With sunny summer days ahead of us, now’s the time to update your sunglasses collection. This year’s trending styles come in the form of fun eyewear with statement details and twists on classic designs.
While the best sunglasses for you will depend on your taste, you may also want to consider which styles are most likely to suit your face shape. If you have more of a triangular face, consider “Enhancing your features with round or square oversized frames”, says Daphnée Duchatel from French eyewear brand Jimmy Fairly.
If your face is rounder, “A thinner cat-eye frame is preferred. With the 1990s skinny sunglasses trend resurfacing, this style breaks up the roundness of your features by elongating and softening the face”, adds Duchatel.
Finally, “Oval sunglasses are ideal for square face shapes, as they help soften and balance angular features”.
With all this in mind, keep scrolling for my pick of the best sunglasses from high street favourites, designer brands and lesser-known labels.
How we tested
I tested several pairs of sunglasses on sunny days. Looking for on-trend styles and classic designs that will stand the test of time, I considered how much protection each pair offers, how good they look, whether they feel comfy on the nose and behind the ears, and if they are likely to slip during sweaty heatwaves.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Harriet Davey is a fashion editor, stylist and writer with years of experience covering wardrobe staples and fashion trends. Her work has included hand-picking edits for major fashion publications, interviewing celebrities for their style takes, and much more. Harriet might have her finger on the pulse for the latest trends, but she will only recommend items she believes are truly worth your money.
The best women’s sunglasses for 2025 are:
AJ Morgan chunky cat-eye sunglasses
San Francisco-born brand AJ Morgan originally started selling vintage sunglasses, but now creates its own pairs with retro details in mind. This tortoiseshell cat-eye pair feels comfortable from all angles as soon as you put them on.
They’re fashion glasses, but the UV 400 filter means they still offer excellent protection from full sun, so you could easily wear them for an al fresco breakfast without damaging your eyes. As long as you remember they’re a fashion item first, this £22 style will see you through summer in style.
Buy now £22.00, Asos.com
Topshop angular cat-eye sunglasses
This simple, fuss-free angled shape will go with so many new-season looks. Although they’re not polarised, the lenses are still tinted in a soft brown and offer some shade against the sun, but as they’re more of a trend piece than a specialist pair, it’s best not to wear them when UV is super high.
I found that the lower bridge across the nose and the thicker arms feel comfortable after hours of wear. The classic tortoiseshell design also looks softer on the face than stark black, so these will suit so many face shapes and skin tones.
Buy now £14.00, Asos.com
Jimmy Fairly the nax sunglasses
Giving 1970s vibes from all angles, the nax sunnies fall into the boho trend I’ve seen all over the Chloé runway for spring/summer 2025. An easy way to try out the look, these oversized aviator sunglasses will work with everything from a ruffled dress to a shirt and shorts.
These sunglasses are also great if you want to ensure more coverage, as the shape goes down to your cheek, covering all of the under-eye area. Even though this is a large style, the sunglasses feel light and comfortable to wear compared to some other styles I tested. The classic lenses have a green tint, but you can pay more to choose from 14 different colours – including yellow, red and blue. If you usually wear glasses, you can also add your prescription to the lenses. Although a trend-led pair, the aviator shape is a classic that’s unlikely to go out of style.
Buy now £135.00, Jimmy Fairly
Nanushka kadee bio-plastic D-frame sunglasses
Budapest-born brand Nanushka is a fashion editor’s worst-kept secret. It’s a one-stop shop for instantly recognisable dresses, summery sets, shoes, swimwear and, of course, sunglasses. The classic black kadee pair is made from sustainable materials, and I love that the sleek pair has gold detailing on the front and ‘Nanushka’ written along both arms.
The rectangular, angled shape still shows off your eyebrows so you don’t feel like you’re covering up your whole face, but the lenses are still quite opaque. Although slightly heavier than some pairs I tested, these sunnies still stayed put and didn’t slip down during testing, even on the hottest days.
