Stylish Sunglasses for Men: Find the Right Shades for You
October 9, 2023 • 10:12 AM
These days, a pair of sunglasses is an essential accessory for every man. Sunny days are fantastic, but if you have to squint to see against the glare, that’s not as much fun. And, of course, those UV rays aren’t doing your eyes — or your skin — any favors either. A pair of stylish sunglasses for men is the obvious answer.
Luckily, you don’t need to take a trip to Italy to find a stylish pair of shades (although, let’s face it, those Italians do know how to do style). You don’t even need to go to New York or London. You can buy trendy men’s sunglasses, like classic aviator sunglasses, from the comfort of your couch, no matter where you live.
Let’s get clear on exactly what makes for a pair of stylish glasses for men by answering your FAQs, as well as the functional elements you need to consider for sunnies specifically. Then we’ll talk about where to find a selection of sunglasses for men that will leave you feeling fly.
What Makes a Pair of Sunglasses Stylish?
Some sunglasses brands cost an arm and a leg, but those sunglasses styles may not suit you — even if your wallet can cope with that price point. Cheaper brands are nothing to turn your nose up at! You don’t need to sacrifice exceptional craftsmanship and quality to get a pair of shades that makes you feel like a million bucks.
The truth is that the coolest and most stylish sunglasses are the ones that look great on you. In other words, they suit your face shape and size and their design enhances your features.
Let’s break those details down a little further.
The Frame Suits Your Face Shape
Different frame shapes flatter certain face shapes and tend to create a specific look.
If your face is fairly angular, like rectangular, square, or triangle-shaped, you’ll likely look best in round sunglasses. Many round frames have a retro feel to them and create either an intellectual or creative vibe, depending on the style. Of all face types, we particularly recommend them for square faces.
If your face is round, oval, or heart-shaped, then rectangular or square sunglasses will add some structure to balance out the softer lines. Depending on their proportions and styling details, rectangular and square frames can look professional or sporty.
Another common silhouette is the cat-eye frame, which suits many different face shapes. Once mostly for women, this unusual shape is now often used in men’s and unisex glasses, too, and it can make you look cool and mysterious.
And, of course, other details also make a difference in a pair of sunglasses. For example, a keyhole bridge is especially flattering for a larger nose, and a narrow face looks best in shades that have some height and are slightly wider than your temples.
Don’t worry though, you don’t need to know all the ins and outs of styling details. When you’re buying online, simply use your favorite retailer’s virtual try-on tool. You’ll know what looks good when you see it.
They Fit Well
Stylish sunglasses for men come in different sizes to suit a variety of faces, and it’s important to find the right fit for you.
If your sunnies are too big, they’ll keep slipping down your nose — which is extremely annoying, especially if you’re actively using both your hands, for example, for cycling, skiing, or sailing. Overly large glasses can also make your head look smaller — which may or may not be the effect you’re looking for.
And if they’re too small, they’re likely to pinch your temples and your nose and make your face look pinched, too.
Some styles of glasses have nose pads and you can adjust their fit slightly by widening or narrowing the gap between them. It’s far better to buy the correct size of sunnies to start with though.
To get that right, consult your retailer’s size guide. Even if you don’t know the exact proportions of your face, the guide will usually indicate whether frames are designed for small, medium, or larger faces.
The Color Is Good for You
The final thing you’ll want to take into consideration when searching for the perfect pair of sunglasses is frame color.
Start by considering your skin tone and undertones. If you have cool undertones, you’ll want to go with blue, black, purple, silver, grey, or green frames. For people with warmer undertones, more earthy colors like brown, tortoiseshell, and pink will look best.
You may not be exactly sure what your skin’s undertones are. If that’s the case, don’t worry. More neutral-colored glasses will complement any skin tone and all undertones.
From there, you’ll also want to take into account your hair color. Blondes, especially those with a darker shade of blonde, tend to look best in brown frames or those with a lot of brown mixed in. Lighter, cool blondes look great in black, blue, and purple frames.
If you have brown hair with a golden or reddish tint, you may find that jewel-tone colored frames are your best bet. More ashy brunettes will look great in black, pink, and blue. If you’re a redhead, consider a green pair of sunglasses to create contrast with your fiery hair. Finally, for people with black hair, blue, brown, red, and purple sunglasses may suit you.
