Your ultimate guide to choosing the right pair of sunglasses for you this summer
Sunglasses. Such an essential part of your summer wardrobe, but so difficult to get right. Until now, that is. Welcome to your ultimate guide to the brands, trends and styling tricks you need to know before buying the best pair for you this summer.
About Face: How to find your perfect frames
Let's start with the shape, shall we?
For a heart-shaped face, high cheekbones call for cat’s-eye styles. Go as big or small as you dare, but, as your cheeks are the broadest part of your face, be sure the frame isn’t wider than them.
For a square face, you should soften a strong jawline and wide cheekbones with curvy frames – aviator or butterfly frames are ideal.
For a long face, add width to a slender face with a chunky rectangular or wrap-around style. A block colour (blush, lilac and white are big news) will add a feminine touch
For a round face, slim your cheeks by opting for wider frames – a Wayfarer style with chunky edges will give you definition.
Got an oval face? Lucky you! As most styles suit oval faces, you can experiment and have fun.
The new labels to love:
These are the names to have your eye on...
Poppy Lissiman
Sunglasses by Poppy Lissiman
Who: Australian-born Lissiman launched her eponymous brand in 2008, specialising in vegan leather accessories. Since then, she has added a line of quirky sunglasses – our favourite is the starry Dakota style (above, ￡69).
Why buy: If you’re after this season’s It shape – a teeny Perspex cat’s-eye – this should be your first port of call.
Zanzan
Gilot sunglasses, ￡250, Zanzan
Who: Designed in London but handmade in Italy, Zanzan – which in Maltese means the feeling of wearing something special for the first time – is a brand that advocates ‘buying better, buying less’. Which means investing in eye wear that lasts beyond seasons and trends.
Why buy: The sunnies are both a style statement and a practical buy – all styles offer UVA and UVB protection, and the majority are prescription-compatible.
Grey Ant
Iemall sunglasses, ￡260, Greyant
Who: Based in Los Angeles, Grey Ant has been around since 1998, but thanks to its exclusivity (limited runs for every design), the brand has retained stealth status, until now.
Why buy: For the minimal- yet-edgy designs (see the Iemall, above, ￡260) and high-end quality – these frames are handmade in Italy and Japan.
M?y Atelier
Nobody's Darling, ￡295, Moy Atelier
Who: The brainchild of actor and model Betty Bachz and accessories designer Torunn Lovise Gullaksen, M?y Atelier specialises in oversized ’70s shapes with a luxurious finish.
Why buy: The brand has perfected four trademark styles; the brilliantly named Nobody’s Darling (above right, ￡295) is an oversized butterfly shape with a 12ct-gold-plated frame.
G?LCO x Ulla Johnson
GLCO X Ulla Johnson sunglasses , ￡260, Liberty London
Who: Fashion designer Ulla Johnson, who is renowned for her bohemian, holiday-inspired ?collections, and Garrett Leight, eyewear specialist and founder of Garrett Leight California Opticals, have joined forces to create a? limited-edition? line of luxury sunglasses.?
Why buy: ?All of the frames are available as both opticals and sunglasses; the oversized acetate frames with rose-pink lenses (right, ￡260) are a chic option for a beach holiday.
Need sunglasses with a prescription?
If you already wear specs, you’ll be hard-pressed to get through the summer without a pair of prescription sunnies to hand. While you’d be forgiven for thinking you need to spend big to tick the style and practicality boxes, there are a plethora of brands now dedicated to quality and affordability (so you can avoid the inevitable heartbreak when you scratch them in the sand). Here are our favourites…
#G Tortoise, ￡28 plus prescription, Izipizi
Matilda, ￡125 plus prescription, Cubitts
Andy ￡98 plus prescription, Ollie Quinn
Donna, ￡98 plus ￡50 for prescription, Ace & Tate
Here comes the science bit...
Not all sunnies are created equal: some are designed to suit specific activities, while others offer different levels of protection. Here’s the vocab you need to know.
UVA: ‘Both types of ultraviolet rays are potentially dangerous for eyesight,’ says Nicola Belli, innovation director at sunglasses company Safilo. ‘Poor UVA protection could also lead to premature skin ageing.’
UVB: ‘While the atmosphere stops around 95 per cent of UVB rays, full UVB protection will prevent burning the superficial layer of your skin and the development of skin cancer,’ says Hitesh Odedra of David Clulow Opticians .
CE : Keep an eye out for this small sign found on the inside arm of the frame; it stands for European Conformity, and ensures the lenses meet the standards of UV protection.
Polarised: A high performance lens that offers anti-glare properties; ideal if you’re driving, skiing or by water, as it will enhance your vision.
Photochromic: This lens changes its colour intensity depending on solar radiation. So if you’re heading t o a shaded bar after relaxing poolside , these are ideal.
Graduated: Opt for this ombré lens if you’re a keen reader – the lighter colour at the bottom allows a clear vision of the page while being protected.
Want more inspiration?
The biggest trends of the year include pointy cat's-eye frames, rose tinted lenses, and tortoiseshell effects. Pick your perfect pair from our edit, below...
The best sunglasses to buy now
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