10 Christmas Outfit Suggestions

 The 20 Best Women’s Sunglasses for Every Face Shape

When refreshing your wardrobe for summer, pieces like breezy dresses and pants, cute summer sandals, and a few bikinis or one-pieces from the best swimsuit brands are likely the first items you think to invest in. But don’t forget about the details. Alongside a stunning designer beach bag that will carry all your shoreside essentials, you’ll want a pair of the best sunglasses for women in your arsenal for nearly every occasion — from running errands to heading on vacation and perhaps clocking in miles while you pound the pavement.

Not only can shades add an extra flair to your look, but they’re also crucial for keeping those pretty peepers protected. “The health of our eyes has a huge impact on our daily lives, and there are steps every person should be taking to ensure that they maintain good eye health throughout their lifetime,” explains Maddie Anderson, senior marketing manager of California-based eyewear brand SPY+. “Investing in quality eyewear is a great first step.”

While shopping for the perfect pair of women’s sunglasses, there are a few key considerations and to-dos to keep top of mind. First, do you want a classic or trendy silhouette? Also, shop styles for your face shape to ensure the most flattering fit, and always choose pairs with UV protection.

Top sunglass trends for 2022

With nostalgia dominating across every fashion category, this season is all about frames that reference decades past.

“We’ve been seeing the continuation of the retro square, aviator, and cat eye frames, as well as a ’70s revival with oversized and colored lenses,” says Claire Sheldon, a buyer for beauty, fragrances, sunglasses, and hair accessories at Bergdorf Goodman. For a more modern take, brands like Eudon Choi and Giambattista Valli have updated the timeless cat eye silhouette for 2022 with features like dramatic edges and larger fits.

She also notes ’ that 90s-Esque oval shades are experiencing a resurgence, with supermodels like Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber consistently reaching for monochromatic looks.

Indy sunglasses founder Indie McFarlane echoes these sentiments. “I’ve been seeing a lot of vintage-inspired sunglasses with a contemporary twist, which is what my brand specializes in,” she says. “My customers definitely gravitate towards my colored styles, and many celebrity stylists have been requesting our checker-print Dolly frame and tinted aviators, which are great for adding a pop of color to neutral outfits and wearing year-round.”

Other hot ticket silhouettes this season? Sporty-chic pairs for performance and/or play (the Kardashian-Jenners are notable fans of dad-Esque shield shades) and Y2K-inspired rimless styles championed by stars like Dua Lipa and countless brands including Urban Outfitters, Diff Eyewear, and Quay.

Many of today’s top sunglasses have also become more gender-neutral, notes McFarlane, making them able to suit every style. “For example, my Hugo frame is inspired by the retro aviators of the 1980s and can be worn by anyone,” McFarlane suggests.

Top Sunglasses for Women

• Best Statement Frames: Indy Talk to Me Nice Sunglasses
• Best Aviators: Quay on the Fly Sunglasses
• Best for Cycling: Smith Flywheel Sport & Performance Sunglasses
• Best Oval: Celine Triomphe Logo Oval Acetate Sunglasses
• Best Colorblock: Ray-Ban Original Wayfarer Colorblock Sunglasses
• Best Cat Eye Sunglasses for Round Faces: Saint Laurent Cat Eye Acetate Sunglasses
• Best Cat Eye Sunglasses for Square and Diamond Faces: Christopher Cloos Cloos x Elsa Noire Sunglasses
• Best for Larger Faces: Prada PR 24XS Sunglasses
• Best Oversized Oval Shades: Spy+ Hangout Sunglasses
• Best Round Sunglasses: Covry Rana Granite Sunglasses
• Best Fashion Shields: Versace 40mm Irregular Shield Sunglasses
• Best Classic Frames for Small Faces: Aoxeyewear The Vittorio Sun
• Best Rimless Style: Urban Outfitters Dixie Translucent Icon Sunglasses
• Dior Geometric Acetate Cat-Eye Sunglasses
• Best Sports Sunglasses for Small Faces: Tifosi Alpe 2.0 SingleLens Sunglasses
• Best Cat Eye Sunglasses for all Face Shapes: Indy Nolita Sunglasses
• Also Consider Rimless Style: Diff Eyewear Bree Sunglasses
• Also Consider Classic Shades: Covry Vega Coconut Sunglasses
• Flutist Eyewear White Veneda Carter Edition Disco Sunglasses
• Best Modern Cat Eye Sunglasses: Emilio Pucci Butterfly Sunglasses

