This article was written for Annabel & Grace, which is now part of Rest Less.
With sunnier days coming and people going out more, your summer fashion choices are coming into play. That might be the colourful Boden dress you’ve been saving for the sunshine, a great pair of seasonal wedges, or a pair of natty sunglasses. Indeed, sunglasses are one of the hottest items on the market. The British sunglasses market is growing. It is expected to generate £590 million in 2023, rising to £650 million by 2027. It might be the result of forecasted warmer summers, but it does mean more choices for us, the consumers.
As sunglasses are available in a huge range of styles, colours and shapes, sometimes it’s not easy to narrow down your choice and we may end up with a pair that doesn’t perfectly complement our face shape or particular style. To help you out, here are four useful tips for choosing the best sunglasses:
Consider your face shape
Before shopping, know your face shape. The lines and angles of your forehead, cheeks, and chin will determine how your glasses fit your face shape, so knowing this will give you a good idea of what you should be looking for. If you’re unsure what your face shape is, some features you should check are the width between your cheek and jawline, the distance between your forehead to the jaw and the width of your face, and your hairline. You must also take care to identify your face shape – oblong, heart, diamond, or another; it is important for correctly identifying the right glasses for you.
A general rule of thumb is to choose sunglasses that are the opposite of your face shape. If you have a square face, choose round sunglasses. For round faces, choose slightly oversized glasses or rectangular sunglasses to offset the roundness. Having opposite features can balance your face and give a more flattering look.
Go for personal style over seasonal trends
Different sunglass styles can adhere to fads and trends, but it’s more important to stick to glasses you’ll wear for more than one season. The more your sunglasses fit your own specifics, the more likely you’ll use them for regular eye protection, making them worth the investment. If you’re willing to spend, opt for reliable brands like Ray-Ban, known for offering timeless style. They feature long-standing classic options like the Clubmaster, Wayfarer, and Aviator. If you can’t find a pair that matches your exact preferences, the brand offers full customisation to fit you best, including choosing the lenses, frame style, frame colour, and case. Other designer brands, such as the sporty Oakley sunglasses, have the same options, so it shouldn’t be hard to customise your look.
Keep purpose and function in mind
All sunglasses improve your vision and protect your eyes from foreign objects. However, not all are created equally and some serve additional purposes. This is especially true if you’re engaging in sports or driving since these sunglasses come with specialised materials that are key to staying safe.
Most sports sunglasses lenses are made with polycarbonate, which is an extremely strong plastic that is shatterproof. But for higher quality lenses, look for glasses made with Trivex. This material is much stronger than polycarbonate and was developed for helicopter windshields – providing a sharper optical quality nearly on par with glass lenses. In addition to the lens material, base tint is crucial. Non-neutral colours like copper, orange, amber, or yellow provide more contrast, which is best for steering through rock trails or dirt roads that may be hard to see under bright sunlight.
Don’t neglect sun protection
Sunglasses do more than protect us from hazards like dust or glare. They can also reduce the risk of long-term sun damage. Much like our skin, ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can damage our eyes in the same way it negatively affects our skin. Prolonged exposure can damage the eye’s cornea, surface layer and other tissues, leading to eye conditions such as eye cancers, photokeratitis, and snow blindness.
To protect your eyes, look out for sunglasses with labels like ‘100% protection against UVA and UVB’ or ‘UV 400’ as these block out all UV light. Note that polarised lenses can reduce the glare from surfaces like water, snow, and roads, but they don’t provide UV protection unless stated otherwise.
Even if you’re not a big fan of sunglasses, it’s well worth the investment to protect your eyes in the long run. By following the aforementioned tips, you can keep your sight comfortable and look stylish at the same time.
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