The Best Sunglass Styles for Women

Photo by Monica Fitzpatrick: Model Monica Fitzpatrick wears ‘L.A.’ aviator sunglasses by V SHADES.

The internet is buzzing non stop these days with cutting-edge style influencers who are always on top of hot fashion finds, women’s style trends and lifestyle products that are currently in-season.

From whether ‘retro' is in or out, to which serums work best on skin and keeping us posted on things like which color palettes are trending; everything you need to know about upping your lifestyle is conveniently one search engine result away.

As one of the most popular accessories in the world, sunglasses are no different than any other product in that it's important to find what uniquely works best for you.

Sunglasses are a great way to add an element of style to your outfit, but they also have other functions like protection from UV rays, glare reduction, safety and properly framing your face according to its shape.

With the plethora of options this world has to offer, we’re here to help you find the best sunglasses for women. Whether you need a new pair or you’re shopping for a special lady in your life, this article will break down which shades women should wear based on style, face shape and function.

Which sunglasses should women wear?

When searching for the perfect pair of sunglasses for women, there are some styles that you should take a look at first. Before we go into detail on each style, check out the below graphic for a full list of popular sunglasses that traditionally work well for women:

Now, let’s break down what styles women should wear and why!

Round Sunglasses

Round sunglasses are a great option when shopping for women’s shades. They typically work best on those with angular face shapes, such as square and diamond, since the roundness of the shades adds a nice contrast to the sharp-edged facial structure.

There are many round sunglass styles for women to choose from. An oversized pair can make a bold fashion statement, small round shades with a thin frame give off more of a ‘John Lennon’ vintage feel and simple circular lens shades with an understated frame can subtly offer a distinguished vibe.

Whichever round sunnies you choose, expect to stand out in style when wearing them because their distinctive shape is sure to turn heads.

Aviators

Aviator sunglasses are a universal classic, so of course we had to mention them on this list! They are known to be the sunglass look that almost anyone can pull off, but they especially compliment those with heart, square and oval faces.

Aviator sunglasses are identifiable by their famous teardrop lenses that are designed to cover the entire eye. These shades come in a variety of sizes and styles varying in frame type, lens style and protection.

When searching for women’s shades, it’s hard to go wrong with an aviator!

Cat eye Sunglasses

Cat eye sunglasses are a style that is very popular for women, especially those who are looking for shades that can be a staple piece to top off a fashion-forward look.

Oversized cat eye sunglasses provide more facial coverage while more slender cat eye frames are good for adding a chic fashion edge to your outfit.

Cat eye sunglasses look great on people with oval face shapes because the bold angular lines add balance to the round nature of these faces.

Oversized Sunglasses

Not only do oversized sunglasses make a striking fashion statement, there are functional reasons why people love them as well.

Oversized shades are known to offer more visibility than regular sized sunglasses since the frame’s large lens space offers a bigger field of view for the wearer. The vastness of the frame and lens allow this style of sunnies to provide great eye protection as they offer more coverage from the sun than most other options.

Novelty Sunglasses

Novelty sunglasses are shades with designs so unique and specialized that they don’t fall into a typical sunglass style category.

There is no limit to what shape novelty sunglass can take, but some common examples are heart, diamond and costume shades.

If you’re someone who desires rare and eccentric styles, or wants to experiment with out-of-the box looks, these shades are for you.

Rectangle Sunglasses

woman in fashion sunglasses by v shades — Photo by Mya Massimi, V SHADES: Model Mya Massimi wears ‘Switch’ rectangle sunglasses by V SHADES.

Rectangle sunglasses are a great choice for women who are looking for trendy eyewear that has the potential to be the most prominent piece of the outfit.

These frames came about in the 1960’s and were a fresh fashion choice for those used to seeing round and aviator sunglasses which dominated the market during that time. They became massively popular in the 1990’s and are still a staple piece in many outfits that you see today.

These shades look best on round, oval or heart-shaped faces because the sharp angles of the shades compliment the round figure of the wearer’s face.

Wayfarer Sunglasses

Wayfarer sunglasses are another classic style that is known to look good on both men and women. Because of this, they nearly mirror aviators in terms of popularity.

Specifically, these sunnies look best on oval, heart, round and square faces because the lens shape is both rounded and angular; which allows for versatility in which face shapes they work well for.

Tortoiseshell Sunglasses

woman in Cateye sunglasses — Photo by Monica Fitzpatrick: Model Monica Fitzpatrick wears ‘Luxury’ tortoiseshell sunglasses by V SHADES.

Tortoiseshell sunglasses first became popular in the 1920’s and remain one of the most popular sunglass styles on the market today.

Though these sunnies are known for their iconic patterning, it's important to note the flexibility in style that this type of sunglasses has to offer.

