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By Heidi Quill , Jessie Atkinson and Faye Fearon
Sunglasses are a seasonless essential – shop GQ’s pick of the season’s best sunglasses for men, whatever your taste in shades
Sunglasses season never ends, however, amid a series of sales and discounts, the time is ripe to be updating your collection with the best frames of seasons past and present. Whether you're a serial sunglasses wearer à la Anna Wintour or you're simply looking for a pair to elevate days out, there's no shortage of stylish shades.
In addition to the usual stock of aviators and wayfarers, with their timeless appeal, a couple of additional noteworthy eyewear trends to be aware of right now is that for the oversized, overtly chic and feminine, and also that for futuristic wrap-around styles (epitomised by everyone from District Vision to Balenciaga) – both very much 1990s- and 2000s-inspired.
Whatever style you choose (classic shapes are good too) it’s not always easy picking a new pair of sunglasses, especially with the opportunity to try them on in-store being sometimes limited. Pile that on top of the breadth of choice in lens strengths, colours, and polarisation (glare protection) options, and it can all become rather baffling.
As a general rule, always consider face shape. If you want to wear your glasses more than once, it would be smart to consider what actually looks good on you. Square faces, for instance, will benefit from the soft curves of rounder frames. Likewise, the angles of a triangular- or heart-shaped face will be accentuated by aviators. Rounder faces, on the other hand, might consider opting for square or rectangular styles such as wayfarers to harden their features.
Here, to guide you through the jungle of competing eyewear brands, we’ve rounded up a selection of the very best men’s sunglasses for various face shapes, all of which boast a style that transcends the beach alone. Credit cards at the ready.
If you treat ‘em well, a good pair of sunglasses should last around two years. That said, should you find yourself reaching for them everyday whilst exposing yourself to strong UV radiation, you may want to trade them in a little sooner.
Well, dear reader, how long is a piece of string? How much room do you have? Whilst we may all desire an emporium full of sunglasses, we'd say the average quantity lies around two to four pairs of sunglasses per person, just enough to have a balance between your more practical pairs, stylish pairs, and activity-based pairs. But as we say, there's certainly no shame in having more. In fact, we salute it.
Polarised lenses have been designed and produced to minimalise the glare of the sun, as well as glare from reflective surfaces, be it water, snow, or glass, thereby protecting your eyes from harmful UV rays. But how will this look? When you slip on a pair of polarised sunglasses, colours should appear as rich as they do IRL whilst effectively reducing your urge to squint. Simply put, you'll see better and you'll feel better.
Where the goal of polarised lenses is to make your experience more comfortable, sunglasses that prioritise UV protection have been designed specifically for, well, protection. Keeping the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UVA and UVB) rays from reaching your eyes, these sunglasses can aid in keeping all manner of eye-related illnesses — think abnormal eye growths, macular degeneration, general vision loss, and even cancer of the eye — at arm's length.
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The acetate shades posing the question: what if traditional wayfarers had the thrill of early-00s transparent technology? Tomahawk’s “Casspir” sunglasses are some of the American brand’s most popular, and for good reason: these are a smoky lens triumph. £60. tomahawkshades.com
Weekday is a top port of call for fashionable menswear items which won’t break the bank, so naturally, we’ll be flocking there for a cheaper pair of shades. Our top pick from the current collection? This ‘trek’ style. Designed with the Y2K trend buzz in mind, their khaki silhouette is accelerated to an oval structure and fitted with dark lenses. For under £30, you simply cannot go wrong. £26. At weekday.com
What’s not to love about these rectangular-framed sunglasses by Gucci? A design that looks like it has been pulled straight out of the ‘70s archives, the frame is crafted from acetate and the temples are decorated with the Italian label’s House colours. As for the lenses themselves, they’re painted in a lush brown hue that gives us nothing but vintage vibes. £355. gucci.com
Though his knitwear took the bulk of the praise in Knives Out, Chris Evans’ round-framed gold Ray-Bans won the gong for best accessory in a supporting role. Evans proved that as well as being good value for all seasons, they’re just as well suited to a brown overcoat and paisley scarf as your go-to getup. £102.99. At amazon.co.uk
