It may have taken a while to get going but the British summertime is finally here. For us. that means one thing: sunglasses season.
You may be the kind of person who keeps a pair of specs in their bag all year round, and we understand, you have to have some level of protection between you and the paps. But it becomes all the more important when the sun finally shines to stop you squinting through the streets of London.
The same is true if you’re heading further afield to lay horizontal for an extended period of time; out-of-office mode firmly set. They must be functional and offer UV protection, yes, but sunglasses can also make or break an outfit and will be the first thing you notice in your holiday snaps.
You can stick with the classics, those ubiquitous styles that are timeless and forever on the fashion agenda - we’re taking black aviators or cute cat-eyes - but why not get creative with something out of your typical comfort zone with striking face frames that will transform your vacay style?
This season, shades are nodding to the 70s, but taking the original metal frame aviator style to the next level is yellow tint square shapes that takes the Daisy Jones & The Six aesthetic and runs with it. Look also to colourful frames and lenses. If you’re adding to your collection, there is really no need to replicate what you already own. Opt for vibrant colourways in pops of pink, blue or even just tortoiseshell to still provide an interesting detail without straying too far away from neutral tones. These are shades that put the fun in funglasses.
The rectangular silhouettes that are reminiscent of the 90s remain ever popular and the sportier, the better - but there’s another shape that you’ll spot everywhere for summer 2024: the oval. This makes for a feature statement that sets your look rather than compliments it. The same is true for oversized shapes that have seen a revival from the Noughties - whether that’s wrap-around or square frames. No matter what you choose, you can replace your full face of makeup with these XL designs. The 2000s were a tale of two sunglasses shapes on either end of the spectrum, the first being the souped-up styles we just mentioned and the other being the ultra-narrow. Embrace Y2K by minimalising your specs.
See our selection of the best women’s sunglasses for 2024.
Celine Tiger Hexagonal Acetate Sunglasses
Celine’s tiger print sunglasses are elegance personified. The hexagonal silhouette, complete with a playful animal print, has a wide fit to accentuate any rounded face. Adorned with black lenses, they are layered with 100 per cent UV protection.
The ideal accessory for summer, pair with a rattan bag and vibrant dress.
Buy now £340.02, MyTheresa
Loewe Rectangular Acetate Sunglasses
There’s nothing mellow about Loewe’s yellow sunglasses. The vivid specs embrace dopamine dressing to the fullest with their acidic hue, statement design and bold insignia. The lenses have alluring black-tinted lenses complete with 100 per cent UV protection.
Buy now £203.00, Selfridges
Jimmy Fairly The Lucia
Jimmy Fairly is a French eyewear specialist which proves that on-trend styles need not come with a premium price tag. The affordable collections don’t sacrifice on quality and you can feel content in the knowledge that with every frame purchased, the brand will donate one to those in need. This is the Lucia, a soon-to-be stalwart in your collection with a butterfly shape that suits all face shapes, from oval to square.
Buy now £135.02, Jimmy Fairly
Gucci Rectangular Frame Sunglasses
Gucci’s sunglasses come with a high price point, but a quick glance at the spectacular shades will demonstrate why. Slim rectangular frames are adorned by glistening crystals and cut-out Interlocking GG and crystal stars detail. Hailing from Gucci’s Cruise 2024 collection, these opulent opticals are hot off the runway.
Buy now £845.00, Gucci
Prada PR 17WS 49 Dark Grey & Black Sunglasses
If you live by the motto that it’s Prada or nada, the Italian fashion house won’t disappoint with these geometric silhouettes that proudly display the brand’s name down the arm. The rectangular shape takes a cue from the 90s-favourite shape but adds dimension with the sharp lines.
Buy now £376.00, Prada
Ray-Ban Hexagonal Flat Lenses
The round Ray-Bans with gold frame is a ubiquitous style that is universally flattering. This takes the silhouette and gives it a geometric twist with a hexagonal shape that brings a touch of intrigue into the equation. Polished gold and green is a surefire win, but you can get creative and customise the colourways of both. You can also add your own prescription lenses.
Buy now £137.00, Ray-Ban
Poppy Lissiman Sunglasses Cloudy Ice Blue
We’ll admit these aren’t the most practical sunblockers on the market but if your summer plans are filled with festivals, they’re an easy way to bring the festival feels without needing an entire wardrobe update.
Poppy Lissiman’s playful blue cumulus cloud designs are made from a transparent acetate but they come in various colourways of black, blanc and tortoiseshell.
Buy now £119.99, Poppy Lissiman
Celine Triomphe oval acetate sunglasses
It was challenging to choose just one of the Celine silhouettes to spotlight for this roundup. The French fashion house has an array of stylish specs on offer this season and you may just find yourself spoilt for choice. The Triomphe with its oval shape and tiger stripe detail has won our hearts as the fierce finishing touch to our warm-weather ensembles.
Buy now £400.00, Net-A-Porter
Burberry BE4399 60 Light Brown & Beige Sunglasses
If it's statement sunnies that you are after, look no further than Burberry. The shark-like silhouette is something different than any other shape on the market and you’ll like to see them dominating street style snaps this season and at fashion week in all four style capitals.