The Tortoiseshell pattern can be found in just about every style of sunglasses, and not to mention, glasses in this pattern are highly-revered as well.

Fashion Sunglasses

Fashion sunglasses for women are a great option when looking for your next pair of shades.

These sunnies are defined by their chic design that is both high-end and trendy enough to add a sense of class and esteem to your outfit.

Fashion sunglasses are great to wear to special events but also work well for semi-formal activities like lunch at a nice restaurant, a business meeting or even a day of shopping.

Square Sunglasses

Square sunglasses are a great choice for those who have rounded face types like round and oval because of the symmetry the angular nature of the shades provides when worn.

These sunglasses are a favorite among fashion lovers because they are a stylish way to add a notable design feature to complete a look.

Heart Sunglasses

Though technically they fall into the novelty category, heart sunglasses deserve a recommendation of their own! When searching for the right pair of women’s eyewear, you may find that heart-shaped shades are that one piece of fashion that your outfits have been missing.

This style of shades has been around since the 1950s, but still remains a favorite today; especially for those on the hunt for a classic vintage look.

White Sunglasses

Photo by Geralda Selaj, V SHADES: Beauty Influencer Geralda Selaj wears ‘Free’ cat eye sunglasses by V SHADES in white.

When shopping for women’s sunglasses, consider going for a popular color like white shades.

Nothing seals the deal on a summer fashion look like a pair of white sunnies. Wearing them will add a pristine feel to your outfit because the color itself reflects pure and refined energy.

These shades come in all different sizes and frame styles so there’s sure to be something you like!

Shield Sunglasses

Shield sunglasses, sometimes referred to as mono Lense sunglasses, are styles that have one continuous lens as opposed to two separate ones that attach to a frame or nose bridge.

Single lens sunglasses are often used for sports because of the excellent eye coverage that they provide, but these one lens shades can also be great for style aesthetics as well. They stand out because of their singular lens and come in a variety of styles including oversized, sport and fashion.

Oval Sunglasses

Oval sunglasses are another unique style option to consider when shopping for women’s sunglasses.

Though it’s logical to assume that oval sunnies should be worn by people with oval-shaped faces, that's not quite the case. An oval pair of sunglasses worn on an oval shaped face can actually make the face appear wider in an unflattering way. Instead, these shades should be worn by people with angular face shapes such as square or diamond because the contrast in shape type provides more favorable face framing.

From a style perspective, oval sunglasses remain a favorite among vintage fashion lovers because the unique lens shape and frame design have a retro feel.

Look For a Style That Fits Your Face Shape

When shopping for sunglasses, face shape is definitely something you should keep in mind. As a general rule, rounder face types typically work best with angular eyewear and visa versa.

You can determine your face shape by checking out the above face shape graphic.

Read our article titled ‘How to choose the best sunglasses for your face shape’ for a more in-depth analysis on this topic.

Shopping for Sunglasses for Style

If fashion is your main purpose while shopping for women’s sunglasses, choose the style of glasses that best fits the outfit of the day.

Retro styles like cat eye, round and oval pair well with vintage looks while classic styles like aviator and wayfarer offer a more casual, everyday vibe.

Because of their size, oversized sunglasses make more of a statement, while fashion sunglasses can be stylish enough to be the stand-out piece of any outfit.

Fashion is meant to be fun, so don’t be scared to experiment with different colors, lens styles and even sunglass types that you’d never expect yourself to wear.

Shopping for safety and protection

While sunglasses can be a very fashionable accessory, sometimes functionality is more important. If you’re looking for exceptional eye protection from UV rays, choose a pair that provides 100% UV protection.

If its glare reduction you’re looking, polarized sunglasses would be your best bet.

If you need even more protection for an under-the-sun activity such as a sporting event, try wraparound sunglasses because they have the added benefit of shielding peripheral sunlight.

And lastly, if you’re looking to purchase glasses because you spend a lot of time in front of digital screens, go for a pair of blue light blockers that will shield your eyes from harmful blue light that phones and computers emit.

How many pairs of sunglasses should you own?

Whether you use sunglasses for style or function, having more than one pair is ideal. The general rule is to have one pair for every occasion. This could include a sporty pair, formal pair and one for everyday wear.

For those who are more fashion-forward, there’s possibly no perfect number of shades to own because each pair of sunglasses can bring a new stylish element that can compliment any outfit. The good thing is, you don’t have to break the bank to find new sunglass styles because there are so many great affordable options. Use your creative eye and choose the styles that work best for you!

Conclusion

We hope this breakdown helps you in your search for next pair of sunnies. Whether you’re looking for women’s sunglasses to support face shape, style or function, we wish you the best of luck on finding the perfect pair for you!