Most sunglasses do very little. They sit on your face, technically block the sun, and add nothing to how you look. The ones worth actually owning do something different entirely. They finish an outfit. They give a plain white shirt a point of view. They make getting off a plane look intentional.
We have been genuinely selective here because this is a category where the gap between brilliant and forgettable is enormous. Frame shape matters more than most people realise. A cat eye reads differently to an oversized square. A classic tortoiseshell aviator carries associations that plain black simply does not. Getting it right means understanding what you are actually buying and why.
What we have pulled together here are the pairs that justify the spend, whether that is a serious investment frame or something that punches well above its price. Good UV protection is non negotiable, that is the baseline. But these go further than that. They have the kind of considered design that holds up season after season without looking like you are trying too hard.
The right pair of sunglasses is the easiest upgrade your wardrobe has available to it.
Claire's Top Picks
70s Sunglasses Worth the Detail
MADE IN PARADIS UK
Women's polarized sunglasses Hawkers Audrey Neuve
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£27.51
MADE IN PARADIS UK
Sunglasses That Lift the Whole Outfit
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
Infinity Leather De-Gamme Geometric Frame Square Polarized Sunglasses - Saint Marlo In Red
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£29.99
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
Sunglasses That Pull It All Together
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
Carrera Shield Black Crystal White Blue Dark Grey Gradient Sunglasses
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£81.00
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
Sunglasses Worth Finishing the Look With
MISSPAP_UK_IE
Guess Women's Oval Gold Bordeaux Gradient GF Sunglasses
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£44.00
MISSPAP_UK_IE
70s Sunglasses Worth the Detail
Seventies sunglasses have a specific superpower that more minimal frames simply do not. The oversized lenses, the tinted colours, the slightly geometric or rounded shapes that feel simultaneously retro and completely current. There is something about that era's approach to eyewear that understood sunglasses as a statement rather than just sun protection. We have always been drawn to frames from this period and the contemporary versions that genuinely capture what made them worth loving in the first place. Not everything does. A lot of seventies inspired sunglasses miss the proportions or cheapen the tints and the whole effect falls flat. The ones we have gathered here get the details right. The frame weight feels considered. The lenses have actual colour depth rather than a watery approximation of it. These are sunglasses that change the register of an outfit rather than finishing it off quietly. A good pair can make a simple white tee and jeans look like an actual look. That is the real value here. Seventies frames do not just sit on your face. They say something.
MADE IN PARADIS UK
Women's polarized sunglasses Hawkers Audrey Neuve
£27.51
MADE IN PARADIS UK
STUARTS LONDON
Vallon Sunglasses Ski Aviators - Black One Size
£95.00
STUARTS LONDON
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
Joe Browns Oversized Retro Sunglasses In Green
£29.00
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
SUPERDRY_UK
Superdry & Co Women's Oversized Square Sunglasses Yellow Milky Yellow Brown Lens - Size: SIZE
£27.99
SUPERDRY_UK
SUPERDRY_UK
Superdry & Co Women's Oversized Square Sunglasses Purple Lavender Purple Lens - Size: SIZE
£27.99
SUPERDRY_UK
SUPERDRY_UK
Superdry & Co Women's Oversized Square Sunglasses Black Matte Blacksmoke Lens - Size: SIZE
£39.99
SUPERDRY_UK
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
Joe Browns S Style Uv Lens Sunglasses
£29.00
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
SUPERDRY_UK
Superdry & Co Women's Oversized Square Sunglasses Brown Tortoiseshell Brown Lens - Size: SIZE
£39.99
SUPERDRY_UK
SNEAKIN UK
Women's sunglasses Hawkers Audrey Raw
£29.34
SNEAKIN UK
HAWKERS UK
Sunglasses Hawkers Black Butterfly
£29.99
HAWKERS UK
MADE IN PARADIS UK
Women's sunglasses Hawkers Fervor
£38.36
MADE IN PARADIS UK
HAWKERS UK
Sunglasses Hawkers Alembert Xl
£29.99
HAWKERS UK
90s Sunglasses Worth Keeping Handy
The nineties got sunglasses exactly right and we are not apologising for saying so. There is something about the proportions from that era, the small oval lenses, the barely there wire frames, the flat rectangular shields, that simply works in a way current trends keep circling back to without ever quite improving on. These shapes feel genuinely cool rather than trying to be. That distinction matters.
