Your quick guide to choosing Sunglasses

Sunglasses are more than a major summer accessory: they protect our eyes from harmful radiation, reduce fatigue, and add harmony to our overall image. Provided, of course, we choose the type that suits us.

There are different sunglasses for different face shapes and styles. There aviators with polarized lenses or mercury sunglasses with UV protection – you just gotta find your unique style.

Read on to know more about the art of choosing sunglasses:

Function is important

Sure, they look great, but let’s not forget that sunglasses provide an important function. Kanye West-style “shutter shades” won’t do much to shield your eyes from UV rays, so look for sunglasses with a lens category of 2 or 3 – these will be effective in reducing glare and provide a medium to high level of protection. If you spend a lot of time on the water, it’s probably worth investing in polarised lenses, which will further reduce glare.

Opposites attract

The general rule of thumb is to choose sunglasses that are the opposite shape to your face. So, if you have a square face, look for rounded curvy frames, and if you have a round face, look for square geometric frames. Heart-shaped faces are best suited to aviator or cat-eye styles, while oval faces can opt from any of the above. If you’re more into oversized glasses, you can go for butterfly sunglasses that have frames shaped like two butterfly wings. Although the frames can vary in their actual shape and size, their common characteristic is that they are slightly smaller on the inside edge (closest to your nose) than they are on the outside.

Classics can never go wrong

As with most fashion purchases, it pays to spend more money on a piece you’ll love for years rather than something that will make you cringe next season. Wayfarers & Aviators are unisex styles with enduring appeal while butterfly sunglasses ideally work well for women. Ray-Ban’s Aviators were developed for pilots in the 1930s and became a celebrity favourite in the 1950s, while Wayfarers were released in the ’50s and had a Tom Cruise-induced revival in the ’80s. Opt for tortoiseshell or plain black acetate frames to complement most outfits.

Colour is important

While the colour of the lens won’t affect the amount of UV protection, it will determine the types of activities and conditions your glasses are best suited to. Grey lenses are a good all-purpose tint, simply darkening what you’d ordinarily see without distorting colours. Green tints are another all-rounder, while brown/amber tints enhance contrast and are good for unpredictable weather, as well as sporting activities that require depth perception (such as golf and tennis). Rose-coloured tints are said to improve road visibility, offering the greatest amount of contrast, and are often thought to be the most comfortable for long periods of wear as they reduce eye strain. Mercury sunglasses will protect your eyes from the sun while amping up your overall fashion persona.

Choosing your signature shades is no walk in the park – but this guide will help you.

Your quick guide to top sunglasses trends

Fashion is all about trends. Adapt your style as per the trend, then you’re in the clear. To walk toward hot and sunny days, you need to be up to date with the latest trends in the sunglasses collections.

Wondering what are the ultimate trends? Funky & Bold frames or hexagon sunglasses that are not your usual aviators or wayfarers. It’s time for you to choose a pair of sunglasses that can make your outfits as something to remember.

Another trend that has gained a lot of popularity is the oversized sunglasses. So it’s better you better go big or go home. This season, different shapes of sunglasses came in to trend, but overwhelmingly, the over-sized and the single shade sunglasses remains a crowd favourite as they’re perfect for protecting the eyes from the summer sun.

Here are some of the hottest types of sunglasses that you should keep an eye on:

Flat top visors

If you want to be in style this season, forget about the regular D-frame aviators. This time, opt for a shield-style flat tops that are donned by a lot of celebrities these days, especially the Beckham brigade. The frames are flat along the top, upping the style quotient considerably.

Such styles look better with materials like plastic or acetate with metal detailing as they give a polished finish. While adding a little sci-fi vibe to your outfit, this can be called as a classy pair too. The frame shape is very flattering and the classic style can work for you season after season. These sunglasses speak for themselves, thus helping you make a fashion statement.

Cateye

The star of the spring 2018 sunglasses trends is the cat-eyed frame. Cat-eyed glasses are going through more changes this year and many styles are becoming more elegant with classic, clean lines. This shape is a mainstay as it elongates the face beautifully and perfectly brings out the elegance in your look. The oversized version of these glasses also has a retro flare that’s stylish.

Be it single shade sunglasses or the simple, archetypal ones, add the maximum drama to your outfit with different varieties of Cat-eye sunglasses. You can also add a twist to them by choosing tinted lenses or by going for a transparent frame.

Angular frames

The sunglasses with angular frames can either be simple and sophisticated or be bold and loud with a hint of retro charm. It all depends on the kind of design you go for.

Even though this was not a primary trend, it is hard to deny that the sharp and angular frames of last season still have room in your wardrobe collection. This particular sunglass trend is for anyone who likes to appear a little more put together yet edgy at the same time.

While you can always choose between a plethora of shapes and sizes, the rectangular frames look less hipster and more badass. The hexagon sunglasses is a hand-made frame out of the precious buffalo horn that gives a sophisticated and an artistic take on the classic shape.