Luv Lou is one of those brands that quietly does its work and then suddenly seems to be on everyone. Walk down a Sydney street in summer and you'll see a Luv Lou frame on a stranger before you know what you're looking at. The shape feels a touch more considered than the supermarket pair, the acetate has more depth, and the gold detail catches the light in a particular way. That's the brand in a nutshell. Quietly distinctive, quietly built.
If you've ended up here it's probably because you've already seen a pair you liked. New Zealand search interest in Luv Lou has been building steadily, with style names like The Banks, The Boston, The Taylor, The Morgan and The Dionne all turning up in people's searches. Most often paired with the words "sunglasses NZ" or "stockist". This is the practical guide to what Luv Lou actually is, what they make, and where to buy them in New Zealand.
Who Made Luv Lou
Luv Lou was founded in 2018 by sisters Hayley and Jayde Hall on Sydney's Northern Beaches. Both came out of fashion careers, and both shared what they describe as an endless supply of sunglasses between them. The brand name is a tribute to their grandmother Louanne, "Lou" for short, who they describe as poised and spontaneous in equal measure. That balance, soft and strong, classic and easy, is what they aim for in every frame.
The brand started small. Two sisters, one shared eye for what makes a frame feel right, and a clear instinct that the eyewear market in Australia was over-stocked with either disposable trend pieces or aspirational-priced designer labels. There was room in the middle for something premium-feeling, considered, and genuinely wearable across seasons. They launched, and the brand has grown steadily into the wider Australian retail scene and now into international markets including New Zealand.
What Makes a Luv Lou Frame Different
Three things make Luv Lou stand out when you actually pick a pair up.
The first is the acetate. Luv Lou frames are handmade from premium acetate, and the brand has been pushing toward bio acetate (a plant-based alternative to standard plastic) across more of the range. You can feel the difference in the weight and the way the frame sits against the face. It's noticeably better than the injection-moulded frames at the cheaper end of the market.
The second is the lens spec. Luv Lou uses CR39 lenses with Category 3 UV protection, which is the high end of everyday eyewear. CR39 is a hard-resin lens material that's known for clarity and scratch resistance. Category 3 means strong protection from bright sunlight, which matters when you're wearing them outside in New Zealand summer light. Most of the range is non-polarised, but selected styles like The Boston are available with polarised lenses if glare reduction matters to you.
The third is the small detail work. Luv Lou frames have a recognisable design language, in particular the organic L-shaped gold hardware that appears as temple detail on signature aviator styles. Once you've spotted it, you'll start to notice it on Luv Lou frames in the wild.
The Signature Styles
Luv Lou name each style after a person, which makes the range easy to remember once you're in it. Here's the rundown of the most-asked-after styles in our range, and what each one is.
The Banks
The Banks is the brand's signature aviator. Oversized but soft-shaped, fine temple arms, and the organic L gold hardware at the hinge. We carry The Banks in Eucalyptus, Black, Caramel Tort, Cherry Crystal, and Moss Tort across the season. If you want one Luv Lou to start with and you're in any doubt, this is the one. It suits a wide range of face shapes thanks to the slightly soft aviator outline.
The Boston
The Boston is a vintage-inspired oval with metal arms. It reads more 90s than 70s, and the silhouette sits closer to the face than The Banks. We stock The Boston in Black (with polarised lenses) and Brushed Gold. If you've been searching for "luv lou boston sunglasses", this is the page. It's the answer to the question of whether Luv Lou makes polarised pairs, yes, and this is the one.
The Taylor
The Taylor is a petite cat eye in premium black acetate. Finer temple arms, ultra-chic silhouette, sits high on the cheek. This is a less-is-more pair, the kind you wear with a black tee and good denim and let do all the talking.
The Morgan
The Morgan is a petite oval, slim arms, gold detailing. It reads like a 90s minimalist frame brought into now. We stock The Morgan in Black and Dark Chocolate. If you want a frame that goes with everything in your wardrobe and disappears into your face shape, this is it.
