Sunglasses Buying Guide

Style

Sunglasses Buying Guide

Finding the perfect pair: sunglasses that suit your style and face shape

25 February 2026 • 2 min read

When the days start getting warmer and the sun is shining brighter, it’s time to reach for a pair of sunglasses. They’re the ultimate in cool accessorising, but there’s much more to sunnies than putting the finishing touch to your favourite ‘fits.

Frame styles, lens types, and the level of UV protection they offer are all important things consider, but figuring out what will work best for you isn’t always straightforward. After all, sunglasses aren’t one size fits all.

With that in mind we’ve put together this guide to clear up any questions you might have, from how to measure sunglasses sizes to working out which types of frames fit your face shape, so you can feel assured that you’re picking the perfect pair of shades that’ll see you through the sunny season and beyond.

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Sunglasses styles

Aviator

Teardrop-shaped lenses with a slim frame and a gently curved brow line for a smooth, streamlined look.

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Cat Eye

An upswept frame with pointed outer edges, creating a distinctive, winged silhouette.

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Round

Perfectly circular or round edged lenses with soft curves for a balanced, symmetrical shape.

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Square

Even, angular lines with equal width and height, giving a strong, boxy appearance.

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Oversized

Enlarged lenses and frames that extend beyond typical proportions for a bold, expansive shape.

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Wayfarer

A structured frame with a wider top, slightly narrower bottom, and gently angled sides for a clean, classic shape.

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Rectangular

Long, narrow lenses with straight edges and gently rounded or sharp corners.

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Sports Wrap

Curved lenses that sweep around the face with a close-fitting frame, creating a streamlined, wraparound shape.

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Which type of sunglasses suit my face?

When buying a new pair of sunnies you’ll want to pick a pair that both balances and highlights your facial features, but with so many different types of frames on offer it can be hard to know which ones will suit your face.

Below we’ve put together an all you need to know guide to face shapes, their key characteristics and the frames that best suit them.

Woman with an oval shaped face wearing a pair of black, oversized, cat eye shaped sunglasses.

Oval face shape

Consider yourself lucky if you have an oval shaped face because you'll be able to make almost any style of sunnies work! The most versatile of all the face shapes, an oval shaped face has symmetrical features and is longer than it is wide. Your face will be widest across the cheekbones and narrow to a more rounded shape at the jawline and forehand. If you need help imaging what that looks like, just think of Rhianna and Idris Elba as your celeb lookalike references. Frames for oval faces: As we’ve already mentioned, most frame shapes suit an oval face so feel free to experiment. Go for classic cat eyes or aviators to highlight the natural curves of your face or try out more angular styles for a statement-making contrast - just be mindful of proportions as frames that are too narrow or too oversized can overwhelm your features.

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Round face shape

Defined by soft angles and gentle features, round faces typically have fuller cheeks with a rounded jaw and forehead. This face shape tends to be equal in width and height, with the widest part of the face being across the cheekbones. Looking for a bit of inspo? Leonardo di Caprio and Emma Stone are your fellow round-faced A-listers. Frames for round faces: Try going for an angular frame, like a square or rectangular shape, to bring contrast to softer features. Wayfarers are a timeless, understated choice, or you can go for a bolder look with an oversized pointed cat eye. Be sure to keep in mind that very round frames will emphasise the fullness of your face, so you may want to avoid these depending on the look you’re going for.

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A woman with a square shaped face wearing a pair of flattering small oval shaped sunglasses in brown

Square face shape

Characterised by a strong jawline, wide cheekbones and a prominent forehead, the square face shape is all about defined features and minimal curves. As with round faces, the square face shape is fairly equal in width and height. Looking for a face like yours? Think of Pedro Pascal or the Barbie girl herself, Margot Robbie. Frames for square faces: Similarly to those with round face shapes, you'll want to opt for frames that will balance your face shape. Choose a round or oval shaped frame to soften your more defined, angular features. Opting for a lighter frame material – like silver or gold metal – or rimless styles can also help to achieve a softer look.

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Diamond face shape

The diamond is another rare face shape but don’t worry, there’s still plenty of frames that’ll make your features shine. If you’ve got a diamond shaped face, you’ll noticed your face is narrower at the forehead and the jawline with your cheeks being the widest part of the face. Look to young megastars Zendaya and Timothee Chalamet for a bit of diamond-faced inspiration. Frames for diamond faces: As with heart-shaped faces, there’s room for experimentation. Wider frames, like rectangular or even cat eyes, are a great choice if you’re looking to highlight your cheekbones, while more square shaped frames will accentuate the angles of your face.

