The Designer Sunglasses Shortlist

This shortlist takes one or two pairs from each house, so you can see how Celine, Cartier, Prada, Tom Ford, Bottega Veneta, Loewe and others differ. It is the right place to start if you do not yet know which shape or house you prefer. Every pair is a considered, wearable frame.

Use the shortlist to compare shapes. Square frames suit rounder faces, rounds suit angular ones, and ovals suit almost everyone. Pay attention to the width as well as the shape, since that decides comfort.

The pairs here range from understated to bold. Choose the one that matches the clothes you wear most. A restrained pair works with everything; a bold pair can be the focus of a simple look.

Polarization and UV protection are two different things. Polarized lenses reduce glare from flat surfaces such as water and roads. UV protection is about blocking ultraviolet light, and it is a separate property of the lens. The retailer listings for these pairs do not state that the lenses are polarized, and we have not verified polarization for any pair here, so we do not claim it. Some listings mention a lens filter category, which describes how dark the lens is. Check the brand's own details for the exact colour you choose, and look for a UV 400 or equivalent mark on the lens or tag.

Store sunglasses in a hard case, away from heat in the car, and clean the lenses with a microfibre cloth rather than a shirt. Acetate frames can be adjusted by an optician with gentle heat; metal frames can have their nose pads replaced. If you wear prescription glasses, a clip-on or a custom prescription lens is a separate purchase, and these listings do not describe prescription options.

Choose by silhouette first and house second. The right shape will feel better on your face than any name. Try the frame on and judge the width and the nose fit before anything else.