Sunglasses season is upon us once more, so now it’s time to invest in a new pair of shades that work for your face shape as well as your look. Whether you’re a self-confessed sunglasses addict – like Pharrell Williams, Elton John et al. – or just need a new pair for your summer travels, there’s never a bad time to add to your collection.
In recent years a new wave of sunglasses for men has been growing aside from the classic aviator, clubmaster and wayfarer designs – all of which can be bought at Ray Ban, by the way. This year, the spotlight is on 70s-inspired styles, which have been a favourite on the red carpet worn by Dominic Sessa and Glen Powell as well as featured in everything from the Netflix movie Hitman to Apple TV series Becoming Karl Lagerfeld.
Seventies shades aside, though, we guys can now choose from almost any shape and size, from oval to rectangular, square to cat-eye, micro-mini to futuristic and oversized, in a myriad of colours and designs. The ever-growing selection available makes it all the more difficult to pick what’s right for you. As a rule of thumb, it’s important to consider your face shape. Those with angular faces would benefit from the softer curves of a pair of cat eye or oval frames, while rounder faces might consider square or rectangular designs to add structure to their features.
If you’re looking for a versatile pair which will deliver the most outfit mileage, we’d suggest going for a black, tortoiseshell, or wireframe in a classic shape. If making a statement is more your speed, perhaps try a cat-eye or an oversized frame in a bold colour for added main character energy. Or, for a happy middle ground, perhaps a timeless silhouette with a colourful lens à la Pharell Williams would do.
For inspiration, look to shady characters past and present. Whether you’re looking to channel a classic James Dean, a fashion-forward A$AP Rocky or an avant-garde Elton John, we’ve rounded up the best sunglasses to give you a helping hand through the maze of eyewear brands.
Keep scrolling for our top pick.
16 best menswear brands to buy online
Best ciders to try in 2024 for a refreshing summer drink
Best festival wellies for men 2024: From Crocs, Hunter, Bottega and more
Best sandals for men for style and comfort on holidays or summer walks
Best polo shirts for men to bring your wardrobe quality and style
Best gifts for him 2024: Father’s Day present ideas for men who have everything
Classics
You can’t go wrong with a pair of classic sunglasses. These are styles every man should have in their arsenal.
Ray Ban Aviator
A forever classic, channel your inner Maverick in a pair of iconic Ray-Ban aviators. Pair these with any outfit for a sense of timeless cool.
Buy now £155.00, Ray Ban
Oliver Peoples OV5436S Cary Grant 2 sunglasses
Created in collaboration with Cary Grant’s estate, these Oliver Peoples shades are created with the ideals of elegance that the style icon optimized.
Buy now £382.00, Sunglass Hut
Monokel Eyewear Ellis Sunglasses
A pair of classic black Wayfarers is necessary in every man’s sunglasses collection, and these from Cubitts fit the bill perfectly. A timeless winner.
Buy now £150.00, Cubitts
Rectangular & Square
Great for those with rounder faces, a rectangular or square design will add definition to your features. Square styles tend to look great on a wider range of faces than their rectangular siblings.
Retrosuperfuture Ancora Classic Havana
A timeless frame, the Ancora sunglasses by Retrosuperfuture are one of their more understated designs. The bottle green lens and Havana acetate offer great versatility.
Buy now £199.00, Retrosuperfuture
Le Specs Oh Damn! Rectangular Sunglasses
Designed by cult Australian eyewear brand Le Specs, this rectangular 90s style will work with almost any outfit. Made using a chunky tortoiseshell, they’re ultra-lightweight and super versatile.
Buy now £65.00, John Lewis
Paul Smith Black Kramer Sunglasses
A departure from Paul Smith’s quirky use of colour, these sunglasses lean into a pared-back all-black aesthetic. A hint of the designer is still there, though, with the addition of his multi-coloured signature stripe along the edge. The best of both worlds.
