Davis

Published: May 9, 2025

SLIM, OVAL SUNGLASSES are on track to be one of year’s defining styles.

The latest proof came at last weekend’s Miami Grand Prix, where Timothée Chalamet sported a pair of minimalist black oval frames that might have been beamed in from 1999.

With their narrow lenses, thin metal arms and understated presence, they’re a direct callback to the techcore aesthetic of The Matrix era – now reemerging as a Y2K style reference point.

Keanu Reeves cemented the oval shades’ place in fashion history as reality’s ultimate hacker Neo, while Brad Pitt, David Beckham and Lenny Kravitz helped popularise the style IRL throughout the early 2000s.

Back then, oval frames stood out for their unconventionality – compact, subtle and unlike the dominant oversized trends of the time.

Today, their return is part of a broader resurgence of turn-of-the-millennium styling, led by designers and celebrities alike. (See also: cargo pants; logo tees; oversized denim and low-rise everything.)

Chalamet’s choice aligns with this movement.

The narrow silhouette complements his features without overpowering them.

But you don’t have to share TC’s aquiline nose and elfin looks to: oval sunglasses tend to flatter a variety of face shapes, especially angular or square faces, thanks to their soft curves. Their smaller lenses sit closer to the face, adding definition without distraction.

Brands including Oakley, Dior, Celine and Nike have helped revive the look, bringing oval frames into contemporary collections with updated materials and detailing.

If nothing else they represent a solid alternative to the ubiquity of aviators.