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Heart-shaped face

It might be one of the rarer face shapes, but there’s still plenty of frames to love if you have a heart shaped face. To understand the key signs of a heart shaped face it can help to imagine a typical drawing of a heart – it’ll look broader at the forehead and have strong cheekbones that narrow to a slightly pointed shape at the chin. Show some love to your fellow heart-shaped faces in Ryan Gosling and popstar Sabrina Carpenter. Frames for heart shaped faces: The good news is that this one’s another versatile shape! Having both rounded and angular features means that a wide selection of sunglasses will compliment your face structure. If you’re looking to soften the sharper angle of your jawline, we’d recommend picking out a rounder frame shape like aviators. On the other hand, cat eye frames will flatter the appearance of face and draw attention to your cheekbones and brows.

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Long face shape

Also known as an oblong shaped face, a long face shares a lot of similarities with the square face shape. This face shape is longer than it is wide and tends to have an even width across the forehead, cheeks and jawline. You might also notice a straight hairline and a jaw that is typically squarer in shape. Looking for a reference? Look no further than our forever style icon, Sarah Jessica Parker and A-list actor Ben Affleck. Frames for long faces: As with square face shapes, round frames can be a great option for balancing your angular features and adding contrast to your look. Wide or oversized frames can also be a strong choice if you’re looking to give the illusion of a shorter face, while you might want to avoid narrow frames as these can lengthen the look of your face.

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How to measure your face and sunglasses size

Each face is unique, so knowing how to determine which size glasses will properly fit you is an essential part of the process when it comes to making your next purchase.

The simplest way to measure for your sunglasses size is by finding out your total face width, from temple to temple. Below we’ve put together an easy step by step guide to help measure your face width as well as a reference table that’ll let you identify which frame size is best for you.

Step 1: Stand straight on in front of a mirror with a ruler – it’s important to use a ruler rather than a measuring tape, as the flexible tape could give you inaccurate measurements.
Step 2: Hold the ruler across your face horizontally, positioned just below your eye level.
Step 3: Measure the distance between your temples and take note of your measurement in millimetres.
Step 4: Once you have your face width measured, use the below size chart to figure out what size frames you’ll need to get.

How to measure sunglasses
Your Face Width	Frame Size
Narrow (less than 129mm across)	Choose frames up to 50mm
Average (between 130mm and 139mm across)	Choose frames between 51mm and 55mm
Wide (over 139mm across)	Choose frames 56mm and above

Features to look for in new sunglasses

Now that we’ve covered all you need to know about sizes and shapes, let’s take a look most important features you’ll want to keep an eye out for in your next pair of sunglasses.

UV protection

First things first! We all love a bit of sunshine but too much of it can be as bad for our eyes as it is for our skin, so it’s really important that you pick a pair of sunglasses that’ll protect your eyes while you’re wearing them.

Sunlight contains both UVA and UVB rays that can cause damage to your eyes when overexposed to the sun. Chances are you probably won’t realise that this is happening as most UV damage happens over time, but the good news is that you can give your eyes the best chance at staying healthier for longer by wearing sunglasses with a good level of UV protection.

For the best level of protection you’ll want to choose sunglasses with UV400 protection, as these lenses can filter out between 99-100% of UVA and UVB rays.

Lens colour and tint

You’ll notice when shopping for sunglasses that there are lots of options when it comes to the colour of your lenses. While lens colour won’t impact the level of protection that your sunglasses offer, it can provide other benefits depending on your lifestyle.

Below we’ve rounded up a few of the most common lens colours and what benefits they could provide for you.

Grey lenses

A great choice for general wear, these reduce glare and preserve the colours that you see as closely as possible to the naked eye.

Brown lenses

These lenses can improve depth perception and contrast, making them a great choice for driving.

Green lenses

A good all-rounder, green lenses can help to improve the contrast of shadows and increase visual sharpness. They’re great for everything from reading outdoors to sports like tennis and cricket.

A pair of tortoise shell aviator sunglasses with blue tinted lenses

Blue lenses

Best suited to outdoor activities like snow or water sports, blue lenses can enhance visual clarity and reduce high levels of glare.

Lens type

Typically, most sunglasses will feature standard tinted lenses but depending on your lifestyle there may be different lenses better suited to your needs. We’ll take you through the different lens types and their uses below.

The most common kind of lenses, standard tinted lenses block the sun’s brightness and dim the field of view so you can see better in bright conditions.

These come in a variety of shades, most typically brown, green and grey, and will either be fully tinted or gradient tinted. Whichever colour you pick won’t affect the level of protection they offer and is purely down to your personal preference and lifestyle!

Standard lenses don’t feature any special kind of coating to reduce glare like other lenses might, but they can still offer a high level of UVA and UVB protection making them a perfect pick for everyday wear.

On sunny days light can reflect off flat surfaces – like water, windows and snow – creating a harsh glare that makes it difficult to see clearly and can be potentially dangerous if you’re playing sports or driving, especially on wet road surfaces. This is where polarised lenses come in particularly useful.

