Selima Optique: Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s Go-to Sunglasses

What was once a best-kept secret is now officially common knowledge. If you didn’t already know about Selima Optique, you may have noticed their eyewear if you’ve been watching Ryan Murphy’s Love Story (they’ve been worn in most, if not every, episode by Sarah Pidgeon, who plays Carolyn Bessette Kennedy).

Those who have long admired the understated style of CBK know she famously wore the label’s Aldo sunglasses—one of the brand’s most recognizable designs. Since the show’s mid-February launch, revisiting her style has sparked quite the media frenzy, and the design is more popular than ever.

I stopped by the brand’s SoHo boutique to try them on myself, and the style now comes in three sizes—Aldo, Carolyn, and CBK—from smallest to largest (I found the Carolyn suited my face shape best). Side note: I did a bit of a double take when I noticed Jacob Elordi wearing them during the Wuthering Heights press tour. Handmade in New York at their bespoke atelier, the frames are produced in limited runs to the exact same specifications as the originals.

Behind the label is founder Selima Salaun, who trained as an opticienne-lunetière in Morez, France, often referred to as the birthplace of the optical industry. After moving to NYC, she created her first pair of sunglasses as a bespoke gift for a friend. What followed was the start of a company that, since its debut in 1996, has become a cult favorite. Over the years, the brand has also collaborated with Alex Mill, J.Crew, Ulla Johnson, and Zankov.

Today, Selima Optique can be shopped in person at its boutiques in Paris and New York City, as well as online and at retailers like Bergdorf Goodman.