The Dionne
The Dionne is the newest aviator silhouette in the range. Oversized, handcrafted from polished bio acetate. We stock The Dionne in Black and Crystal Tort. This is currently our most-clicked Luv Lou product in Google search results, which usually means people have spotted it on someone and gone looking. Worth knowing if you're trying to gauge what's having a moment.
The Olive
The Olive is a round-oval hybrid in chunky acetate. We carry it in Mocha Tort with burgundy CR39 lenses, and Chocolate Crystal with matching lenses. The shape suits angular faces, the colourways read warmer than the standard tortoiseshell.
The Sutton
The Sutton is a bold cat eye with gold detailing and gradient brown lenses. More statement than The Taylor or The Morgan, this is the pair you reach for when you want the sunglasses to be the outfit moment.
The Kendall
The Kendall is a small oval in polished metal. Delicate, sits close to the face, almost frameless in feel. We carry it in Bronze and Gold. The Kendall is the closest Luv Lou comes to a 90s metal-frame nostalgia piece.
The Bella, The Tortue, The Blair, The Lia, The Paloma, The Ryan
There's plenty more in the range. The Bella is a petite rectangular frame, The Tortue is a micro cat eye, The Blair is another petite cat eye in cleaner lines, The Lia is a slightly more angular cat eye, The Paloma is a vintage oval in gold-tone metal, and The Ryan is a 90s-inspired rectangular metal frame.
How to Choose Your Pair
The best Luv Lou for you is mostly a face shape conversation.
If your face is round or soft-featured, look for angular frames like The Taylor, The Sutton, or The Lia. The contrast between the angular frame and round face creates definition.
If your face is angular or square, soften it with rounded shapes. The Banks, The Olive, The Boston and The Morgan all have curved silhouettes that balance a stronger jaw.
If your face is oval, almost everything works, which is the easy answer. Pick by colourway and detail.
For sitting close to the face, choose a smaller silhouette like The Kendall or The Morgan. For a statement-forward look, go bigger with The Banks or The Dionne.
For everyday versatility across outfits and seasons, black acetate is the easiest pair to live with. For a frame that does some lifting on its own, tort or warm crystal colours add interest without going loud.
Wearing Luv Lou
Most people who buy Luv Lou wear them with the same wardrobe they'd wear any contemporary brand sunglasses with, the brand reads modern but not loud. The frames pair well with a clean shirt and tailored trouser, with a tee and denim, with a slip dress in summer. They sit comfortably alongside other contemporary labels we stock like Mossman, Kowtow, Luna Lane and Nude Lucy.
The thing to lean into is that Luv Lou is more elevated than throwaway. If you wear them with the rest of your wardrobe operating on the same level, the look comes together.
Care and Warranty
Standard care applies. Keep them in the soft pouch or hard case the brand provides, clean with a microfibre cloth, avoid leaving them on the dashboard in summer (the heat distorts acetate frames over time). Luv Lou frames are handmade and each pair has a warranty for manufacturing defects, which we honour through the same returns process as the rest of our range.
If you have a specific question about a pair (lens type, polarisation, fit), the team at Wally can answer it. Either drop us a line through the website or come in to the store and we'll talk you through the options in person.
Where to Buy Luv Lou Sunglasses in New Zealand
We stock Luv Lou at Wally, both in store at 53 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna, Auckland and online at wally.co.nz. Free delivery on all NZ orders over $80, and 30-day returns on full-price items in original condition.
Sunglasses are one of those purchases where trying them on makes a real difference. The fit on your nose bridge, the way the temple arms sit on your ears, how the lens height frames your eyes, all of that is hard to judge from a product image alone. If you're in Auckland, popping into the Takapuna store is the easiest way to find your pair. If you're elsewhere in New Zealand, our PDP photography shows the frame from multiple angles and we're happy to answer specific fit questions before you order.
Stock moves on the popular styles, particularly across summer. If you've had your eye on a specific Luv Lou pair, the best move is to grab them when you see them rather than waiting on a restock.