Choose sunglasses in three steps. Start with the frame shape, because it decides how the pair sits on your face. Then read the lens: its filter category, whether it is labelled for UV protection, and whether it is polarised. Finally, check the fit at the bridge and the arms, which is what makes a pair comfortable for a whole afternoon. Everything else, from lens colour to the finish of the frame, is a matter of taste, and that is where the pleasure lies.
Which Frame Shape Suits Your Face?
The usual styling advice is about balance: a frame that contrasts gently with the lines of your face tends to sit most naturally. Treat it as a starting point, not a rule. If your face is round, angular frames such as square or cat-eye shapes add definition. If it is square, with a strong jaw, rounder frames and aviators soften the line. A heart-shaped face, wider at the brow, often suits cat-eyes and aviators that echo that width. A long face tends to suit deeper, oversized frames. An oval face can carry most shapes, so choose a frame roughly as wide as the widest part of your face. We have grouped the pairs below by shape.
Cat-Eye Sunglasses
A cat-eye lifts at the outer corners, which draws the eye upwards and gives the face definition. It reads as polished and a little retro, and it is a flattering choice for a round or heart-shaped face. Guess's Tortoiseshell Cat-Eye Sunglasses pair a polished plastic frame with gradient lenses and a gold-tone logo on the temples, and its Red Cat-Eye Sunglasses add chain-link temples with gold-tone accents. Polaroid's Tortoiseshell Cat-Eye Sunglasses set a tortoiseshell front against slim gold-tone metal temples, with polarised lenses. Its Black Cat-Eye Sunglasses combine polarised gradient lenses with a lightweight polycarbonate frame.
- Tortoiseshell Cat-Eye Sunglasses
- Red Cat-Eye Sunglasses
- Tortoiseshell Cat-Eye Sunglasses
- Black Cat-Eye Sunglasses
Oversized and Square Sunglasses
Oversized frames cover more of the face and bring glamour with very little effort. A square outline gives structure, which suits round and oval faces; a rounded rectangle is kinder to a square jaw. Look for a frame that sits at or just above the brow. Guess's Tortoiseshell Oversized Square Sunglasses set purple gradient lenses in a tortoiseshell frame with grey arms, and its Oversized Square Sunglasses, in dark purple, finish the temples with a gold-tone chain link. Polaroid's Oversized Rounded Rectangular Sunglasses take a softer line in black, with gradient lenses and a silver-tone hinge detail, while its Black Oversized Sunglasses pair polarised gradient lenses with a metal accent on the temples.
- Tortoiseshell Oversized Square Sunglasses
- Oversized Square Sunglasses
- Oversized Rounded Rectangular Sunglasses
- Black Oversized Sunglasses
Aviator and Round Sunglasses
The aviator is a teardrop lens, usually in a fine metal frame, often with a double bridge across the top; its soft lower curve suits square and heart-shaped faces. Round frames are the gentler choice and balance an angular face well. Both often come in metal, with adjustable nose pads for a closer fit. Guess's Rose Gold Aviator Sunglasses pair a rose gold-tone metal frame with brown gradient lenses and adjustable nose pads. Polaroid's Metal Aviator Sunglasses are a black double-bridge aviator with polarised lenses. Among the rounds, Guess's Rose Gold Round Sunglasses edge a thin metal frame with small decorative pearl accents, and Polaroid's Purple Metal Round Sunglasses set gradient lenses in a purple metal frame.
- Rose Gold Aviator Sunglasses
- Metal Aviator Sunglasses
- Rose Gold Round Sunglasses
- Purple Metal Round Sunglasses
What Do Lens Categories 0 to 4 Mean?
In the EU, sunglass lenses carry a filter category from 0 to 4, set by how much visible light they let through; in short, how dark the lens is. Category 0 lenses let through 80 to 100 per cent of visible light: clear or barely tinted, a matter of style rather than shade. Category 1 lets through 43 to 80 per cent, a light tint for dull days. Category 2 lets through 18 to 43 per cent, a medium tint for everyday brightness. Category 3 lets through 8 to 18 per cent, a dark tint for strong sun. Category 4 lets through 3 to 8 per cent, is intended for exceptional brightness such as high mountains or snow, and is marked as not suitable for driving.
UV400 and UV Protection: What the Label Tells You
Tint and UV filtering are separate properties: the darkness of a lens does not tell you its UV rating, so read the label for both. UV400 means the lens is labelled to filter light with wavelengths up to 400 nanometres, which covers UVA and UVB. Some houses write "100% UV protection" or "UVA/UVB protection" instead; look for that wording in the product details rather than judging by colour. If you have a question about your eyes, or need prescription lenses, ask an optician.
Polarised Lenses: How They Differ
A polarised lens contains a filter that reduces glare reflected from flat, shiny surfaces such as water, wet roads or snow, so bright scenes look calmer. There is one trade-off worth knowing: some phone, car and cash-machine screens can look darker or patchy through polarised lenses at certain angles. Polarisation is separate from the filter category and UV protection. Several of the Polaroid pairs in this guide are polarised, and we have said so where their records do.
Which Lens Colour Should You Choose?
Lens colour is a matter of look and comfort. Grey keeps colours close to how they are and reads cool and classic. Brown warms everything slightly and sits beautifully with tortoiseshell and gold-tone frames. Green falls between the two, with a soft, slightly vintage cast. Gradient lenses are darker at the top and lighter below, which looks softer on the face and keeps the lower part of your view lighter. Mirrored lenses reflect outwards and make a bolder statement. Pink, purple and blue tints are fashion choices first, and best chosen for the look.
How Should Sunglasses Fit?
Look for the three numbers usually printed on the inside of an arm. The first is the lens width, the second the bridge width (the gap between the lenses) and the third the temple length, all in millimetres. Guess's Rose Gold Aviator Sunglasses, for example, are listed at 59, 16 and 140, and its Tortoiseshell Cat-Eye Sunglasses at 50, 20 and 140.
The bridge should rest on your nose without pinching or sliding; nose pads on metal frames let you fine-tune this. The frame should be roughly as wide as your face, with no gap at the temples and no pressure behind the ears. Your eyelashes should not brush the lenses, and when you look down, the pair should stay put.
How to Care for Sunglasses
Keep your sunglasses in their case when they are not on your face, and never rest them lenses down. Clean the lenses with a microfibre cloth; if they are dusty, rinse them under lukewarm water first so grit does not drag across the surface, and avoid paper tissues. Take them off with both hands to keep the arms aligned, and avoid wearing them pushed up on your head, which can loosen the fit. Heat is not kind to frames, so a car dashboard in summer is no place for them.
Our advice is simple: settle the shape first, then compare the lens details of the two or three frames you like most, side by side.
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