Which Sunglasses Style Is Right For You?

Find the perfect pair for your face shape – and discover the styles that are having their moment in the sun now …

Sunglasses might be considered an afterthought, but they can make or break an outfit. Particularly this year, as our shades have never had so many outings with Ireland’s unprecedented summer of sun. From gold-frame rims and enduring tortoiseshell designs to unisex silhouettes, premium-feel materials and playful details, the latest trends prove that eyewear is no longer just a practical summer essential – it is the finishing touch that can transform every look, earning their place in your accessories arsenal year-round.

But with so many styles to choose from, how can you select the right frames? While there are no hard and fast rules, a good place to start is by identifying your face shape. An oval face shape will benefit from bold geometric or oversized frames. Balance features on a square face by opting for narrow, oval frame styles, or add dimension with cat-eye shapes. For a round face, with fuller cheekbones and little to no angles, rectangular frames will look great. A heart-shaped face with higher cheekbones can wear anything from cat-eye shapes to Clubmaster or Aviator styles.

When it comes to trending styles for 2026, brands like Saint Laurent and Phoebe Philo made a case for ultra-oversized wrap sunglasses. Miu Miu’s SS26 collection saw the return of 1970s-style XL round frames. Celine favoured metal-rim glasses, while Loewe leaned into the sporty shield style.

The good news is that sunglasses don’t have to break the bank. We’ve been impressed by Specsavers recent collections of trend-led frames at an accessible price point and we spoke to buyer Harshini Solanki to find out more about the design process and trends she sees coming through. “We always want to surprise our customers with the quality we can give them at an accessible price point,” she explains. “We’re really proud because we’ve managed to nail those key trends for this season. Think Y2K nostalgia, gold metal-rimmed frames, and brown tortoiseshell narrow oval frames, and the unisex trend which sees a lot of styles tap into that androgynous look and feel.”

Harshini’s standout designer buy at Specsavers is Marc Jacobs: “It’s fun, really on trend and you can really see the level of quality. The oval sunglasses with the gold metal rims are my favourites this summer,” she says. “They can be worn with anything, I’d wear them with a linen shirt and cycling shorts or dressed up to go to an event. That’s the thing with the right pair of sunglasses, even though they’re a statement piece you can still wear them dressed up or down. It’s all about how they make you feel.”

Shop our edit of the standout sunglasses shapes to buy now …