What we love about this edit is how wearable the pieces are. These are not statement sunglasses that demand the rest of your outfit justify them. They sit easily over a summer dress, over a leather jacket, over absolutely nothing special, and they make the whole thing look considered. A good pair of nineties sunglasses is one of the highest return on investment accessories you can own.
We have pulled together the frames that capture that era properly without tipping into costume. The tints that feel right. The shapes that flatter without being obvious about it. Some are faithful reproductions. Some are contemporary takes that understand what made the originals worth revisiting. All of them earn their place in regular rotation.
SCHUH
Quay Hyped Up Sunglasses in Cream
£44.99
SCHUH
SUPERDRY_UK
Superdry & Co Women's Sport Wrap Sunglasses Black Black Smoke Lens - Size: SIZE
£39.99
SUPERDRY_UK
MISSPAP_UK_IE
Gucci Women's Rectangle Black Gold Grey GGS Sunglasses
£211.00
MISSPAP_UK_IE
MADE IN PARADIS UK
Women's sunglasses Hawkers Southside
£38.36
MADE IN PARADIS UK
SCHUH
Quay Hyped Up Sunglasses in Black, Size: mm
£51.99
SCHUH
MONSOON
Bubble Rectangle Sunglasses
£19.00
MONSOON
SCHUH
AIRE Burgundy Ceres Sunglasses
£30.00
SCHUH
HAWKERS UK
Sunglasses Hawkers Lauper Black
£38.99
HAWKERS UK
SNEAKIN UK
Sunglasses Hawkers Trendset
£37.63
SNEAKIN UK
SUPERDRY_UK
Superdry & Co Women's Sport Wrap Sunglasses White White Smoke Lens - Size: SIZE
£39.99
SUPERDRY_UK
HAWKERS UK
Sunglasses Hawkers Fluor Carey Ejecta
£35.99
HAWKERS UK
HAWKERS UK
Sunglasses Hawkers Sour
£32.99
HAWKERS UK
Aviator Sunglasses That Pull It All Together
Few frames have the finishing power of a well chosen aviator. There is something about the teardrop lens and the slim metal bridge that reads instantly as polished, the kind of sunglass that makes a simple outfit look considered and a great outfit look complete. That is what we mean when we say they pull it all together. It is not a casual claim.
Aviators have a reputation for being unisex to the point of feeling borrowed, but the right pair worn the right way is entirely and specifically a woman's accessory. Proportions matter enormously here. A frame that sits well on your face rather than swamping it, a tint that flatters your colouring rather than washing it out. Gold hardware reads warmer. Silver feels sharper. Both have their moment.
We have been pulling together our favourite aviators across price points because this is a category where brilliant options exist at every level. Classic gold with a brown gradient lens. Sleek silver with flat mirrored glass. A few more contemporary shapes that keep the essential aviator structure but feel genuinely current.
The right pair does not just protect your eyes. It finishes the look.
INSTOCK UK
Aviator Sunglasses Box of
£63.94
INSTOCK UK
MONSOON
Mermaid Aviator Sunglasses
£10.00
MONSOON
SCHUH
Quay High Key Mini Sunglasses in Black, Size: mm
£60.00
SCHUH
THE_DOUBLE_F
Aviator Sardine sunglasses gold
£430.00
THE_DOUBLE_F
SCHUH
Ray-Ban Bill Aviator Sunglasses in Beige, Size: mm
£164.00
SCHUH
GIGLIO.COM_GLOBAL
RAY-BAN Aviator metal sunglasses
£129.50
GIGLIO.COM_GLOBAL
BLACKS
Darwin F Sunglasses - Silver One Size
£14.97
BLACKS
SUPERDRY_UK
Superdry & Co Women's Gradient Lens Aviator Sunglasses Gold Gold Green Lens - Size: SIZE
£34.99
SUPERDRY_UK
THE_DOUBLE_F
Gold metal Aviator sunglasses
£375.00
THE_DOUBLE_F
MONSOON
Amber Tort Aviator Sunglasses
£16.00
MONSOON
OXYGEN_CLOTHING
VE Pilot Sunglasses
£215.00
OXYGEN_CLOTHING
EGO (UK)
Thin Frame Yellow Tinted Lense Aviator Sunglasses In Black, Women's Size
£11.00
EGO (UK)
Sunglasses That Lift the Whole Outfit
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
Infinity Leather De-Gamme Geometric Frame Square Polarized Sunglasses - Saint Marlo In Red
£29.99
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
WATCH HOME AWIN FIRST
Polaroid PLDSX KJM Sunglasses
£46.00
WATCH HOME AWIN FIRST
WATCH HOME AWIN FIRST
Alexander McQueen AMS Sunglasses
£99.00
WATCH HOME AWIN FIRST
NATURAL COLLECTION
CHPO Roma Recycled Sunglasses
£29.95
NATURAL COLLECTION
WATCH HOME AWIN FIRST
Polaroid PLDSX M Sunglasses
£46.00
WATCH HOME AWIN FIRST
MADE IN PARADIS UK
Sunglasses Got Bag Re : Shades NO.
