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The Best Sunglasses For Elevating Your Entire Wardrobe
Not just a hot summer fling, these stand-out shades will see you through the seasons in style
A great pair of sunglasses is much more than a summer fling: invest in the best, and you’ll be calling on them year-round. After all, a good pair of shades is the secret to making everything – from that new-season tailoring to weekend jeans – look a bit more polished.
The only question now is, what style camp do you sit in? This year, Nineties-era rectangular frames are everywhere, and for good reason: they’re the fastest way to make a casual T-shirt and cargo jeans combination look perfectly on-point. For the classicists, you’ll be pleased to hear those supersized round frames are still a strong move (to be honest, they’re an eternally chic option, no matter what the trends are dictating). Maximalists will welcome the return of the major frame, with the best coming courtesy of Saint Laurent and Loewe, while Miu Miu's gilded visors are made for the Y2K enthusiast.
But with aviators, glamorous cat-eyes and statement styles all on the cards for 2024, it can be hard to whittle down a single winner. To help you on your way, we’ve edited down the very best sunglasses for women now, from a seriously good high-street collaboration to the big designer buys, via a few under-the-radar sunglasses brands too...
You likely already know Le Specs for its on-point sunglasses that combine seasonal trends with welcome accessibility. Now, the brand has launched its Luxe range: years in the making, this elevated collection of four retro styles (available in a host of hues) is a lesson in sublime craftsmanship.
With a cellulose acetate frame and tonal, ultra-clear lenses, these weighty designs both look and feel so much more expensive than they really are. Don't hesitate.
The first Reformation sunglasses collection is here, and it's a flawless blend of retro influence and modern femininity. Our favourite, The Brune is a spot-on Seventies aviator with yellow-tinted lenses (trust us: so flattering) and a supersized frame.
Inspired by the designer bag that needs little introduction, JW Anderson's brand-new Bumper sunglasses will deliver maximum impact. The khaki and lime-green colourway will look brilliant against classic blue denim.
So good they pulled focus from the runway ready-to-wear, Miu Miu's sunglasses are the stuff Y2K dreams are made of. The grey-tinted lenses are crafted to curve around your temples, with chunky logos to hammer home that It-piece status.
Ganni's second collaboration with B-corp certified eyewear brand Ace and Tate has landed – and the Noel is the style we predict will fly off the shelves the quickest. This futuristic curved frame is made from recycled acetate and shaped to sit seamlessly around your face.
Bottega Veneta continues to hold the crown for the best sunglasses selection this summer. A new option, the Bolt combines a slender rectangular silhouette with hefty gold temple details.
Sabato De Sarno's slick brand of Noughties nostalgia is seamlessly translated in these slender new sunglasses. Crafted from gold-tone metal to a silhouette Rachel Green would approve of, they're a pair you'll be wearing for decades to come.
Here they are: the most attention-seeking sunglasses of the season. Supersized and ridiculously luxe, Saint Laurent's Blaze frames are the ultimate designer investment.
If you want a super on-trend pair to make your staple wardrobe feel up-to-date, we'd always recommend Le Specs: the brand makes zeitgeisty styles that combine high quality with pleasing price tags.
This season, we're eyeing up these sepia-tinted frames, which will offset a (faux) tan beautifully.
These were Mytheresa's top-selling sunglasses of 2023, and the demand is showing no signs of slowing. They're striking, but the subtle vintage feel makes them feel entirely classic, so you know you'll wear them for years to come.
One of our go-to jewellery brands, Missoma's glamorous approach to design translates perfectly in these acetate sunglasses, produced in collaboration with fashion favourites Le Specs.
Versace's heritage-steeped Medusa hardware is having a major moment this year. These grey acetate sunglasses are the ideal way to invest: pair them with a red lip for the full mob wife effect.
With Phoebe Philo's new label harder to get your hands on than a Rhode phone case, we're indulging in a spot of Old Céline mania, celebrating the beloved designer's many iconic designs for the house. First on our nostalgia trip? These frankly iconic visor-style glasses.
Toteme's contemporary take on quiet luxury is extending to accessories this season, and these slimline black sunglasses are minimalist perfection.
If there's one designer collaboration the sensible shopper should take note of right now, it's Cos' joint venture with Linda Farrow. These heavy acetate sunglasses are crafted according to the optical stalwart's exacting standards, and come in a completely on-point rectangular silhouette.
These? Oh they're just the most in-demand sunglasses of the past decade.
& Other Stories makes some of the best-quality sunglasses on the high street. This pair, with its sharpened cat-eye silhouette, will lend edge to any look.
From the chunky rectangular silhouette to the gold Anagram logos, Loewe's new-season sunglasses are equal parts classic and covetable.
Tiffany's T collection seamlessly marries the brand's timeless aesthetic with just enough contemporary edge. Case in point: these sunglasses, which boast a directional rectangular silhouette and polished gold-tone accents at the temples.
With its slightly oversized arms, Hollywood feel, and oh-so subtle cat eye, this Réalisation Par pair has jumped straight to the top of our wish list.
Roberta Schroeder is the Senior Ecommerce Editor at Harper's Bazaar, ELLE and Esquire, overseeing shopping strategy and content across fashion, beauty, and travel. Roberta has reported on everything from market-leading skincare brands to the world’s most iconic fashion pieces, while also regularly updating a range of shopping guides, including LED masks, heritage cashmere brands and niche new dress brands to know.
Roberta has more than 15 years' experience in the luxury sector, spanning editorial consultancy, trend forecasting and journalism. Over the years, she has worked for global brands including Farfetch, Chanel, and Vogue.
When not testing beauty products, trialling trends and curating content that spotlights the very best in fashion and beauty, Roberta can usually be found trawling resale sites and vintage stores for a long-coveted designer find. Follow Roberta on Instagram at @roberta__schroeder
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