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With summer comes sunshine, and inevitably, exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays and glare. In the market for a new pair of shades? Keep eye protection, comfort, and of course, style, in mind.
How To Pick The Best Sunglasses Styles For A Guy
Firstly, let's discuss protection, because not all sunglasses are made the same. Some research suggests that high-energy ultraviolet rays from the sun can harm vision later in life. Excessive UV exposure may damage the macula—the area in back of the eye that helps transmit pictures to the brain. The risk is greatest for light-colored eyes. You need to protect the eyes you’ve got, they’re your best friend when it comes to catching waves or shredding down the mountain.
Ophthalmologist Rishi Singh, MD, of the Cleveland Clinic offers tips to finding the best sunglasses that will keep your eyes well protected.
- Choose sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB light. You don’t have to pay a premium—UV protection is available in all price ranges. Choose the highest-level UVA/UVB protection you can find: Levels of UVA/UVB protection appear on a sticker or the tag.
- For macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy. select amber or brown lenses. These colors enhance contrast, which can help you see better. But a high UV rating is more important than lens color.
- Prescription eyeglasses—particularly those with polycarbonate lenses—provide some built-in UV protection, says Dr. Singh. Lenses that automatically darken when you go outdoors protect against both UV rays and glare.
Find The Right Shape For Your Face
Knowing which sunglass frames are right for your face shape will help you pick a style that complements your features instead of fighting with them, says Esquire magazine.
Oblong: Your face is longer than it is wide, and the lines of your jaw and cheekbones are rounded. Oblong faces won't have any trouble finding a good pair of sunglasses. The only styles to avoid: anything that'll make your face look even longer. While oversized, squared-off aviators will do the trick, think twice before investing in a teardrop pair that'll pull the eye down along the vertical axis of your visage. Our top picks: Firestorm, Future Ruler, Crystal Orb, Mister Romance, Sugar Mac
Triangle: Your forehead is wider than your chin, which narrows down with relatively straight lines. A rounded lens will play against the straighter geometry of your face, but don’t go too heavy on the brow. Our top picks: Heart Rush, Island Ice, Seventh Wave
Diamond: It’s all about sharper angles: the length and width are similar, but cheekbones are more pronounced and the jaw is well defined. Strong lines on your face mean you've got a lot to play with in terms of shape. Just make sure you don't get too squared off—it runs the risk of looking severe. Our top picks: Torrealba Beach, Mister Romance, Jet Line
Square: The width and length of your head are nearly identical, and you've got a squared-off jaw. When it comes to sunglasses for square faces, while you can play with rounded edges on a pair of square or rectangular frames, anything too geometric could make you look like an over-exaggerated version of yourself. And while black frames can work, lighter colors will soften your edges. Our top picks: Psycho Cat, Lion Heart, Red Strike
Round: While some folks recommend avoiding rounder shapes entirely for sunglasses for round faces, we say that's no fun. But exercise caution: John Lennon-style shades—with their perfectly circular lenses—won't do you any favors. But a square-shaped aviator with rounded edges? That'll work wonders. Our top picks: The Canyon collection.
Heart: Similar to the inverted triangle, but softer all around. The forehead is still wider than the chin, but the shape is rounder at the jawline. Anything too wide or heavy is best left to other face shapes. The classic teardrop aviator looks good on most folks, but it's especially well-suited to heart-shaped faces, where it adds a little extra weight to the lower half of the face. Our top picks: The A Series collection.
Oval: Your face is a little longer than it is wide, and the jaw and cheekbones are slightly rounded; your forehead is also a bit wider than your jaw. The oval face shape is the easiest to fit with a pair of shades—honestly, wear anything that you want. Find some of our top sunglasses for oval face shapes here.
What Are The New Trendy Men’s Sunglasses?
Aside from perennially chic Wayfarer-style and aviator silhouettes, GQ magazine cites several key sunglasses trends this season:
Technicolor Tints: Bright frames and color lenses: the quickest way to gift yourself some serious “wait, is that dude famous?" energy.
Geometry Review: For those seeking to round out already extensive collections, consider investing in some distinctly shaped shades.
The Sporting Life: Leave it to the tireless churn of the fashion cycle to make the sunglasses you wore warming the bench on your middle-school volleyball team look like the coolest thing in the world again.
Excited and want to keep shopping around? Check out the new arrivals in men’s sunglasses from Blenders Eyewear.
