In Uncertain Times, Shield Shades Are the Armor We Need

“Wait, slow down! I can’t see!”

It’s an average Wednesday afternoon in New York City, and I am strutting around the streets of SoHo in a very non-average pair of sunglasses. My co-worker, Kya, is just a few feet in front of me, but I’m having trouble keeping tabs on him, let alone the sidewalk directly in front of me. I’m wearing Balenciaga’s 24/7 Mask—futuristic pair of shield shades that make me feel half-human, half-robot. What I lack in basic peripheral vision, I make up for in other heightened senses: I can just feel the gazes of strangers as they walk past me, many of whom are likely wondering, What the hell are those? And why is he wearing them?

There is a reason why I have slipped into such an avant-garde accessory. Debuting on the label’s fall 2024 runway, I first noticed the Balenciaga shield shades earlier this year, and have been intrigued by them ever since. Average sun-blocking shades these are not: The 24/7 Mask requires the wearer to slip one’s ears into built-in earholes—meaning once you put them on, they are on. There is a level of commitment and dedication to wearing them, not to mention the 180-degrees of darkness slightly impairs your vision. To sport them is to slightly remove yourself from reality and the world we live in; you only see parts of it, and it is even easier to block out the parts you don’t wish to see. I loved this idea of fashion as a form of armor and protection, and began to wonder if they could be conducive to a mundane work day commute. Cue the test-drive.

Photographed by kya

Wearing them on the New York City subway was certainly an experience. Real New Yorkers are privy to the horrors that one can bear witness to on the morning commute to work—like riding with the acrobatic dancers who almost kick your head while performing their routines for money. But in the shield shades, you could block all that out. Holding onto the hand rails for dear life, I could barely see who was in my subway car, let alone what was happening around me on the 1 train. Dare I say the ride felt peaceful for once? Looking like a Marvel villain, I was left alone the entire duration of the trip; they are the perfect statement piece to scare away strangers from talking to you or asking you for directions. As an introvert, this part was pure bliss.

Sure, the 24/7 Mask does not render you literally invisible—but wearing them, you feel as though you are wearing some sort of magical Harry Potter cloak. And you have to admit: In these uncertain times, especially given the current political climate, we often feel like we want to wither away and disappear. Fashion, then, can offer that temporary solution—giving you a false sense of reprieve, even if just for a moment.

Photographed by kya

Next up, Kya and I (because let’s face it: I needed someone to lead the way) headed to a Walgreens to run some errands, with my shield shades still in tow. The sales clerk look worried upon my entry to the store, like I was possibly an armed robber. Again, I took delight in going about my day while blissfully unaware of my surroundings. I perused the rotating sunglasses rack and noticed that my Balenciaga shields were not dissimilar to the cheap, sporty wrap-around sunnies on display. (It’s clear where Demna got his inspiration.)

Leaving the store and heading back into the office, I expected the 24/7 Mask to garner me at least one comment from a passerby, but I didn’t get one single “Cool sunglasses!” or “Freak!” comment. Sure, this is Manhattan, where New Yorkers are largely unfazed about everything and anything. But I believe the inconspicuousness lies in the shades. There is something to them that keeps you feeling sheltered—and a little safe, even. They are the perfect sunglasses for the moment. Consider reserving a pair for January 20, 2025. (Look it up.)

Photographed by kya