Which Sunglasses should You Wear?

Why brave a bright, radiant day barefaced and unprotected when you can easily hide behind a funky pair of sunnies?

Sunglasses are that one accessory everyone needs.

As well as shielding your eyes from harmful rays, they can easily determine your fashion sense and make an outfit ten times trendier.

DESIblitz narrows down some of the best styles and trends of sunglasses for summer 2016.

Aviators

Aviators are the all-time classic sunglasses. Bausch & Lomb originally crafted the style during the 1930s in order to protect the eyes of pilots while flying.

The Ray Bans company later adopted the design, catapulting it into fame in the 1940s. Aviators even made very infamous appearances in some beloved films, including Top Gun and Cobra. 

The Aviator design transforms an outfit, giving it that cool yet fierce touch. Modern twists to the style include reflective or colourful lenses but our favourite has to be the vintage classic: gold frame, green lens by Ray Bans.

Aliyah Khan, a teenage fashion lover from Coventry says: “The simplistic and dark design goes with everything, which makes them so easy to wear.”

Bollywood actress, Priyanka Chopra is a big fan of the classic gold aviators, and regularly sports the look with a bold red lip.

The Round Frames

John Lennon’s staple piece. Iconic. These small, circular shades are perfect for that old school retro vibe, instantly throwing you back into the mid-70s.

Adding a spin to the typical round lens, 2016 has seen the design mixed with many other colour, shapes and styles.

Worn by singer Rita Ora, these translucent Green Havana sunglasses from Miu Miu add a vibrant pop of colour to the face. And although they’re on the pricier side, they’re definitely a recommended investment.

Coloured Lenses

Originally, sporting activities and visual impairments required specific coloured lenses. But in recent times coloured lenses have become a way of portraying personality and preference:

“Wearing coloured lenses proves you’re outgoing; you’re much more confident wearing what you want and it shows you’re not afraid to be different,” says Javed.

A bright lens can powerfully take you from bland to bold, and our top choices are definitely some from ASOS.com. Pink, purple, blue silver, gold; you name it. ASOS have a huge range of coloured lensed sunglasses.

Anushka Sharma rocked the coloured lenses look in Dil Dhadakne Do – when she lounged casually in her bikini during a cruise.

Cat Eyes Sunglasses

Some people may wonder why on earth we’d want to look like a cat. But with the new cat-eye sunglasses trend, it’s something almost everyone wants. Cat Eye sunglasses aren’t just typical sunglasses, they add that something extra:

“They’re very distinctive and bold compared to other, more typical types of glasses,” claims Zarah.

If you want something more subtle, try adding to the classic aviator with a simple metal band. Or if want to go all out, how about ‘chunky’ plastic and bright colours?

Either way, such a great statement piece like these will definitely restore that ’60s style:

“I sometimes like to go for brightly coloured sunglasses because I think they can be the feature of your outfit. For example, if I want to wear all black and then put on red-framed glasses, they are what people will be drawn to.”

Coloured Frames

Instead of changing the colour of your sight, why not try a bright frame instead? This pair of Dolce & Gabbana’s have their signature Italian Carretto print, making them the focal point of any outfit:

“My mum wears leopard print shades and I think they add a sense of quirkiness to her outfits without her even knowing,” Shahana continues.

There’s no better way to brighten up your summer look than with a daring pattern or adventurous colours.

Oversized Sunglasses

While face domination is not exactly what we’re looking for, you can’t deny that there is something slightly comforting about hiding behind a pair of oversized sunglasses.

During the 1960s, the oversized design bloomed into popularity when Lady Jackie Kennedy herself started wearing them in order to make more discrete outings in public:

“Oversized sunglasses act as a barrier and distract away from your other features if you’re not feeling very confident that day,” says Aisha.

The sunglasses replicate the careless and calm attitude that radiates from film stars, including fashion icon Audrey Hepburn in her 1961 hit Breakfast at Tiffany’s. If you want a Bollywood example, look no further than fashion queen, Kareena Kapoor.

Sunglasses are a must for summer 2016, but what kind of style is for you?

This summer brings us bold colours and patterns, and many modern twists to our much-loved retro favourites.

Top off your outfit with a pair of sunnies and you’re good to go.