Sunglasses Are A Summer Essential: These Are The Best Styles Available Now

With brighter days and sun-soaked holidays just around the corner, it’s time to take stock of your summer essentials. SPF is, of course, key, as is swimwear and comfortable sandals, but great eyewear? It’s a non-negotiable.

Celebrities have long favoured slimline styles, but there’s been a noticeable shift towards statement-making silhouettes. Miu Miu’s spring/summer 2025 show debuted oversized sunglasses with ombré lenses encased in wire and acetate frames. And in the same spirit, Jonathan Anderson coupled large, mirrored aviators with structured floral dresses at Loewe, while at Burberry, Daniel Lee presented contemporary shield shades, and Alexander McQueen, Marni and Diesel mooted the return of cat-eyed sunglasses.

That being said, classic oval and square frames remain timeless silhouettes, and in this era of run clubs and half-marathon training, sport-inspired variations are a failsafe investment. Nothing spells summer quite like a new pair of sunnies. Keep scrolling to find British Vogue’s edit of the best sunglasses to invest in now.

Vogue’s sunglasses wish list:

• The classic black shades: Ray-Ban Wayfarer Revers, £175
• The fashion-forward aviators: Free People Cruise Aviators, £24
• The shield shades: The Attico X Linda Farrow Attico57 Aviator Sunglasses, £230
• The sports-inspired choice: Oakley Fives Squared Sunglasses, £97
• The original cat eye: Saint Laurent SL 276 Mica Sunglasses, £320
• The statement oversized frames: JW Anderson Large Square Bumper Sunglasses, £225
• The oval-shaped pick: Le Specs Outta Love Sunglasses, £55
• The square sunnies: Gentle Monster Lilit 01 Curved Square Sunglasses, £219
• The colourful lensed glasses: Izipizi Tasty Trapezium-Frame Acetate Sunglasses, £50
• The small and sleek pair: Gucci Rectangle Sunglasses, £270 £216

Classic black shades

Valentina Frugiuele/Getty Images

Updated aviators

@londisgoods

Shield shades

Instagram: @palomija

Sports-inspired

@himichelleli

Original cat eye

Instagram: @jennymwalton

Statement oversized frames

Matilde Bono/Getty Images

Oval-shaped

Raimonda Kulikauskiene/Getty Images

Square sunnies

Instagram: @Alexachung

Colourful lenses

Instagram: @Double3xposure

Small and sleek

XNY/Star Max