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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Lifestyle
Tania Leslau

Best designer sunglasses for SS24: luxury shades by Prada, Loewe and more

With summer days on the horizon, it’s time to invest in a pair of statement sunglasses.

Considering sunglasses season never really ends, a pair of high-quality, high-octane sunnies is a wholly worthwhile investment. Hungover? Slip on some black-out shades. Attending fashion week? Loewe Eyewear is your best bet to be papped. Jetting off for summer? You know the drill.

Their RRPs tend to be considerably lower than their sister clothing lines, meaning designer sunglasses are more attainable purchases for fashion fans. Opt for a classic pair and they’ll never fall out of fashion. Future you is thankful already.

There has also been growing interest in eye health recently, with designer shades offering proper UV protection against rays alongside helpful anti-glare features. Simply pat on the SPF, slip on your specs and enjoy long-awaited sunshine in style. Job done. 

Celebrity-endorsed eyewear has also upped the demand for luxury specs - after all, who doesn’t want to feel like an A-lister? There’s Billie Eilish for Gucci Eyewear, Emily Ratajkowski for Vera Wang and Versace, Margaret Qualley for Chanel. If the stars vouch for them, we’re sold.

Sourcing a pair of sunglasses to suit your face shape is the fun yet flummoxing part. Just know that opposites attract.

Round faces tend to suit angular silhouettes. Rounder specs soften chiselled looks. Rimless options offer a lighter, almost invisible look while strong frames make a head-turning statement. 

Gen Z’s never-ending love affair with all things Y2K has ushered in a new era of streamlined shades to consider. Rose-tinted lenses, brand insignia, monogrammed shades and even the odd crystal or two are slowly saturating the market, ready to shine come festival season. Gucci, Gentle Monster and Swarovski are the line-up to look at here.

Meanwhile, long-established fashion houses from Prada to Tom Ford present timeless looks. Think failsafe aviators à la Tom Cruise, Seventies-inspired squares coveted by Elton John, and chunky rectangular Nineties frames. Plenty of eye-candy to ogle.

Shop now

Miu Miu Imber Rectangular Sunglasses

Curate the ultimate cool-girl ensemble with Miu Miu’s Imber Sunglasses to hand. The rectangular frames feature a tortoiseshell design and a chunky rectangle shape with brown tinted lenses. Wear yours all day, every day.

Buy now £224.00, Liberty

Gucci GG Mirrored Rectangle-Frame Metal Sunglasses

Cute and kitsch was Gucci’s M.O. when designing the GG mirrored sunglasses - and the Italian fashion house hit the nail on the head.

Perfect for festivals and fashion-forward ‘fits, these luxury shades come complete with 100 per cent UV protection, a purple mirrored lens, gold metal detailing and the house’s iconic insignia on the temple.

If you have this kind of cash to splash, it would almost be rude not to.

Buy now £425.00, Gucci

Celine Tiger Hexagonal Acetate Sunglasses

Celine’s tiger print sunglasses are elegance personified. The hexagonal silhouette, complete with a playful animal print, has a wide fit to accentuate any rounded face. Adorned with black lenses, they are layered with 100 per cent UV protection.

The ideal accessory for summer, pair with a rattan bag and vibrant dress.

Buy now £238.00, Matches

Gentle Monster BANDONEON S WC6 Oval-Frame Acetate Sunglasses

Expand your brand vocabulary with Gentle Monster. The cutting-edge brand stocks a plethora of quirky yet covetable pieces to wear with confidence. Slip them on and watch the compliments flow.

Buy now £257.00, Selfridges

Saint Laurent YS000473 SL 596 Dune Rectangle-Frame Acetate Sunglasses

Transform into a Seventies rockstar with Saint Laurent’s Dune Sunglasses. Showcasing a retro rectangular fit in a reddish tortoiseshell, the nostalgic frames are a statement-making pick for vintage lovers. Add an Afghan coat and headscarf into the mix for a dreamy LA aesthetic.

Buy now £315.00, Selfridges

Loewe Rectangular Acetate Sunglasses

There’s nothing mellow about Loewe’s yellow sunglasses. The vivid specs embrace dopamine dressing to the fullest with their acidic hue, statement design and bold insignia. The lenses have alluring black-tinted lenses complete with 100 per cent UV protection.

Buy now £203.00, Matches

Versace VE2249 Sunglasses

A glitzy style beloved by Emily Ratajkowski, Versace’s golden glasses are a bold style statement.

The unisex offering features an evergreen aviator style flanked by Medusa medallions on the temple. The nose pads are adjustable for maximum comfort and the metallic finish will add a bolt of glamour to any everyday outfit.

Reduce glare, up the flair.

Buy now £282.00, Sunglasses Hut

Prada Sunglasses with Prada Logo

Keep a cool, calm demeanour at all times while in Prada’s logo-baring shades.

The easy-wear acetate sunglasses display a distinctive contemporary rectangular shape and are paired with chunky temples embellished with the Prada lettering logo. Pink and chocolate tortoiseshell offers a contemporary twist on the classic pattern.

Buy now £380.00, Sunglass Hut

Gucci Rectangular Frame Sunglasses

Gucci’s sunglasses come with a high price point, but a quick glance at the spectacular shades will demonstrate why. Slim rectangular frames are adorned by glistening crystals and cut-out Interlocking GG and crystal stars detail. Hailing from Gucci’s Cruise 2024 collection, these opulent opticals are hot off the runway.

Buy now £845.00, Gucci

Dior Signature B5I Sunglasses

A sultry cat-eye silhouette will never fail to pique interest. Dior’s romantic offerings are a refined pick for narrow-faced shoppers. A classic tortoiseshell tinged with rose pink adds a touch of girlish charm to the highly feminine frames.

Buy now £440.00, Sunglasses Hut

Swarovski SK7023

Someone call the Y2K police because Swarovski has been let loose. The brand’s SK7023 sunnies are the perfect pick for summer days spent in festival fields or girls' holidays overseas. The tongue-in-cheek specs showcase clear gradient pink lenses that transition from light to dark hues, teamed with a pale gold frame and temples. As for the pink crystal embellishments, well, a bedazzled Noughties statement never hurt anyone, did it?

Buy now £237.00, Sunglasses Hut

Burberry BE4344 Daisy Sunglasses

Championing both fashion and function, Burberry’s wide-fit polarised sunglasses are a statement choice. They showcase an oversized, cat-eye frame with an exaggerated acetate rim for an added dose of sass, in addition to the brand’s iconic monogram insignia on the temples.

Buy now £263.00, Sunglasses Hut

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