- Sunglasses double as a fun fashion statement and protective eyewear.
- You could just get a cheap pair that’ll break in a week, or you could go all in on a nice pair of sunglasses that will last for years if not decades.
- Our favorite place to buy women’s sunglasses is Ray-Ban because the styles are timeless, durable, and do a great job of protecting your eyes.
Summer’s just around the corner, which means it’s time to bare your shoulders and your legs, but not your eyes. Even as you let the rest of your body soak up the sun, you’ll want to be sure that the windows to your souls remain closely guarded, and that means buying a great pair of sunglasses for the sunny days to come.
Before you decide that the $5 pair of shades you found in the street stall will serve your purposes, you’ll want to do a little bit more research about what it really takes to protect your eyes and help you look great all summer. While you don’t have to spend a fortune in order to get quality sunglasses that provide adequate protection from the bright rays of the warmer seasons, you’ll want to ensure that the glasses you ultimately select not only serve a fashionable purpose but a functional one as well. To that end, select shades with UV protection so that you can spend long summer days in the out of doors without worrying about damaging your retina.
You’ll also want to get sunglasses that can withstand your fun in the sun. Be sure to select lenses that are scratch-resistant. After all, you won’t be able to see out of your protective eyewear if they’re totally marred by evidence of all the good times you’re having.
And unless you plan on buying a new pair of sunglasses every season (not that there's anything wrong with that), it'll probably behoove you to choose styles that are fun, yet timeless. While this isn't to say that you should shy away from new aesthetics, it will also be beneficial to have a pair of sunglasses that you'll love and use forever. The sun will always be there, after all.
Regardless of which of our favorite women's sunglasses you select, we're confident that your eyes will be well taken care of, and that you'll be in vogue all season long.
Here are the best places to buy women's sunglasses:
The best place to buy sunglasses overall
Ray-Ban has been a big name in the sunglass business for over 80 years. They're still credited with making some of the best glasses today and loved by celebrities, stylists, and normal folks alike.
Ray-Bans come in a variety of styles, honoring timeless classics like the Aviators as well as frames inspired by modern trends. Ray-Ban also offers most glasses in a variety of sizes so you can get a perfect fit for your face. All Ray-Ban lenses have UV protection, which is important because at the end of the day you want to wear sunglasses that protect your eyes. You can choose from classic, mirrored, or polarized lenses; all offer different levels of UV protection and also come in different colors for some more variety.
Many members on the Insider Reviews team swear by their Ray-Bans for their flattering styles and high-quality, durable frames that last for years. You can bet that if you choose to spend the money on a pair of Ray-Bans, it's an investment you'll have for a long time. - Remi Rosmarin
The best place to buy sunglasses for active lifestyles
The best thing about buying sunglasses from a company dedicated to athletes? You know that these shades were built to perform. While Under Armour manufactures plenty of protective eyewear for fun in the sun, my favorite pair is undoubtedly the brand's Getaway Sunglasses.
Whether you're engaging in a competitive game of beach volleyball or just lazily throwing around a ball on the beach, Under Armour has glasses to keep your eyes safe.
Many of the glasses feature "multiflection" coatings on the lenses, which means that even if you take a tumble on the sand or any other surface, you'll be guarded against scratches and smudges. Plus, the coating protects against intense sunlight, which means that you can wear these quite literally all day long.
While I often struggle with glasses staying on my nose (life can be so hard), this isn't the case with the Getaways. Because these shades come with an adjustable nosepad, you can effectively customize the fit of your shades, and make sure that they're resting comfortably all the livelong day. The arms of these shades are also quite flexible, so I've never had an issue with feeling as though the sidings were digging into my face.
All of Under Armour's products are clearly meant for performance, and its sunglasses are no exception to this rule.
The best place to buy affordable sunglasses
You may know MVMT best for its line of simple yet sleek watches, but the brand has since taken its popular aesthetic to another accessory - sunglasses. MVMT began making sunglasses for the masses in 2016 and hasn't stopped since with its huge selection of creative and stylish lenses that are as varied as your moods.
The sunglasses themselves range in price from $60 to $90, though if you elect to add the polarized lens option, you could be looking at a top price of $105. Still, that feels like a reasonable price to be paying for sunglasses that look as though they could walk out of any designer shop without suffering from any sort of imposter syndrome. While you can find cheaper, trendy sunglasses at places like Urban Outfitters, those options may not offer the same sort of UV protection.
Many of MVMT's sunglasses reflect the brand's commitment to timeless, classic pieces, like the Icon shades - a simple, round metal frame with dark lenses. But the brand also offers up a few shades that are a bit more daring, like the Savage XL, a rectangular style in a sleek, clear frame.
With such a wide and varied set of options, the biggest challenge you're likely to face is narrowing down your selection to just a single pair of sunglasses.
The best place to buy prescription sunglasses
Warby Parker has been making affordable eyewear since 2010, with most of its extensive collection setting customers back just $95. That's a reasonable price for any pair of shades, and if you want to add a prescription to those frames, you'll pay somewhere between $80 and $280 more, depending on the type of prescription.
When you shop at Warby Parker, you're able to place orders for up to five pairs of sunglasses (or regular glasses) in your cart and get them delivered to your doorstep so that you can try them out in the comfort of your own home. Shipping is free, and you'll have five days to decide which pair (or pairs) suit you best. Just send the samples back when you're done and order your prescription lenses for the pair(s) of your choosing.
All of Warby Parker's sunglasses feature anti-scratch and anti-glare coatings at no extra cost, which certainly will help you keep the sun at bay.
If you're looking for a way to give back to your community through commerce, Warby Parker can help with its "Buy a Pair, Give a Pair" pledge. Just as the name suggests, with this program, Warby Parker will donate a pair of glasses to someone in need with every purchase of a pair of prescription glasses or sunglasses.
The best place to buy designer sunglasses
Shopbop is one of my favorite places to shop because the curation of products is on point season after season.
If you're looking to splurge on a pair of sunglasses, Shopbop has more than enough options to excite your shopping senses. The online store has a dedicated designer sunglass boutique where you can find eyewear from brands like Prada, Gucci, and Saint Laurent.
Whether it's timeless styles or on-trend frames, Shopbop has them all. They also have a host of more affordable options from brands like Quay and Le Specs if that's what you're looking for.
One of my favorite things about Shopbop is that you can sign in with your Amazon account and get all of the Prime benefits with your Shopbop order - that means free, speedy two-day shipping and free returns. On top of that, Shopbop offers outfit ideas with every product, including sunglasses. You can choose to "shop the look" at the bottom of the page and find some great inspiration for clothing pairings. For high-end sunglasses and a style-first experience, you can't go wrong with Shopbop. - Remi Rosmarin
