The 18 best sunglasses of 2024: get prepped for some sunshine

• Pros: Classic style | 100 per cent UV protection
• Cons: Design may be too plain for some

Without fail, all of Dunhill’s eyewear frames are imbued with impeccably suave appeal. Case in point from the British brand’s current collection: this D-frame design. Crafted in Japan from a translucent grey acetate, their see-through structure is a smart way of showing off their temple details: gold-toned for a finishing touch of elegance. Timeless and luxurious – a double whammy.

• Pros: Classic retro style | Multiple colour options | Excellent value
• Cons: Not polarised

Arket once again proves itself as one of the best destinations for stylish accessories on a budget with these ‘Komono’ sunglasses. Offered in a series of three timeless colourways – carbon, blue and tortoise – their round lenses are the kind which will flatter all facial frames and are fused with a scratch-resistant finish. Your summer style game (and overdraft) will thank us later.

• Pros: Classic retro style | Metal frame | Adjustable nose pads
• Cons: High price point

Crafted from a contrasting gold and silver tone metal which is then combined with a long lasting acetate, Jacques Marie Mage’s ‘Silverton’ sunglasses are the very definition of quality. Reflecting the French brand’s commitment to serious style and longevity, they’re fitted with Suntan-shaded lenses and boast 100 per cent UV protection. If you’re in a position to invest, rest assured these will see you through years to come.

• Pros: Lightweight design | UV protection | Affordable price
• Cons: One size

Weekday is a top port of call for fashionable menswear items which won’t break the bank, so naturally, we’ll be flocking there for a more affordable pair of shades. Our top pick from the current collection? This ‘port’ style has a shell made from recycled PCTG material, joining to a frame that excels in sharpness thanks to its classic square shape. For just £20, you can't go wrong.

• Pros: Retro style | Quality lenses | 100 per cent UV protection
• Cons: One size

Straight off of Tom Ford’s Spring/Summer 2024 runway and ready to enhance your existing sunglasses collection, these frames from the designer’s Eyewear department will bring instant fashionable credit to your silhouette. Fitted with Ford’s signature ‘T’ inserts at the temples, they nod to the styles of past times through their tortoiseshell texture and come complete with gradient lenses. Pure excellence, served.

• Pros: Classic design | Affordable price
• Cons: One size

Affordable sunglasses informed by cultural icons? Sign us up. This comes courtesy of ‘Shady Spex’: the eyewear brand which serves ultra-stylish shades with quality and sustainability in mind. A special shoutout goes to the ‘New York Night Train’ design. Incorporating recycled materials in their sleek construction, they’re inspired by the likes of Buddy Hale and John Cale and offered in five stylish shade variations.

• Pros: 100% UV protection | Retro-futuristic feel
• Cons: One size

Sunglasses are a great way of adding a bit of mystery to the top of your style game, and this is where Prada comes in. Famed for slick accessories which favour a stark black colour palette, the Italian's house's latest design promises a strong, retro-like appearance thanks to its rectangular-frame and abstract-shaped temples. Plaque embellished with the brand's logo either side, it's safe to say that these will help you soak up rays in style.

• Pros: Lightweight design | Multiple colour options | Excellent value
• Cons: Not polarised

Creating pieces with personality, CO Optical specialises in the contemporary, but isn't above looking to its archives for inspiration. Whilst the warm orange-toned browns are reminiscent of film negatives and the touch of tortoiseshell harks back to the '70s, the sharp circular lenses and fine adjoining frame says nothing but summer '24.

• Pros: Structural design | Luxurious
• Cons: Expensive price point

Taking its name from the Latin word for ‘priceless’, Akoni's sunglasses are a luxurious pick to add to your accessories collection. Inspired by the sculptural masterpieces of architect Jean Prouvé, these ‘Hera’ aviator sunnies are angular and sharp, centred with grey tinted lenses and promise 100 per cent UV protection. We suggest styling them with a sharp, slim-fitting suit to elevate their frame even further.

• Pros: Classic silhouette | Sleek shape | Polarised lenses
• Cons: One size

As the first brand to introduce the use of polarised lenses for sunglasses, Polaroid can always be relied upon for a quality pair of innovative shades. With a touch of Top Gun about them, this pair take on a classic Aviators shape, finished with gunmetal grey details.

• Pros: Bold design | Adjustable nose pads
• Cons: Wide fit may not be for everyone

If you’re looking for a pair of sunglasses that really serve a statement, Rick Owens has got you covered. Specifically, with this shield style: crafted in Japan from stainless steel, shaped with a strikingly oversized silhouette and heavily exposed with a grey-tinted lens. In true manner of the designer, they’re unapologetically alternative in design, and will be most effective with head-to-toe black attire.

• Pros: Monogram lenses | Different sizes | Metal frame
• Cons: Not polarised

Logomania, executed with elegance. Defined by their gradient lenses and infamous monogram pattern, Louis Vuitton's Clockwise sunglasses elevate the aviator silhouette for a luxurious take on fashion's ongoing industrialist trend.

• Pros: Retro design | Comes with a velvet case
• Cons: One size

What’s not to love about these rectangular-framed sunglasses by Gucci? A design that looks like it has been pulled straight out of the ‘70s archives, the frame is crafted from acetate and the temples are decorated with the Italian label’s House colours. As for the lenses themselves, they’re painted in a lush brown hue that gives us nothing but vintage vibes.

• Pros: Statement piece | Opulent design
• Cons: One size

Put simply, no one does maximalism like Versace. These Medusa Biggie sunglasses combine a jet black frame with metallic gold detailing and the iconic Medusa motif, paying homage to Donatella's headline-grabbing chain dress as designed by the late, great Gianni in 1993.

• Pros: Optional polarised coating | Multiple colour options
• Cons: Design may be too plain for some

Finlay & Co shot to attention when Meghan Markle wore a pair of the brand’s sunglasses at her debut appearance with Prince Harry. It also does stylish frames for men, as visitors to its newly opened store will attest. Located on London’s Broadwick Street, it offers eye tests using the latest optometric technologies and showcases its full range, from specs to shades, all handmade in Italy. Our pick of the frames? These Bowery beauties. Grab a pair and set yourself up for this winter and beyond.

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