£42.45
MADE IN PARADIS UK
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
Infinity Leather De-Gamme Retro Round Polarized Sunglasses - Paris In Purple
£29.99
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
NATURAL COLLECTION
CHPO Nicole Recycled Sunglasses
£29.95
NATURAL COLLECTION
WEIRD_FISH
Weird Fish Charlton Rectangular Sunglasses Gunmetal Size ONE
£20.00
WEIRD_FISH
GHOSTBIKES.COM
Bobster Desperado Sunglasses
£37.99
GHOSTBIKES.COM
WEIRD FISH
Weird Fish Johnson Clubmaster Sunglasses Antique Tan Size ONE
£20.00
WEIRD FISH
WEIRD FISH
Weird Fish Fromme Wraparound Sunglasses Ocean Blue Size ONE
£20.00
WEIRD FISH
Sunglasses That Pull It All Together
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
Carrera Shield Black Crystal White Blue Dark Grey Gradient Sunglasses
£81.00
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
VICTORIA BECKHAM UK
Victoria Beckham Layered Mask Sunglasses In Black Gradient - ONE SIZE
£330.00
VICTORIA BECKHAM UK
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
Ray-Ban Shield Gold Brown Gradient Sunglasses
£99.00
DOROTHY PERKINS UK
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
Gold Trim Frame Visor Sunglasses
£6.30
PRETTYLITTLETHING UK
THE_DOUBLE_F
Black visor sunglasses
£192.50
THE_DOUBLE_F
INSTOCK UK
OVERSIZED LARGE LADIES WOMEN SUNGLASSES DESIGNER BIG FRAME RETRO VINTAGE GB
£18.94
INSTOCK UK
INSTOCK UK
Visor Sunglasses Box of
£39.94
INSTOCK UK
SNEAKIN UK
Sunglasses Urban Classics front Visor
£10.84
SNEAKIN UK
VICTORIA BECKHAM UK
Victoria Beckham Visor Sunglasses In Striped Wine - ONE SIZE
£320.00
VICTORIA BECKHAM UK
Sunglasses Worth Finishing the Look With
MISSPAP_UK_IE
Guess Women's Oval Gold Bordeaux Gradient GF Sunglasses
£44.00
MISSPAP_UK_IE
SUPERDRY_UK
Superdry & Co Women's Classic Tortoiseshell Print SDR Orlando Sunglasses, Black
£38.49
SUPERDRY_UK
BLACKS
Women’s Crystal Sunglasses - Purple One Size
£13.97
BLACKS
STANDOUT
Spicoli Sunglasses
£17.95
STANDOUT
MISSPAP_UK_IE
Guess Women's Cat Eye Dark Havana Brown Gradient GF Sunglasses
£45.00
MISSPAP_UK_IE
BLACKS
Women’s Matt Black Sunglasses - Black One Size
£14.97
BLACKS
MISSPAP_UK_IE
Guess Women's Oval Shiny Light Nickeltin Grey Gradient GF Sunglasses
£44.00
MISSPAP_UK_IE
STUARTS LONDON
Vallon Sunglasses Hazlewood - White One Size
£95.00
STUARTS LONDON
SUPERDRY_UK
Superdry & Co Women's Classic Brand Print SDR Orlando Sunglasses, Blue
£22.00
SUPERDRY_UK
STUARTS LONDON
Vallon Sunglasses x Royal Enfield Moto Aviators - Tortoise One Size
£129.00
STUARTS LONDON
STUARTS LONDON
Vallon Sunglasses x Royal Enfield Moto Aviators - TorYellow One Size
£129.00
STUARTS LONDON
BLACKS
Women’s Square Sunglasses - Black One Size
£13.97
BLACKS