While they may look the same as standard tinted lenses, polarised lenses feature a special film that filters and reduces glare from light reflecting flat surfaces to improve vision and make it easier to see, even in the brightest conditions.

While polarised sunglasses are a great choice in most cases, we recommend that you reach for a different pair of shades during icy conditions as the glare reduction can make it difficult to spot ice patches on the ground.

Of all the lens options available, mirrored lenses are the most visually different. Featuring a thin metallic coating to the surface, these lenses have a high-shine reflective finish that shields the wearers eyes from view and mirrors back what the wearer is looking at.

Mirrored lenses work similarly to polarised lenses, but where polarised lenses filter out the glare from bright light, mirrored lenses reflect it away to decrease the amount of light that enters the eye and provide clearer vision for the wearer.

These lenses are great for everything, from sunny days in the park to driving and playing sports - they can even be worn during icy and snowy conditions.

If you’re looking for a versatile lens that works in different lighting conditions, then photochromic lenses might be the right choice for you. These lenses adapt to the light around you, with the lens tint darkening in bright conditions and becoming clearer in low light conditions – a convenient option for people who are always on the go, moving between indoor and outdoor areas.

Frame material

Deciding what frame material to choose is often dependant on what you'll need from your sunglasses. While for some frame material can be a purely aesthetic choice, others require frames that are suited to specific lifestyle activities, like outdoors and sports. Below we've broken down the three main material types you're likely to see on your search for new sunnies, so you can decide which is best for you.

Acetate frames

If you're looking for versatility then acetate frames may be the way to go. An ever-stylish choice for sunglasses, acetate frames are available in a variety of colours and patterns, from contemporary clear frames to a classic sleek black hue or fashionable tortoiseshell. When it comes to durability, acetate frames are a hard-wearing choice but can be more prone to scratching and breakages than metal frames are. It's also important to note that while acetate frames are generally light to wear, larger frames will feel noticeably heavier than other frame materials would.

Metal frames

Metal frames are a timeless choice for sunglasses. Typically built with a thinner low-profile, metal frames tend to look more discreet than other frames, making them an elegant choice for everything from casual everyday wear to formal events. These frames are typically less likely to scratch or break than other materials, with metal being a durable and robust option. However, if you're looking for something you can wear during sports, metal frames are one to avoid - over time the metal can react badly to sweat, causing damage to the frame and irritation to the wearer.

TR90 frames

TR90 frames are designed with sports in mind. These thermoplastic frames feature an ultra-lightweight build and are designed to minimise pressure on the nose and ears so they can be worn comfortably for longer periods of time. These flexible frames bend under pressure making them the most durable frame option available, and the high level of impact resistance means you won't have to worry about your glasses breaking if you happen to drop them while you're in the middle of an important move.

The sun’s out and it’s time to shine

Now that you know what to look for, you can rest assured that next time you put on a pair of sunnies you’ll be picking up a style that’s perfect for you. So why not check out our full range of women’s and men’s sunglasses to find your new signature shades.

Heading off on your hols? Get your beach bag packed to perfection with our collection of show-stopping swimwear. Or why not make the most of sunny days at home and get your garden kitted out with our outdoor furniture guide.

FAQs

When selecting new shades, the first thing to consider is your face shape and the frame styles that will naturally compliment it.

After you’ve narrowed that down, begin to think about what you’ll be using your sunglasses for – if you’re just looking for a stylish everyday pair then you’ll want to make sure you’re getting a good level of UV protection, but material and lens type will be down to personal preference. If you’re using your glasses for more specific activities, like driving or sports, you may require specific lenses or frame materials so be sure to consider those before purchasing.

When it comes to UV or polarised sunglasses, you don’t have to choose one or the other. These are actually two unique features, with UV sunglasses designed to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays, while polarised sunglasses are designed to reduce glare for clearer vision.

In sunglasses, polarised lenses will typically come with UV protection so you can have both if you feel you need it. Remember that UV protection is the most important feature to look for and should always be your top priority for when buying a new pair of sunglasses.

When looking for new sunglasses you might notice that lenses come in different categories, ranging from 0 to 4. These categories refer to the lens tint and the level of UV protection the lenses offer, with category 0 offering the lowest level of UV protection and category 4 offering the highest.

Generally, categories 0, 1 and 2 are considered to worn mainly for fashion purposes as the level of UV protection offered is too low for sunny days.

Category 3 is the most common type of lens tint and offers a high level of UV protection. These suit most lifestyles and are an ideal choice for everyday wear – think bright days in the city and seaside holiday sun.

Category 4 have an extremely dark lens tint and are designed for extra bright conditions where the sun is more intense. These are recommended to be worn when hiking at high altitudes, when out in the desert or sailing in the open sea.

It’s really important to note that category 4 lenses are unsuitable for driving as the dark lens tint makes it extremely difficult to see in low light conditions, so be sure to keep that in mind when looking for your next pair of glasses.

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