A good pair of sunglasses is one of the few things you buy once and reach for every day — not a seasonal trend piece, but something that actually earns its keep. The problem, however, is choice. In total, thousands of options exist across five very different price points. Brands range from genuinely brilliant to expensively mediocre. Moreover, there’s almost no useful middle ground between “just get Ray-Bans” and a glossy magazine page that’s been paid to be there.
So here’s the edit. Fourteen pairs, five price brackets, brands that have earned their place — Ray-Ban, Oakley, Michael Kors, Burberry, Persol, Tom Ford, Gucci, Prada, Chanel. Consequently, whether you want an everyday workhorse, a mid-tier step-up, or a genuine investment piece, something here fits. All of them are available now at Sunglass Hut, the world’s largest specialist eyewear retailer, which means you can try most in-store before you commit. Here’s what’s worth buying right now.
The Price Brackets
| Bracket | Brands in this edit | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Under £160 | Ray-Ban, Oakley | Everyday wearers, first designer pair |
| £160–£230 | Michael Kors, Persol, Burberry | Step-up quality without a commitment spend |
| £280–£350 | Tom Ford, Gucci, Prada, Silhouette | Investment pieces, genuine material upgrade |
| £400+ | Chanel | The top tier — craft, heritage, and weight |
The 15 Best Sunglasses to Buy Right Now
1. Oakley Eye Jacket™ Redux OO9438 — Silver / Black
First released in 1992, the Eye Jacket became one of the defining frames of the decade and is now very much back. A faithful update, the Redux keeps the same shield-adjacent, semi-rimless silhouette in silver metal with black lenses that wrap slightly at the outer edge — unambiguously a 90s reference, and yet it works in 2026 precisely because it commits fully rather than hedging. Sharp and minimal, it carries Oakley’s Prizm lens performance inside what reads as a fashion-forward shape. In addition, at around £140, it sits at a price point that makes the statement easier to justify. Overall, it’s the pick for anyone who wants their eyewear to have a clear point of view.
Gender: Unisex | Frame: Semi-rimless / shield, metal | Lens: UV400, Oakley Prizm Black | Best for: Oval, square faces | Price: From approx. £140
SHOP THE OAKLEY EYE JACKET REDUX →
2. Ray-Ban Original Wayfarer RB2140 — Black / G-15 Green
There’s a reason this frame has been in continuous production since 1952. The trapezoidal acetate shape, the thick brow, the slight outward flair at the temples — it’s one of those rare designs with nowhere left to go. Right when it launched, it was correct, and seventy-odd years later nothing has changed. The black-on-G-15 green combination is the original and, still, the one to start with. On almost every face shape it works: the frame adds definition without overwhelming, and the proportions pair with anything. In addition, tortoise, havana, gradient, polarised, and mirror finishes are all available. That said, black and green remains the benchmark.
Gender: Unisex | Frame: Wayfarer / square | Lens: UV400, G-15 green | Best for: All face shapes | Price: From approx. £155
3. Ray-Ban Aviator Classic RB3025 — Gold / G-15 Green
Developed in 1936 for US Air Force pilots, the Aviator established the visual language for every metal sunglasses design that followed. A deep teardrop curve provided full field of vision, while the double brow bar gave structural stability. Since then, decades have passed without making it look dated — a meaningful achievement for any frame. Gold with G-15 green is the canonical version: warm, flattering across skin tones, and as close to timeless as the best sunglasses get. Furthermore, the silhouette slims the face and adds a quiet 70s register without committing to anything. Silver, gunmetal, copper, and polarised options are also available.
Gender: Unisex | Frame: Aviator / teardrop metal | Lens: UV400, G-15 green | Best for: Oval, square, heart faces | Price: From approx. £155
4. Ray-Ban Clubmaster RB3016 — Black / Black
Dominant in the 1950s, the browline frame fell out of fashion and has since been returning in waves. Ray-Ban’s Clubmaster is the definitive modern version: half acetate, half metal, with a pronounced upper brow that does the structural work. Meanwhile, a thinner metal lower rim stops the overall frame from feeling heavy. In all-black it reads as considered rather than retro — intentional without tipping into costume. Particularly good for rounder face shapes, too, where that defined brow line adds the structure that a round or oval frame simply won’t deliver.