Buy now, Paul Smith
Jimmy Fairly The Napoli
Though Jimmy Fairly’s been around since 2011, in the past few years the French brand has upped its game from opening stores worldwide to growing its online offering. This season, one of the key styles this season is the Napoli. The best part? If you’re not a fan of the sepia-toned lens, there’s the option to choose from nine other colours.
Buy now £135.00, Jimmy Fairly
Cutler and Gross Rectangle-Frame Acetate Sunglasses
Cutler and Gross call the unique shape of these sunglasses a ‘rexangle’ - a combination of a rectangle and a hexagon. Handmade using a clear taupe acetate, they have an understated 70s feel.
Buy now £385.00, Mr Porter
Meller Adisa All Olive 2
Born in Barcelona in 2014, Meller’s range of affordable sunglasses has grown year on year ever since. This green rectangle style is one of their newer designs, and one of their best.
Buy now £49.00, Meller
Loewe Brown Oversized Tortoiseshell Square Sunglasses
Channel your inner celebrity with Loewe’s oversized design. Every pavement’s a catwalk when you’re wearing these shades.
Buy now £290.00, Liberty
Oval & Round
The soft curves of oval and round sunglasses will benefit those with square shaped faces to help balance the harder features.
Ray-Ban Oval Flat Lenses
This timeless Ray Ban oval style will create the illusion of sharper cheekbones whilst framing your eyebrows. A win-win.
Buy now £155.00, Ray Ban
Komono Liam Sunglasses
Belgian eyewear brand Komono is a pro at classic silhouettes – this round frame included. Better yet, the brand’s effective scratch-resistant lenses are great for guys who are always on the go.
Buy now £59.00, Arket
Dior Signature B1U
This black butterfly-esque design by Dior is bold yet understated and will elevate the most casual of outfits - yep, even a dressing gown.
Buy now £440.00, Dior
Co Optical Central 3020 002
The warm sepia-coloured lenses and tortoiseshell give these Co Optical sunglasses the 70s feel, whilst the wireframe and round design bring them right back to summer ‘24.
Buy now £99.95, Mister Spex
Celine Homme Round-Frame Gold-Tone Sunglasses
Where would we be without a timeless pair of gold-tone sunglasses? If it’s the best you’re going for, look no further than Celine.
Buy now £370.00, Mr Porter
Sun Buddies Courtney Sunglasses Black
Originally inspired by Bibi Andersson in the 60s film Persona, Sun Buddies has a great range of retro sunnies. Our favourite is this classic back take which will work with anything in your wardrobe.
Buy now £140.00, Garbstore
Taylor Morris George Arthur Sunglasses
Taking it’s name from two of the founders’ middle names, the classic round shape of the George Arthur sunglasses is given an edgy twist with clear acetate.
Buy now £140.00, Taylor Morris
Cat-Eye & Angular
Ideal for those with more angular or prominent features, cat-eye and angular frames will balance the wide jawline of a triangular face. These are also great to make a statement.
Bottega Veneta Sharp Square Sunglasses
Creative director Matthieu Blazy has taken Bottega Veneta’s range of sunglasses up a notch with this design. A sharp black silhouette with the brand’s iconic hardware at the temples, these are both elevated and unique.
Buy now £330.00, MyTheresa
Ace & Tate Mirko
Ace & Tate’s oversized winged silhouette is perfect for those who like to make a statement. The best part? The luxurious feel of the substantial frame.
Buy now £125.00, Ace & Tate
Balencaiga Bat Rectangle Sunglasses
Pioneers of the futuristic look in the world of sunnies, Balenciaga’s bat design is their current offering. Worn by the likes of Justin Bieber and Kim Kardashian, they’re sure to be a hit this summer.
Buy now £360.00, Balenciaga
Gentle Monster Cookie Sunglasses
Gentle Monster has given square sunglasses an angular makeover with this design. A welcome twist on the classic.
Buy now £235.00, End Clothing
