We round up the top sunglasses brands for summer, covering everything from budget-friendly to designer styles. The guide highlights brands like Blenders for exercise, Costa for sports and Zenni for budget buys. An expert weighs in on what to look for when shopping brands, including 100% UVA/UVB protection. The future is looking so bright, you’ll wanna wear some new shades. But don’t wait; get them right now in time for summer.
Sunglasses season is all year round, meaning it’s time to start shopping around for the best deals and trending styles.
Finding the perfect pair for your face shape and your budget can be tricky, but with more than a dozen stylish options here, including some trendy brands scooped up by Emily Ratajkowski, Nick Jonas, Kate Middleton, Gigi Hadid and more — there’s sure to be new favorite shades waiting for you to discover below.
We know there are endless styles of sunglasses for men, women and children, so instead of picking individual looks, we wanted to share our favorite brands instead, letting you curate your sunglasses collection yourself for a bright and sunny season ahead.
Plus, many of them are offering seasonal discounts, so now’s the perfect time to upgrade your eyewear game without breaking the bank. From sharp, long-lasting frames to UV-blocking lenses, each selection is super chic and functional.
Starting with a music festival and ending up at beaches and outdoor parties across America, Blenders Eyewear has seen it all.
The California company is now available nationwide, selling shades for all occasions on their site. Take a peek at women’s glasses for rose-hued lenses and pops of neon green and sunset orange, and then slide over to the men’s section for bright purple, black-on-black pairs, and polarized blue light lenses, to name a few. Pricing is also quite competitive, with pairs starting at just $22 and not exceeding $69.
New York Post Review: “I own several pairs of high-end sunglasses, including iconic Ray-Bans, but the pair I reach for most often is my Costa Del Mar. Prices range from $177 through $300.
“While other brands focus on the aesthetic, Costa is engineered for the elements. While standard sunglasses simply darken your field of view, Costa lenses selectively filter out the harsh yellow light at 580nm on the visible spectrum. I can see into the ocean and even spot jellyfish and exotic sea creatures swimming — my husband cannot even see those with his regular pair of Goodrs.”
If you want a pair of customizable sunglasses but have a tight budget, Zenni is the brand to go with.
New York Post Review: “Zenni is super easy to use and extremely affordable. Within a few minutes, I was able to set up a subscription pair of sunglasses with very little effort. The process allowed me to add as much or as little as I wanted, including options such as blue light protection, water resistance and smudge-free coatings. There truly is a way to make it fit your budget as prices start under $30.
Make a difference and look great doing it with DIFF. The charitable eyewear company is changing the game in stylish frames but also in providing eye care around the world.
“With your support, we’ve already helped over 4.5 million people receive the gift of sight. Now, we’re taking our commitment even further by partnering with Vision to Learn to empower children across the U.S. with access to essential vision care.” reads the site.
To shop your own pair, head to the Sunglasses tab and go shopping and discover collabs featuring Princess Leia inspo or Blue light glasses to protect your eyes from harmful rays. Plus, keep an eye out for deals, as their clearance sections often feature bargains you’ll have to see to believe.
Whether you’re spending the summer on the Italian coast — or just wish you were — Persol is here to bring the vacation to you. Persol specializes in handcrafted frames made in Italy, with care and precision, 100 years in the making. When looking through the site, keep an eye out for polarized pairs, as well as anything marked as new for this upcoming season. Shop by men’s, women’s or even by style icon, like Steve McQueen.
When it comes to iconic frames and stylish styles, Ray-Ban is the name of the game and for good reason.
While they always have classic looks to choose from, this season, check out new styles for spring and summer like the wider vintage-inspired State Street. Frames come in a variety of colors, from basic black and tortoise to blues and greens, perfect for spring. These styles range in price from $174 to $185, but if you’re looking for something a little less, be sure to check out other styles starting at just $65 on their site now.
It’s always a summer party with Quay. The Australian sunglasses and accessories company knows how to have a great time — and always has the best shades to match any mood. Shop the new arrivals section, and see what’s trending. If you want the perfect fit, shop by face shape or frame shape to see how flattering their frames can be. It has everything from aviators to trendy rectangular-shaped sunnies. The best part is the price, with many pairs going for $29 and new styles at only $55 to $95 for polarized pairs.
These designer shades are truly timeless, with classic silhouettes and shapes that flatter almost every face with oversized to subtle ovals. They can currently be found at Nordstrom and come in both women’s and men’s styles for you to peruse.
Choosing a pair of shades is no small decision, so why not try on five and see what you like?
That’s Warby Parker’s style, as they allow you to pick up to five frames to try on at home, making sure you love the way you look before you decide to buy a pair, or two, or five. Browse either men’s sunglasses or go to the women’s sunglasses section and toggle the left button to see which styles are available for at-home try-on. Popular pairs include Esme, Sutton, and Duran.
