Look Sharp in This Season’s Statement-Making Sunglasses

best sunglasses for women
Photographed by Christian MacDonald, Vogue, September 2013

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Sunglasses might be a small accessory, but they have a large impact. A great pair can elevate your outfit and your style, but the best sunglasses for women can boost your mood too. After a year spent mostly indoors, this spring and summer call for getting outside—and you’re going to need a great new pair of shades when you do. 

So what does summer have in store for eyewear? An everyday exuberance to match the season’s optimistic fashion. On the runway, the season brought us bright-colored clothing and eccentric prints, and for sunglasses, this means a pair of statement-making glasses.

Among the best offerings, shop pairs with square-shaped rims and colored tinted lenses or cheeky cat-eyes done up to look like a new classic. Or consider a style that delivers a quirky take on a mainstay trend like oversized ’60s mod shades or retro aviators. Should you want your glasses to make a statement that all can hear, opt for a pair that doubles as jewelry. An option from Chanel comes complete with a pearl-strung sunglasses chain, while Magda Butrym’s collaboration with Linda Farrow is decked out in removable bling.

As summer sets in, it’s time to pick up a new pair—or two—for sunnier days ahead. Below, shop the best sunglasses for women.

Mod Mania

These bug-eyed shades landed on Mars long before NASA’s 2021 Perseverance rover. Reminiscent of the bold, space-age goggles made famous by the likes of Pierre Cardin, Andre Courrèges, and Paco Rabanne, they are the perfect match for that miniskirt you’ve been dying to bust out this summer.

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Raen Ashtray sunglasses

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Christian Roth Series 4001 sunglasses

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Ember Niche Spookz sunglases

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Lapima Paula oversized square acetate sunglasses

Future Perfect

Move over, Elon Musk! More aerodynamic than a tricked-out Tesla, these sleek, wraparound frames are perfectly molded for sport and fashion. Whether it’s a slick metallic shield from Balenciaga or a slime-colored goggle from Bottega, your summer is sure to be state of the art.

Bottega Veneta Fashion Show oval-frame acetate sunglasses

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Gucci oval-frame sunglasses

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Oliver Peoples x The Row Edina sunglasses

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Balenciaga Swift oval 0157S sunglasses

Rectangle Redux

Narrow but not too thin, these rectangular-shaped shades feel just right. The everyday silhouette gives a subtle nod to ’90s style without feeling overly trendy. The right-angle shades strike the perfect balance between subtle cool and easy wearability.

The Attico Marfa square-frame acetate sunglasses

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Bonnie Clyde Show And Tell sunglasses

Le Specs Recovery rectangular recycled sunglasses

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Off-White Arthur sunglasses

The Butterfly Effect

These quirked-out cat-eye frames have a sci-fi, almost extraterrestrial look. Whether you prefer a sharp point from the likes of Karen Walker and Marni or rounded edges à la Celine, take these butterfly-shaped shades under your wing this spring.

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Karen Walker Astral Heart sunglasses

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Celine Butterfly sunglasses

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Westward Leaning Solitare 03 sunglasses

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Marni pink sunglasses

New Age Aviators

Aviator sunglasses have made a triumphant return the past few seasons, and the iconic large frames once made for pilots are now beloved by all. This season’s iterations have been reworked and remade with thicker, substantial acetate frames instead of thin and fragile metal rims.

Marques'Almeida oversized aviator-frame sunglasses

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Tom Ford Neughman sunglasses

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Victoria Beckham combination rimless square sunglasses

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Isabel Marant tortoiseshell Darly sunglasses

Reinvented Classics

Long-lasting wardrobe staples and utility-focused basics are more important than ever, and that goes for our accessories too. You can never go wrong with a timeless sunglass silhouette like the classic Clubmaster from Ray-Ban. The best sunglasses for women are practical, no-fuss shapes that will stand the test of time, and these come with standout details such as tinted lenses, colored frames, and a tortoiseshell cat-eye.

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Super by Retrosuperfuture Amata sunglasses

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Andy Wolf Akira cat-eye sunglasses

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Gentle Monster Roke sunglasses

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Ahlem Place D’Anvers sunglasses

Get Charmed

Who needs fine jewelry when you can turn heads with pre-accessorized shades that come complete with built-in bling? From glass pearl croakies to dangling strands of diamanté fringe, these glitzy chains are the definition of eye candy!

Chanel butterfly sunglasses

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Magda Butrym x Linda Farrow cat-eye sunglasses

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Marc Jacobs gold crystal-embellished sunglasses

Gucci cat-eye sunglasses with heart-shaped charms

Fair and Square

In gradient acetates, tinted lenses, and fresh color palettes, these sunglasses go with everything. Since they’re understated and simple, throw on a pair for everything from sanity walks to backyard tanning sessions.

Jacques Marie Mage Squeeze square-acetate sunglasses

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Coco and Breezy Amazonian-101 sunglasses

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Loewe square acetate sunglasses

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Kaleo Creasey 2 sunglasses

Approachable Pairs

When it comes to getting new shades, you can’t go wrong with a classic silhouette in even more classic style frames. Black acetate, metal wire, and brown tortoise are all timeless options you’ll never grow tired of—and thanks to brands like Le Specs and Chimi Eyewear, you can shop these staple styles at a budget-friendly price point.

Poppy Lissiman Ren sunglasses

Le Specs Neptune Deux sunglasses

Crap Eyewear the Shake Appeal sunglasses

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Chimi 03 sunglasses