The last element to ponder when it comes to frame color is your wardrobe. Think about the colors you wear most often and try to find a frame to match. That’s how you can instantly turn a basic pair of shades into fashion sunglasses!
Functional Elements of Stylish Sunglasses for Men
You might be wearing your stylish sunnies purely as an accessory — and if so, there’s no judgment here. They can really up your cool quotient.
If you’re after both style and substance, though, these are the accessibility features to look out for.
UV Protection
It’s now well documented that sun damage can not only cause wrinkles and sunburned corneas but can also be a factor in serious eye conditions like ocular melanoma or cataracts. Luckily, most sunglasses nowadays offer some degree of protection from UV rays — but that degree can vary widely.
You’re after a pair that gives you 100% protection from both UVA and UVB rays. Check for a sticker or label on your sunglasses that confirms this.
Anti-Reflective Glare Reduction
When sunlight reflects off bright surfaces like water, snow, white sand, or the road — all classic situations in which you might be wearing your sunnies — it can cause some serious glare. This can range from mildly annoying to downright dangerous if you can’t clearly see oncoming traffic.
Because of their tinted lenses, most stylish sunglasses for men will give you some protection from glare. Some lens types even have a gradient with a darker tint at the top for looking into the distance and a lighter one at the bottom for looking down at your dashboard or phone.
You can take this glare protection up a level by investing in sunnies with an anti-reflective coating. Again check the label or the description by the eyewear manufacturer or retailer to confirm this.
Polarization
And if you want to reduce the glare even further, plus increase color contrast and see through reflective surfaces — which is useful for, say, deep sea fishing — you’ll want polarized sunglasses. Many sunglasses come standard with polarized lenses — but not all. So be sure to check this too before you turn over your hard-earned cash.
Vision Correction
Finally, if you’re near-sighted or far-sighted, have astigmatism, or any other vision issues, you’ll also want your stylish sunglasses to take care of that — just like your regular specs.
Make sure you have the correct prescription before you order your sunglasses. Your prescription does change with time, so use one from a recent visit to your eye doctor.
Useful Tip: If you don’t want to carry two pairs of glasses — a pair of prescription sunglasses plus your regular ones — you have a couple of other options. You could invest in transition lenses (also known as light-responsive lenses) which darken as the light around you brightens. Or you could go with Sun Tops, which magnetically clip onto your regular glasses, instantly turning them into sunglasses.
Where to Find Stylish Sunglasses for Men
If you want high-quality lens and frame materials plus style and versatility, start your search for sunglasses at Pair Eyewear. All Pair sunglasses offer 100% UV protection plus an anti-reflective coating and polarization built right into the scratch-resistant, polycarbonate lenses. The acetate frames are tough enough to withstand plenty of wear and tear from outdoor activities.
Use our Virtual Try-On feature plus our Size Guide to find the best Base Frame shape for you. You’ll also select a color for your Base Frames from a range including matte black, clear, and classic tortoiseshell. You can choose a lens color from several options like brown, black, green, or reflective blue lenses.
You can stop right there if you like, but if you fancy a bit more versatility and style in your sunglasses, choose one or more Top Frames to finish off your look. Top Frames clip magnetically to Base Frames and are made to perfectly fit the Base Frame you choose. Lots of people like this option to pair with their regular eyeglasses so they can add a Sun Top when they need it.
For example, if you want a Man of Steel look, you could go with The Brushed Nickel Top Frame, which looks like a metal frame. For a day at the beach or out fishing, you might like The Ocean Blue. For a paintballing spree, The Classic Camo would work perfectly. And if you’re a huge fan of your favorite sports team, pick the appropriate option from our NBA, MLB, or NHL ranges.
Make Your Day With Stylish Sunglasses for Men
When you’re out and about on a bright day, everything’s easier when you can see clearly — and a pair of stylish sunglasses will achieve just that.
The best sunglasses for men are the ones that suit your face shape and size, plus give you UV and glare protection plus the vision correction you need.
Stand out with affordable shades that feel like designer sunglasses from the Pair Eyewear collection. Then you’ll know for sure that you can enjoy your outdoor activities all day long and look good doing it.
Sources:
Photokeratitis: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment Options | Cleveland Clinic
What is Ocular Melanoma? | American Academy of Ophthalmology
What Is a Cataract? | All About Vision
Nearsightedness (Myopia) | National Eye Institute
Farsightedness (Hyperopia) | National Eye Institute