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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Lifestyle
Peter Bevan

Best sunglasses for men to buy for summer 2023

Sunglasses season is upon us once more, so now it’s time to invest in a new pair of shades that work for your face shape and with your personal style.

Whether you’re a sunglasses addict (looking at you Anna Wintour, Elton John, and, of course, yours truly), or you just need a new pair for your summer travels, we’ve curated a selection of the best on the market right now.

As well as the classic aviator, clubmaster and wayfarer designs (all of which can be bought at Ray Ban), in recent years a new wave of sunglasses for men has been growing. You can choose from almost any shape and size, from oval, to rectangular, to square, to cat-eye, to micro-mini, to futuristic, to oversized, in a myriad of colours and design.

With this ever-growing selection, it becomes more and more difficult choosing what’s right for you if you’re looking to branch away from the classics.

As a rule of thumb, it’s important to consider your face shape. Those with angular faces would benefit from the softer curves of a pair of cat eye or oval frames, whilst rounder faces might consider square or rectangular designs to add structure to their features.

If you’re looking for a versatile style that you can wear on the regs, we’d suggest going for a black, a tortoiseshell, or a cream, in a classic shape. If making a statement is more your thing, then try a cat-eye or an oversized design in a bold colour for maximum impact.

For inspiration, look to the shady characters past and present. Whether you’re looking to channel a classic James Dean, a fashion forward A$AP Rocky, to an avant-garde Elton John, we’ve rounded up the best sunglasses to give you a helping hand through the maze of competing eyewear brands.

Classics

You can’t go wrong with a pair of classic sunglasses. These are styles every man should have in their arsenal.

Ray Ban Aviator

A forever classic, channel your inner Maverick in a pair of iconic Ray Ban aviators. Pair these with any outfit for a sense of timeless cool.

Buy now £137.00, Ray Ban

Oliver Peoples OV5436S Cary Grant 2 sunglasses

Created in collaboration with Cary Grant’s estate, these Oliver Peoples shades are created with the ideals of elegance the style icon opitimized.

Buy now £361.00, Selfridges

Monokel Eyewear Ellis Sunglasses

A pair of classic black Wayfarers is necessary in every man’s sunglasses collection, and these from Cubitts fit the bill perfectly. A timeless winner.

Buy now £125.00, Cubitts

Rectangular & Square

Great for those with rounder faces, a rectangular or square design will add definition to your features. Square styles tend to look great on a wider range of faces than their rectangular siblings.

Le Specs Oh Damn! Rectangular Sunglasses

Designed by cult Australian eyewear brand Le Specs, this rectangular 90s style will work with almost any outfit. Made using a chunky tortoiseshell, they’re ultra-lightweight and super versatile.

Buy now £65.00, John Lewis

Retrosuperfuture Ancora Classic Havana

A timeless frame, the Ancora sunglasses by Retrosuperfuture are one of their more understated designs. The bottle green lens and havana acetate offer great versatility.

Buy now £145.00, Retrosuperfuture

Cutler and Gross 1385 Rectangle-Frame Acetate Sunglasses

Cutler and Gross call the unique shape of these sunglasses a ‘rexangle’ - a combination of a rectangle and a hexagon. Handmade using a clear taupe acetate, they have an understated 70s feel.

Buy now £305.00, Mr Porter

Meller Adisa All Olive

Born in Barcelona in 2014, Meller’s range of affordable sunglasses has grown year on year ever since. This green rectangle style is one of their newer designs, and one of their best.

Buy now £49.00, Meller

Loewe Brown Oversized Tortoiseshell Square Sunglasses

Channel your inner celebrity with Loewe’s oversized design. Every pavement’s a catwalk when you’re wearing these shades.

Buy now £290.00, Liberty

Oval & Round

The soft curves of oval and round sunglasses will benefit those with square shaped faces to help balance the harder features.

Ray-Ban RB3847N Oval Double Bridge

Taking inspiration from the 80s with the double bridge, this Ray Ban oval style will create the illusion of sharper cheekbones whilst framing your eyebrows. A win-win.

Buy now £124.80, John Lewis

Dior SIGNATURE B1U

This black butterfly-esque design by Dior are bold yet understated and will elevate the most casual of outfits - yep, even a dressing gown.

Buy now £430.00, Dior

Co Optical Central 3020 002

The warm sepia coloured lenses and tortoishell give these Co Optical sunglasses a 70s feel, whilst the wire frame and round design bring them right back to summer ‘22.

Buy now £69.95, Mister Spex

Celine Homme Round-Frame Gold-Tone Sunglasses

Where would we be without a timeless pair of gold-tone sunglasses? If it’s the best you’re going for, look no further than Celine.

Buy now £360.00, Mr Porter

Sun Buddies Miuccia Sunglasses - Carnation

With original inspiration from sunglasses worn by Bibi Andersson in iconic 60s film Persona, Sun Buddies has a great range of sunnies. This pink 90s-inspired style will turn heads at any festival or holiday destination.

Buy now £75.00, Sun Buddies

Taylor Morris George Arthur Sunglasses

Taking it’s name from two of the founders’ middle names, the classic round shape of the George Arthur sunglasses are given an edgy twist with clear acetate.

Buy now £140.00, Taylor Morris

Cat-Eye & Angular

Ideal for those with more angular or prominent features, cat-eye and angular frames will balance the wide jawline of a triangular face. These are also great to make a statement.

Ace & Tate Taylor

The razor sharp cat-eye silhouette and angular wings of Ace & Tate’s Taylor are a nod to the futuristic trend. Coming in three colours, there’s an option to suit any taste.

Buy now £110.00, Ace & Tate

Balencaiga Bat Rectangle Sunglasses

Pioneers of the futuristic look in the world of sunnies, Balenciaga’s bat design are their current offering. Worn by the likes of Justin Bieber and Kim Kardashian, they’re sure to be a hit this summer.

Buy now £360.00, Balenciaga

Port Tanger Eyewear Baraka square tortoiseshell-acetate sunglasses

Designed by the accessories designer winner of the Fashion Trust Arabia awards, Port Tanger’s chunky cat-eye sunnies are a statement worth having.

Buy now £214.51, Net-A-Porter

Gentle Monster Pesh Sunglasses

Make everyone green with envy with this pair of compact Gentle Monster shades. The sleek grey lenses and minimal aesthetic have a distinctly 90s feel.

Buy now £225.00, Farfetch

Bottega Veneta classic oval sunglasses

Bottega’s classic oval sunnies in light blue are giving full space age. Perfect if you’re planning to make an out-of-this-world statement.

Buy now £320.00, MyTheresa

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