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.