Buy now £225.00, Nanushka
Loewe x Paula’s Boutique daisy field sunglasses
The new Loewe x Paula’s Boutique collection has just launched, with everything from tomato crochet hats, bee bags and daisy detail sunglasses. With flowers in either white, yellow or pink, the sunglasses’ flattering oval shape has been updated for summer 2025, and I predict that you’ll see a few of these at festivals this year.
The gold frame feels elevated, and it even has Loewe logo nose pads, along with the logo subtly placed across the thin arms. The polarised light brown tint on the lenses doesn’t feel too harsh, and you can also still see over the top of them if you want to wear lower on the nose. With super skinny arms, they feel statement but not too in-your-face. However, the obvious drawback with these sunglasses is that they’re very expensive.
Buy now £580.00, Loewe
Damson Madder slim oval sunglasses with wavy temple
Joyous London-label Damson Madder recently launched its first eyewear collection with seven sustainably-made pairs to choose from. With conscious yet fun fashion at the forefront, each pair is made from 100 per cent recycled acetate, with designs featuring quirky shapes that’ll liven up any look. The wavy arm pair has been an Instagram sensation, and it’s easy to see why. This pink-framed pair earned me compliments as soon as I walked out of the house.
I love the slim 1990s style, and the wavy arms give it that extra touch of fun. The UV 400 lenses are polarised with a filter category 2, and they felt comfortable and protective on the eyes, even in direct sunlight. This skinny style is best suited to narrower face shapes, and you’ll feel instant joy when wearing this pair.
Buy now £75.00, Damsonmadder.com
Le specs outta love sunglases
Chocolate is one of the colours of the season, making everything from dresses to bags look expensive, and it has the same effect with eyewear, too. What I enjoyed most about this pair is how light and streamlined they were to wear. With a polarised filter 2 lens, also in brown, these sunnies look sleek when worn with absolutely any outfit.
If you’re a minimalist, you’ll also appreciate how the only detailing is the instantly recognisable three stripes in gold. Coming in at less than £60, they’re a pair you’ll wear on heavy rotation that are equal parts functional and stylish.
Buy now £55.00, Le specs
Quay anyways sunglasses
On first look, this pair could easily be mistaken for a cult designer buy. The golden frames instantly make the pair look polished, with a subtle Quay logo on the skinny arms.
The adjustable nose pads were comfortable but wobbly compared to some other metal styles I tried. However, I loved the polarised blackout lenses. Overall, I found that these are a good option for luxury sunglasses at a lower price.
Buy now £83.00, Schuh
Tom Ford Annabelle 02 sunglasses
Tom Ford is a luxury fashion house known for its statement eyewear, and this round Annabelle 02 style is a timeless pair to keep in your sunglasses collection for years to come. With a retro tortoiseshell design featuring golden hardware, this pair offered plenty of coverage around the eye area because of the size of the lenses.
The sunglasses handled glare in bright sunlight, and even after hours of wearing them, they didn’t feel uncomfortable or slip down. They also made me feel more put-together, with a Hollywood glamour effect.
Buy now £206.00, Fashion Eyewear
Max Mara cat eye sunglasses
I love Max Mara’s take on the timeless cat eye style. This golden-framed pair of sunnies is bound to get you noticed, and even manages to make a simple T-shirt and jeans outfit look fancy.
I felt like these sunnies were the cherry on the top of the sartorial cake each time I put them on. The pair doesn’t hide too much of the face, and I like the polarised lenses. All in all, these are a very chic pair that will stay in your sunglasses rotation for years to come.
Buy now £335.00, Maxmara.com
The verdict: Sunglasses for women
I loved AJ Morgan’s chunky cat-eye sunglasses – especially as they cost just £22. If it’s a designer style you’re after, Max Mara and Tom Ford have sleek pairs that’ll stay in your collection for years to come. Off to a festival? The Loewe x Paula’s Ibiza daisy-adorned pairs in white, orange or pink will be the highlight of your outfit.
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