Engearment

Kate Agathon

This season, I’m going out of my comfort zone and wearing cat-eye-shaped sunglasses.

While they’ve never really gone out of style, cat eye-shaped frames have definitely experienced a resurgence. I kept seeing my friends wearing them and I was curious to try them. Thankfully, the Costa Del Mar Catherine sunglasses, dubbed “Most Wanted” by fans.

The stylish cat eyed-Catherines fit my small face better than I expected (the arms were nice and snug) without overtaking it, and were fun to wear.

I loved how sophisticated the subtle Evening Shallows tortoise shell pattern looked; not overly trendy so they won’t be going out of style anytime soon.

Also, I liked how polished they appeared. I mostly wore them around town and to Denver. From casual athleisure to stylish dresses, they paired well with everything.

Compared to other Costa Del Mar sunglasses I’ve owned, the Catherine sunglasses seem a tad heavier because of the gray polarized glass lenses.

I didn’t get any headaches or experience discomfort after wearing them for extended amounts of time, so that was also notable. Then again, I’ve never felt discomfort wearing Costa Del Mar sunglasses, so my initial concerns about weight, lens material, or larger frames were unfounded.

Technology

Whenever I put on a pair of Costa Del Mar sunglasses on, I can instantly feel the quality. They don’t feel cheap, if you know what I mean. The company is consistent with their standards: the frames have never felt too hard, the arms are comfortable, and the scratch-resistant lenses are extremely durable.

Furthermore, Costa Del Mar only sells polarized sunglasses, so I was secure knowing that my eyes would be protected from harmful UV rays; especially important since I live at high altitude.

Responsibly constructed from bio-based materials, the Catherine sunglasses do not disappoint.

Functional as well as stylish, they definitely met the expectations I have grown accustomed to when it comes to Costa Del Mar sunglasses.

The Catherine’s multi-patented Costa 580® lenses offer 100 percent UV protection by filtering out harsh yellow color, reducing eye strain and light glare. I was super impressed with the crisp,  clear vision and pronounced colors.

I wore them during all times of the day: walking the dogs in the morning, running errands during high noon, and late afternoon when the sun was beginning to wane. The contrast and light reduction remained sharp in all those scenarios; but performed best in very bright sun.

I’d categorize the Catherine sunglasses as lifestyle eyewear. I wear my statement sunglasses whenever I want to feel stylish and take it up a notch whenever I’m going out.

They stayed put no matter how much I turned my head, even directly looking down and searching my handbag for my car keys.

The Catherine sunglasses come in four frame colors and patterns and are available in prescription lenses. I recommend them to the fashionista in your life who demands style with high-performance technology.

Kate Agathon

Dr. Of Stoke

Freelance writer, bicyclist, outdoor recreation enthusiast, social justice advocate, and mom to her furbaby, Sansa.

A Colorado native, Kate considers the outdoors her mother ship. She brings her passion for bicycling, the environment, and issues of diversity to her writing. Her primary outdoor recreation activities are mountain biking, road biking, nordic skiing, alpine skiing, hiking, snowshoeing, and peak bagging Colorado’s 14ers.

 

Kate earned a bachelor’s degree in History from Colorado State University and later an MSEd and Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Purdue University. In addition to her education, Kate’s background serving on the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee and experience working for non-profits and bicycle sales well position her to bring depth and understanding to the complex changes currently taking place in the outdoor recreation industry.