Taking its name from the Latin word for ‘priceless’, Akoni's sunglasses are a luxurious pick to add to your accessories collection. Inspired by the sculptural masterpieces of architect Jean Prouvé, these ‘Hera’ aviator sunnies are angular and sharp, centred with grey tinted lenses and promise 100 per cent UV protection. We suggest styling them with a sharp, slim-fitting suit to elevate their frame even further. £675. At matchesfashion.com
For the man who typically opts for a bolder shade option, Superdry's ‘Disruptive’ sunnies live up to their statement-making name via a thick frame and lightly tactical feel…plus, their polarised lenses mean no glare, regardless of what the great British weather has in store for you. £22.99. At amazon.co.uk
If you’re looking for a pair of sunglasses that really serve a statement, Rick Owens has got you covered. Specifically, with this shield style: crafted in Japan from stainless steel, shaped with a strikingly oversized silhouette and heavily exposed with a grey-tinted lens. In true manner of the designer, they’re unapologetically alternative in design, and will be most effective with head-to-toe black attire. £535. At matchesfashion.com
Straight off of Fendi's own Autumn/Winter 2023 runway and making their way into your sunglasses collection, these frames from Fendi Eyewear are the logomaniac pair that will bring some fashionable flair to your facial frame. Created using 3D printing technology to achieve the recurring FF canvas along the arms, they’re fitted with yellow-tinted acetate lenses and are slightly shadowed to bring a bit of insouciance upon wear. Big yes. £369. At matchesfashion.com
For the sunglasses wearer ready to eschew the onslaught of noirs and browns in hunt of something with a little more pizazz, look no further than this pair from Cutler & Gross. Crafted from a marbled pink acetate, these ‘1386’ sunnies are shaped with strong and striking lines in order to accentuate one's bone structure in the most flattering manner. The right kind of statement to make. £340. At matchesfashion.com
Affordable sunglasses informed by cultural icons? Sign us up. This comes courtesy of ‘Shady Spex’: the eyewear brand which serves ultra-stylish shades with quality and sustainability in mind. A special shoutout goes to the ‘New York Night Train’ design. Incorporating recycled materials in their sleek construction, they’re inspired by the likes of Buddy Hale and John Cale and offered in five stylish shade variations. £24. At shadyspex.com
As the first brand to introduce the use of polarised lenses for sunglasses, Polaroid can always be relied upon for a quality pair of innovative shades. With a touch of Top Gun about them, this pair take on a classic Aviators shape, finished with gunmetal grey details. £37.50. At amazon.co.uk
Classically cool, all of Dunhill's delectable frames are imbued with a suave, luxe appeal. Case in point, the label's Rollagas sunglasses boast an oversized shape outlined by precision-cut metal frames, working to exaggerate and enhance the chiselled appearance of their wearer's cheekbones, as well as the quality of their outfit. £430 £285. At dunhill.com
Logomania, executed with elegance. Defined by their gradient lenses and infamous monogram pattern, Louis Vuitton's Clockwise sunglasses elevate the aviator silhouette for a luxurious take on fashion's ongoing industrialist trend. £485. At louisvuitton.com
Conjure up the wackiest sunglasses frame in your mind and know this: Matsuda has probably already made it. The off-kilter designer making strangeness beautiful, head here for weird ideas with even more off-kilter results. An example of the madness? These hexagonal rimless creations finished with angular titanium flourishes. £520. At matchesfashion.com
Creating pieces with personality, CO Optical specialises in the contemporary, but isn't above looking to its archives for inspiration. Whilst the warm orange-toned browns are reminiscent of film negatives and the touch of tortoiseshell harks back to the '70s, the sharp circular lenses and fine adjoining frame says nothing but summer '23. £84.95. At misterspex.co.uk
Put simply, no one does maximalism like Versace. These Medusa Biggie sunglasses combine a jet black frame with metallic gold detailing and the iconic Medusa motif, paying homage to Donatella's headline-grabbing chain dress as designed by the late, great Gianni in 1993. £243. At versace.com
Inspired by sights in New York’s streets across the seventies and eighties, Cutler & Gross’ 1388 style is a real sight to behold. Featuring an 18K gold rivet on the temple as well as a gold groove wire core, the shades combine high quality with an appearance that’s bound to set you apart as you journey through your own locale. £340. At cutlerandgross.com & matchesfashion.com
Finlay & Co shot to attention when Meghan Markle wore a pair of the brand’s sunglasses at her debut appearance with Prince Harry. It also does stylish frames for men, as visitors to its newly opened store will attest. Located on London’s Broadwick Street, it offers eye tests using the latest optometric technologies and showcases its full range, from specs to shades, all handmade in Italy. Our pick of the frames? These Bowery beauties. Grab a pair and set yourself up for this winter and beyond. £150. At finlayandco.com
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