How to choose the best sunglasses for your face shape

To determine your face shape, Covry eyewear founders Athina Wang and Florence Shin recommend taking a selfie and drawing an outline around your visage. If you’re unsure which face shape you have, both women note that it’s also very common to be in between two face shapes. Indy also offers an easy illustrated guide to finding your face shape and different looks that may suit it.

• Square faces: These face types have a strong jawline and broad forehead. Round or oval-shaped frames will help soften the sharpness of square faces, McFarlane says. Aviators are a great option, and cat eye sunglasses with rounded edges can work for those who love the throwback look.

• Oval faces: These are typically long and thin and have a chin that’s slightly narrower than the forehead. People with oval faces have the most variety when shopping for sunglasses, as both rounded and square frames will work well for them. “Just make sure they fit snug and frame the widest part of your face since oval shapes have nearly equal proportions,” McFarlane notes.

• Round faces: Those with round faces typically have a soft jawline, and their cheekbones and face length measure roughly the same. “Rectangular and square frames are the best sunglasses for round faces,” McFarlane says. “Frames that are wider than the face add more balance to your soft features. They enhance your visage and can make it appear longer and more slender.” Wang and Shin add that angled details will also offer a nice balance.

• Heart-shaped: Defined by a wider forehead and narrow chin, heart-shaped faces look best with rectangular or oval frames that are wider at the top, such as aviators and cat-eye shapes. “These balance out your facial features and make your lower face a little wider,” McFarlane explains. “These can also help emphasize high cheekbones and a defined jaw.” Additionally, Wang and Shin share that heart face shapes look great in frames that feature more detail at the top to help draw the eye upward.

• Rectangular faces: These tend to have defined features such as wider cheekbones. Like square faces, they’re best complemented by round or oval frames or styles with curved, soft edges that create visual balance. McFarlane suggests choosing top-heavy frames like aviators with a double nose bridge or cat eye shapes to highlight wide cheekbones.

• Diamond faces: Diamond faces are long with wide cheekbones and a more narrow jawline and forehead. Both oval and cat eye sunglasses are ideal for these face types, as “the gentler edge of the frame will match with the natural features/points of this face shape,” McFarlane says. She mentions that aviators and small, round sunglasses are also great choices.

Another rule of thumb? Be sure to choose frames that are proportionate to your face size. The larger your face is, the larger your frames should be. Meanwhile, people with small faces should choose more fitted sunglasses. When buying online, seek out sites with virtual try-on services and look at the dimensions of the frames or customer reviews to see if they might be suitable for you.

Keep in mind that your sunglasses shouldn’t rest on your cheeks when you smile and should sit securely on your nose bridge even as you move (you can shake your head back and forth during try-on to test this).

Ahead, shop the best sunglasses for women for every need and budget. Note: All offer full UV protection.

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Indy Talk to Me Nice Sunglasses

Best Statement Frames

• UV400 protection
• Anti-glare
• Impact-resistant

“The Indy community definitely embraces designs that are a little different and ahead of the trends, so I am always trying to take eyewear to the next level and think of the next best thing,” McFarlane says, who founded her eponymous Brooklyn-based sunglasses label in 2017. “And I love that these sunglasses, in particular, are a fun and accessible way to express your personality.” The sleek rectangular frames are great for round, oval, or heart-shaped faces and feature subtle gold text for a surefire Insta-ready look. The budget-friendly frames also offer UV and anti-glare protection and are designed to be impact-resistant.