On the go? Don’t worry, as their glasses come with scratch-resistant lenses, perfect for your beach bag. Warby Parker also offers prescription lenses in any of their sunglass frames, starting at $145, and are now FSA and HSA eligible.
We’re here to help you grow your sunglasses collection of cheap sunglasses and yet still quality.
Foster Grant is a great place for that, as they have a huge variety of sunnies. Shop by style to get some basics or active frames, plus check out their summer options for SunReaders and other polarized beachy styles.
For designer sunglasses and prescription pairs, too, GlassesUSA is a one-stop sunnies shop that has major deals going on, too. It’s celebrating everything sunny for spring and summer with deep discounts on designer frames and more. Discover all designer frames for eyeglasses and sunglasses (Gucci, Prada, Versace, etc.) with complimentary basic prescription lenses, plus free shipping. This excludes Ray-Ban, Oakley, Persol, Wiley X, Costa Del Mar, Komono and kids offerings.
When you provide your email, you get 50% off lenses, including Ray-Ban and Oakley. However, it excludes bifocals and progressive lenses.
Find amazing pairs of Prada, Celine or some Gucci glasses, and go ahead and add some more specs to your cart, be it prescription or polarized.
Get some of your broski’s and hit the beach in a pair of stylish Sunski shades. The brand is designed with adventure in mind, with an ultralight weight and sleek looks. Shop the women’ sections for stylish looks, and then be sure to check out the blue light glasses for when you have to head back inside and log on to the site. The best part? They also have a virtual try-on option to be sure you’ll love the way you look.
Hit the seaside with the classic double Cs of COACH. The iconic designer brand has some stellar sunnies, for both women and men on their site. You’ll also be happily surprised when looking at the prices, as they start as low as $95 in select pairs and typically range between $163 and $236 for the rest.
Maui Jim is a brand associated with summer fun, and for a good reason. The brightly colored shades can be found on Amazon, sold on their very own page. They have both women’s and men’s styles, or shop by frame style to fit your face and taste. As for pricing, they also range, with many starting at $100 and going up into the $300 range.
We know you have an eye on their bags, but what about their stunning sunnies? Kate Spade makes both sunglasses and reading glasses, each with their iconic feminine edge and stand-out colors. From retro cat eye sunglasses to glitter-dusted readers, Kate Spade eyewear channels the brand’s signature style, which is feminine, confident, and unapologetically fun.
Every pair makes a statement, like the tortoiseshell Bayleigh sunglasses.
There’s a reason why LensCrafters has been in the sunglasses game for 40 years. They offer not only great deals and a huge range of styles from popular brands, but you can narrow down your search by men’s and women’s styles and even by their frame advisor, so you can get the style that fits your face shape best.
We spoke with Sarah Zuckerman, OD and assistant clinical professor at the SUNY College of Optometry to get the low-down on how to find protective sunglasses.
It’s also worth noting that consulting with your optometrist or optician can provide you with more information on what works best for your eye needs.
According to Zuckerman, sunglasses of a “larger size will provide more protection” because they’re covering more of your face. If a pair of sunglasses has “UVA/UVB or UV 400,” then you know you’ve got a good, protective pair on your hands.
With so many options on the market, it can be overwhelming trying to discern what the best sunglasses brands are. Zuckerman pointed out that the most important thing to keep in mind is how reputable the source is.
“Glasses purchased on the street or even online from a non-reputable source may not provide adequate levels of UV coverage,” she told The Post. “It is hard for people to assess what is quality versus not, so be wary of online glasses unless they are directly from the manufacturer/recognized brands or a reputable store. We would recommend brands that align with both the quality we mentioned [above], along with the [person’s] finances.”
The highest grade of sunglasses typically refers to those that offer 100% UV protection, polarized lenses, and high-quality optical clarity, often made from premium materials. Here’s what to look for in the top-tier sunglasses:
To tell if sunglasses are high quality, start by checking for 100% UVA and UVB protection; this is essential for shielding your eyes from harmful rays. High-end sunglasses often feature polarized lenses, which reduce glare and improve clarity, especially near water or while driving. Look closely at the lens clarity by viewing a straight line; it shouldn’t distort.
Quality frames are typically made from materials such as acetate, titanium, or TR-90 and should feel sturdy and lightweight, with well-crafted hinges and a comfortable fit. Is that too much to ask for? We think not.
This article was written by Emma Sutton-Williams, New York Post Commerce Writer/Reporter and resident fashionista. Emma is one of the best-dressed ladies in The Post’s office, and also known for finding an unbelievable deal on any one of her stylish outfits. Divulging on everything from designer launches, sales and dupes to the most-popular and most-underrated purse brands to luxurious silk pajama brands, Emma has cultivated an eye for style and an expertise for identifying the clothes and accessories worth your coin. At the same time, she proudly models the products she picks so you can see their fit and function first-hand. Emma has been creating shopping guides for The Post since 2024, and previously held bylines in Rolling Stone, Oprah Daily, Parents, InStyle, StyleCaster and more.
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