Buy now £140.98, Sunglass Hut
Linda Farrow Sierra Oversized Sunglasses in black
Luxury sunglasses label Linda Farrow provides the statement styles that will become the foundation of your holiday wardrobe. The Sierra proves that more is always more with their oversized frame and polished finish. To take your eyewear to the next level, they are adorned with 22-carat gold-plated logo eyelets that, while offering a striking detail, also can double up as the place to affix an on-trend sunglasses chain.
Buy now £479.99, Linda Farrow
Hot Futures Club Kid Polka Amber
Ever since Bella Hadid stepped out in a silhouette very closely resembling this style, we knew we had to get our hands on a pair. The Club Kid from Brick Lane-based Hot Futures is giving 90s appeal as well as JLo in the Noughties with the blingy gold logo hardware at the temple and wrap-around shape. They come in an array of colours including smoke, gold, tan and our personal favourite, amber.
Buy now £120.00, Hot Futures
Chloé Gayia oversized tortoiseshell ReAce sunglasses
For this silhouette, Chloe’s bohemian aesthetic meets retro pilot goggles to create a rounded style that will elevate any warm-weather ensemble. The gradient lenses have a brown tint as does the frame, the latter of which is crafted entirely from pre-consumer recycled acetate that was discarded in the production process of previous eyewear.
Buy now £310.00, Chloe
Balenciaga Dynasty BB square-frame acetate and silver-tone sunglasses
Your sunglasses collection is no doubt dominated by pared-back colourways of the brown and black nature so inject a playful shade with this pop of pink from Balenciaga. The silhouette has a glossy finish and the brand’s signature BB in a silver tone for that not-so subtle nod to logomania. Don’t want to think pink? See the white, yellow, black and crystal-encrusted (!) variations too.
Buy now £140.00, Net-A-Porter
More Joy x Le Specs Tinted Sunglasses
The more affordable arm of Christopher Kane’s collections is hugely popular for its mood-boosting brand name: More Joy. Teaming up with Sydney-born Le Specs, these rectangular sunnies nod to the 90s but are given wider frames and colourful lenses in yellow, green and pink where the logo matches the tint. There are also frames in yellow and green available that put the Joy into More Joy.
Buy now £35.00, Le Specs
Oakley Radar EV Path sunglasses
Best for: enhancing colour, contrast and detail
Oakley’s Radar EV Path sunglasses were designed with fast-paced movement and ease of use in mind, making them ideal not just for night driving but also for any other outdoor occasions when you may need a little extra help on the anti-glare front. With their Unobtainium ear socks and nose pads for increased comfort and performance, Lightweight O Matter frame material and Prizm lenses to enhance colour, contrast and detail, they bring together everything you need for an effortless drive.
Buy now £241.00, Oakley
Linda Farrow Lola Rectangular Sunglasses in Black
Can’t/ won’t get over tiny glasses? Get a designer take on the trend with Linda Farrow’s rectangular shades which come with 22ct gold hardware and ZEISS lenses finished with UV protection. Pretty and protective; our fave combo.
Buy now £390.03, Linda Farrow
Otra Alix Sunglasses
A stunning take on Gucci’s epic eyewear collection, Otra’s Alix Sunglasses are a must-buy for retro dressers. An oversized, Seventies-inspired design is elevated by orange-tinted lenses and smoothly curved temples. Very Daisy Jones & The Six.
Buy now £24.95, Free People
Oliver Bonas Faux Tortoiseshell Butterfly Cat Eye Sunglasses
Infuse your everyday high-octane glamour. Oliver Bonas’ butterfly cat-eye sunglasses are an avant-garde take on a classic tortoiseshell design. Scalloped edges are married with recycled materials to create the sassy accessory.
Buy now £28.00, Oliver Bonas
Dior Signature B5I Sunglasses
A sultry cat-eye silhouette will never fail to pique interest. Dior’s romantic offerings are a refined pick for narrow-faced shoppers. A classic tortoiseshell tinged with rose pink adds a touch of girlish charm to the highly feminine frames.
Buy now £440.00, Sunglasses Hut
AllSaints Sonic Rectangular Sunglasses
Newness alert courtesy of AllSaints. The brand’s Sonic Sunglasses champion an on-trend Nineties design, a khaki crystal frame, charcoal-toned lenses and a funky rectangular shape. Promising impressive UV 400 protection, they are also packaged up with a magnetic-fastened case and a recycled lens cloth for that little something extra.
Buy now £135.00, AllSaints
bloobloom The Boss
Look good, feel good in a pair of bloobloom sunglasses. The French brand has a striking but chic silhouette and best of all, with every purchase made, a set of specs is donated to one of the 2.5 million people without access to eyecare.
To participate in the ‘Pair for a Pair’ scheme, all you need to do is add one of the playful frames to basket, be it the diorite finish one pictured, or brighter hues. Prices start from £99 and you can add polarised lenses for just £30. What’s more, there’s a previously unheard of scheme where you can choose the price of your second set. Get ready to transform your sunny weather wardrobe.
Buy now £99.00, bloobloom
