The sunglasses that went down the spring runways were anything but boring. Labels like Prada, Dior, and Jil Sander showed colorful, eccentric shades that were out of this world. We've rounded up a mix of cool cat eye, retro, and '60s-style sunnies that anyone can pull off as things brighten up.

Evidenced by the fact that I bought them two years ago and they're still easy to find in stores, these Karen Walker sunnies never go out of style.

The Row's eyewear collection, an ongoing collaboration with Linda Farrow, has been around for a few seasons. But Spring 2011 is the first to offer up leather and croc-embossed sunnies. The ultra-luxe line starts at $442 (for leather accented shades), with croc versions priced at $874. While it's certainly been done before, using exotic skins on sunglasses isn't a typical application. “It’s about combining the allure and quality of the past with a modern aesthetic,” designer Ashley Olsen said in a release. What do you think of the collection?

I was never a big fan of "designer" sunglasses. But that was before wayfarers suddenly looked fresh again. And Linda Farrow began reissuing vintage classics, as well as teaming up with new, exciting designers like The Row and Alexander Wang. And before I really learned to appreciate Persols. And Supers. And oh, long before Karen Walker. These days, I'm pretty much a sunglasses whore. I love them. I match them to my outfits. I don't own as many pairs as I'd like to, and right now I really, really need a pair of big, black cat eyes. But after my most recent purchase--more than I've ever spent on sunnies--I'm feeling a bit anxious. The glasses--as stylish, chic, and lovely as they are--offer no protection. Well, at least they don't feel like they do. I walk outside and I need to squint behind my sunglasses. I walk inside and I have no need to take them off--I can see perfectly. This is where my practical side comes in. Why, if these are 50 times more expensive than the pair I bought H&M, do my cheapo sunnies feel like they're working harder?