Best sunglasses 2018: The best sunglasses for men and women, from £9 to £290
Whether you’re looking for a snazzy branded pair or an affordable option for your holiday, these are the best sunglasses on the market
When the sun comes out, you want to be looking your best. You want to be giving off a confident air whenever your work commitments, summer holidays, recreational activities, exercise plans and daily routines take you out into the sunlight. You don’t want to be squinting and blinking without any shades, let alone pulling a scratched and scruffy pair out of a dusty drawer. You want shades that will help you look good.
Knowing how to buy sunglasses isn’t always that easy, though. Between high street retailers, online outlets and opportunistic pop-up shops, buying sunglasses can be a daunting prospect. It’s hard to know how to choose the best sunglasses for your needs, and it’s equally difficult to know what’s a fair price and what isn’t. Are you paying for quality, or just the brand? Spotting a top quality pair from a cheap knock-off can cause a few headaches too.
If you’re trying to buy some sunglasses but don’t know where to start, don’t worry - there’s no shame in that at all. Read on to discover our top tips for buying sunglasses, and some expert picks of the best shades on the market...
How to buy the best sunglasses
There are numerous questions to consider before investing in a new pair of sunglasses, and you shouldn’t rush into a purchase until you’ve found the perfect sunnies; ones that match your budget and your individual needs and tastes.
What’s your budget?
Whether you’re looking to spend under £50 or over £500, you’ll be able to find sunglasses to match your budget. With each price point you step up, you’ll see more designer brands and less generic shapes/styles. If your glasses are meant to be purely functional, you may well find an ultra-affordable option that matches all of your needs. But if you want your sunglasses to turn heads, earn compliments and add a layer of class to your summer wardrobe, you may want to pitch your price expectations higher.
Sunglasses often come in ranges where the actual price you pay will depend on the design, materials, size and colour. Splash out on a pair of Ray-Ban Sonnenbrille Clubmasters, for example, and you might be spending anywhere between £76 and £270 depending on the colour and lenses you go for.
Are polarized sunglasses better?
Polarized sunglasses are coated with a clever chemical that diminishes glare, allows you to see clearer in bright conditions and helps to reduce the harmful effects of UV light. If you’re looking for a pair of sunglasses for driving, boating or any other outdoor activity, opting for a polarized coating is a highly beneficial move. Thanks to the glare reduction, you won’t have to squint, and that leaves you free to focus on whatever it is you’re doing. However, if you’re looking for glasses to simply lounge around in, you might find polarization to be an unnecessary expense.
How long do you want them to last?
Are you looking to make a one-off purchase to see you through a short period of sunshine, or are you looking for some long-term summer eyewear to tide you over for years? If you are leaning toward the latter option, you’ll want to keep an eye out for warranties and insurance offers that will make your new glasses last longer. You’ll also want to remember that bigger name brands will probably produce sturdy glasses that last a little longer, compared to the cheaper options.
Do you want clip on/flip up sunglasses?
In recent years, clip on/flip up sunglasses have become a very popular choice. If you’re a glasses wearer that doesn’t want to fork out extra for prescription sunnies, clipping a pair of sunnies onto your existing spectacles can save you money and make you look cool. Going for a flip-up option will also mean that you can switch quickly and easily between sunglasses and your normal glasses, which can come in handy when you’re driving or reading - or when the weather is changeable.
The best sunglasses to buy from £9
Ray-Ban Sonnenbrille Clubmaster: The best all-round sunglasses
Price: from £76 to £267 | Buy now from Amazon
The Sonnenbrille Clubmaster range is ideal if you want to blend Ray-Ban’s iconic style with some unique colour splashes of your own choosing. There are 27 different colours to select from, with both the lenses and the frames customisable to your own tastes. If you pick carefully, you’ll end up with a pair of sunglasses that are suitable for every kind of summertime engagement.
You’ll also get a sleek magnetic case to house your new shades in, and a two-year warranty as standard. This warranty allows you to get a replacement pair if your glasses break due to a fault on the manufacturer’s part, which protects your purchase nicely.
Key specs – Warranty: 2 years; Case included: Yes; Polarized: No
Cat Eye Sunglasses In Acetate by Celine: The best retro sunglasses for women
Price: £290 | Buy now from Matches Fashion
Cat eye sunglasses are a very popular look for women at the moment, and you won’t find any snazzier options than these eye-catching Cat Eye Sunglasses In Acetate by Celine. They are designed to suit all face shapes and flatter the cheekbones, and they work great when worn with bold chunks of colour. The glasses themselves are available in a variety of hues: the frames come in coral, baby blue, lime, red or ivory, with mirrored lenses available with certain colours. As well as looking good, they also protect from UVA and UVB rays. The acetate frame is high quality and long-lasting, and the product as a whole is protected by a two-year warranty.
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