Gender: Unisex | Frame: Browline / half-rim | Lens: UV400 | Best for: Round, oval faces | Price: From approx. £150
5. Oakley Holbrook OO9102 — Matte Black / Prizm Black
Oakley made its name in performance sport, and over twenty years has worked out how to translate that credibility into everyday wearability — the Holbrook is where it works most cleanly. Named after big-mountain skier Josh Holbrook, this medium-sized square acetate frame with a keyhole bridge is recognisably Oakley in its DNA, yet restrained enough to wear with something other than a race jacket. As for the lenses, Prizm Black is Oakley’s enhanced-contrast technology: glare is managed more effectively than with a standard tinted lens, and definition in bright conditions improves noticeably as a result. In short, it’s the pick for men who want the technical spec without the sport silhouette.
Gender: Men’s | Frame: Square / medium acetate | Lens: Oakley Prizm Black, UV400 | Best for: Square, oval faces | Price: From approx. £130
6. Oakley Frogskins OO9013 — Polished Black / Prizm Black
Dating to 1985, the Frogskins is Oakley’s oldest lifestyle frame — and one of the few best sunglasses old enough to have gone through multiple cultural reappraisals. Right now it’s in a particularly good moment, since the broader return of 80s and 90s sport aesthetics has given it a context it fits naturally. By contrast to the Holbrook, it’s chunkier, wider, and more assertive — a full-rim acetate with noticeably more presence on the face. In Polished Black with Prizm lenses, it sits at the productive intersection of sport heritage and streetwear without obviously trying to. Above all, it’s the most affordable pair in this edit with genuine optical technology behind it.
Gender: Unisex | Frame: Retro square / full-rim acetate | Lens: Oakley Prizm Black, UV400 | Best for: Oval, heart, square faces | Price: From approx. £110
7. Michael Kors Grenada MK2277U — Tortoise / Yellow
Michael Kors occupies a specific and useful position in the sunglasses market: genuinely elevated design and real material quality at a price that doesn’t require a month’s deliberation. Bolder than most entry-level designer frames, the Grenada leads with warm, richly coloured tortoiseshell acetate. The yellow lenses, however, are the actual point — they add a colour-pop energy that’s very much of the current moment and, moreover, perform better in variable British light than you might expect. As a result, this is the pick for women who want something committed and considered rather than safe.
Gender: Women’s | Frame: Square / acetate | Lens: UV400, yellow | Best for: Oval, heart faces | Price: From approx. £170
SHOP THE MICHAEL KORS GRENADA →
8. Persol PO3019S — Tortoise / Green
Persol is the best sunglasses brand most people haven’t heard of, and the PO3019S is a good place to explain why. Unlike a standard frame, this one folds flat at the bridge for compact storage, yet wears identically on the face. Meflecto — Persol’s proprietary acetate material — flexes naturally to the wearer’s fit, so no bending or adjustment is required. In addition, the patented arrow detail at the temple is a quiet design signature: unnoticed by most, yet well-resolved enough to register when you know it’s there. Furthermore, every frame is made by hand in Italy. Altogether, it’s a slower, more considered purchase — and one that gets better with age.
Gender: Unisex | Frame: Folding / keyhole bridge, handcrafted acetate | Lens: UV400, green | Best for: All face shapes — Meflecto adjusts to fit | Price: From approx. £220
9. Burberry BE3169 — Gold / Green
British luxury that earns the word rather than just asserting it — that’s the register Burberry’s eyewear has always occupied. A departure from the brand’s better-known oversized acetate styles, the BE3169 is a slim metal aviator in gold with green lenses, a combination that immediately reads as considered rather than obvious. The slim gold frame and warm green lens together pair Burberry’s refined aesthetic with a silhouette that works across face shapes and occasions. Meanwhile, the brand’s detail appears on the inner temple, there if you look for it. Beyond that, the overall effect is quiet confidence — specifically, the pick for someone who wants the brand without the logo doing all the work.
Gender: Unisex | Frame: Aviator / metal | Lens: UV400, green | Best for: Oval, square, heart faces | Price: From approx. £230
10. Tom Ford Fausto FT0711 — Black / Grey
Since 2005, Tom Ford has been building one of the most consistent aesthetics in luxury eyewear: bold proportions, premium Italian acetate, a restrained palette, and the brushed T-bar at the temple. As the brand’s most consistent menswear bestseller, the Fausto is a large, square frame with genuine authority on the face — one that, however, never tips into statement territory. In Black with grey lenses, it works equally well with a good suit or a plain white T-shirt. Specifically, the acetate is denser and better finished than anything in the Ray-Ban or Oakley tier, which becomes immediately apparent when you hold it. That material difference is consequently what justifies the price step.
Gender: Men’s | Frame: Large square, premium Italian acetate | Lens: UV400, grey | Best for: Oval, round, heart faces | Price: From approx. £280
11. Tom Ford Alasdhair — Black / Grey
Where the Fausto leads with presence, the Alasdhair works through restraint. Tom Ford’s answer to the classic men’s square frame, it’s cleaner and quieter — a slim silhouette in black acetate with grey lenses whose proportions are precise and whose finish is, as with all Tom Ford frames, noticeably superior to lower price points. That said, subtlety is what ultimately makes this one interesting. The brushed T-bar is present, and quality communicates itself at every point of contact. Crucially, however, nothing announces the brand from across the room. Consequently, it’s the pick for men who want luxury without logos.
Gender: Men’s | Frame: Square / slim acetate | Lens: UV400, grey | Best for: Oval, round, heart faces | Price: From approx. £300
12. Gucci GG2039S — Tortoise / Brown
Among Gucci’s most refined current frames, the GG2039S is a small-to-medium round style in rich tortoiseshell acetate with warm brown lenses. Rounds flatter a wide range of face types — softening angular features and adding character to more neutral ones. Moreover, the scale here is carefully considered: rather than making an oversized statement, the frame earns attention through quality. The GG logo sits at the hinge, the acetate has real depth and warmth, and overall construction is noticeably more substantial than frames at lower price points. As a result, it’s the pick for a first serious designer sunglasses investment that doesn’t lead with the label.
Gender: Women’s | Frame: Round / small-medium acetate | Lens: UV400, brown | Best for: Square, oval, heart faces | Price: From approx. £310
13. Prada PR D11S — Brown / Brown
Over the past two seasons, Prada’s eyewear has become some of the most talked-about in fashion. The brand’s broader reinvention has pushed into accessories with real clarity, and the PR D11S sits at the centre of it. In essence, it’s tonal dressing applied to eyewear — warm brown acetate with brown lenses — done with the precision that Prada does better than almost anyone. Proportions are restrained, finish is exceptional, and furthermore the brown-on-brown combination travels across seasons in a way that bolder colourways simply don’t. Consequently, this is the investment pick for anyone who prioritises longevity over trend.
Gender: Women’s | Frame: Square / medium acetate | Lens: UV400, brown | Best for: Oval, heart, diamond faces | Price: From approx. £340
14. Silhouette Dora Four 4093 — Dark Olive
Silhouette is the best sunglasses brand most people haven’t heard of, full stop — Austrian, family-run, and built on a genuinely different philosophy to everything else here. The Dora Four is part of the brand’s Dora collection, named after and inspired by architect Dora Demmel’s design language. Rather than standard acetate or metal, the frame is made from an innovative 3D-printed material finished with titanium details, which is what gives it that sculptural, almost weightless quality on the face. In Dark Olive, the square shape reads considered rather than showy: sharp geometry with none of the bulk you’d expect from a frame this structural. Above all, it’s the pick for anyone who wants a genuine engineering story behind their sunglasses, not just a logo.
Gender: Unisex | Frame: Square, 3D-printed material with titanium details | Lens: UV400 | Best for: Oval, round, square faces | Price: £316 (excl. optical glazing and associated costs)
SHOP THE SILHOUETTE DORA FOUR →
15. Chanel CH5565 Oval — Green / Brown
At the very top of this edit sits the CH5565. Among the most quietly confident frames Chanel makes, it’s a beautifully resolved oval silhouette in deep green acetate with brown lenses — no dramatic cat-eye, no oversized proportions. Green and brown is a genuinely unusual pairing, yet rather than clashing, the tonal contrast reads as luxurious and considered. Moreover, Chanel’s construction — the hinge detail, the frame weight, the lens quality — is in a different category to everything else in this list. That said, this isn’t a pair you buy for the logo. Above all, you buy it because it’s one of the best sunglasses available at any price.
Gender: Women’s | Frame: Oval / medium acetate | Lens: UV400, brown | Best for: Square, round, diamond faces | Price: From approx. £490
Best Sunglasses to Buy Now: Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best sunglasses brands to buy right now?
Ray-Ban and Oakley lead the accessible tier. In the mid range, Persol, Burberry, and Michael Kors all offer genuine quality at prices that don’t require much deliberation. At the top, Tom Ford, Gucci, and Prada are consistently worth investing in. Above all, what these brands share is a clear point of view and frame designs that hold up over time, rather than dating to the season they launched.
What’s the best everyday pair of sunglasses?
The Ray-Ban Wayfarer or Aviator. Each has been in continuous production for over sixty years, works on almost every face shape, and is available in enough colourways and lens specs to suit most preferences. At around £155, they represent the best quality-to-cost ratio in the accessible designer tier — and neither will look dated next year.
What are the best sunglasses for men?
For a classic starting point, the Ray-Ban Wayfarer and Aviator remain the benchmarks. For something with more technical credibility, the Oakley Holbrook is the pick. Similarly, for a step up into genuine luxury, the Tom Ford Fausto is one of the best menswear sunglasses available at any price. If, however, you want something more understated, the Tom Ford Alasdhair is the quieter alternative.
What are the best sunglasses for women right now?
The Michael Kors Grenada is the most interesting entry into the designer tier right now. For mid-tier quality that punches above its price, the Burberry BE3169 is the pick. At the investment end, the Gucci GG2039S and Prada PR D11S are the frames worth spending on in 2026. Furthermore, for the very top of the market, the Chanel CH5565 is in a category of its own.
What’s the best sunglasses brand nobody talks about?
Persol. Part of the same EssilorLuxottica group as Ray-Ban, but without the mainstream recognition — which means the frames get to be about the design rather than the logo. As a result, the PO3019S stands on its own merits: handcrafted in Italy, a patented flexible hinge system, and a folding bridge for compact storage. At around £220, it’s the most interesting pair in this edit.
What face shape suits which sunglasses?
Round faces benefit from angular frames — the Wayfarer, Clubmaster, or any square shape adds definition. Square faces, however, suit round or oval frames that soften the jawline. Oval faces can wear almost anything, which is why most frame guides use oval as the baseline. Similarly, heart-shaped faces work well with aviators and cat-eyes, which balance a wider forehead against a narrower chin.
Are polarised lenses worth it?
For most everyday use, yes. Polarised lenses cut glare from reflective surfaces — water, roads, glass — which significantly reduces eye strain on bright days. Oakley’s Prizm lens technology takes this further by also enhancing contrast and colour definition. That said, polarisation can make phone and GPS screens harder to read outdoors, so it’s worth bearing in mind.
Where is the best place to buy designer sunglasses in the UK?
Sunglass Hut is the most practical option for most people. Every brand in this edit is stocked there, with stores across the UK for trying before you buy. In addition, free returns are available online. The Sun Club loyalty programme includes 50% replacement coverage on damaged frames — a genuinely useful benefit given how sunglasses tend to be treated. Prices are, moreover, consistent with the brands’ own retail pricing.
All fourteen best sunglasses above are available now at Sunglass Hut.
