Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. We may earn a commission from these links.
courtesy of gucci
best everyday sunglasses brand
Warby Parker
Pros
- Cool, classic styles
Cons
- Not all styles are available for at-home try-on
The DTC darling and envy of investors the world over earned its reputation as the gold standard for digital disruptors by not skimping on the details when it comes to its shades.
best sunglasses brand for aviators
Randolph Engineering
Pros
- Quality craftsmanship
Cons
- Not many contemporary styles
One of the few big brands doing sunglasses in the U.S. of A., Randolph produces its signature aviators—built to military specifications, so you know they're tough as nails—in Massachusetts using a process that takes a whopping 200 steps. Oh, also, the president wears 'em. So that's a decent endorsement.
best affordable sunglasses brand
Huckberry
Pros
- Great looks for a great price
Cons
- Not built as well as some other brands
Okay, so, Huckberry might not be a pure-play sunglasses brand—not by any stretch—but when a company is offering up timelessly styled shades with polarized lenses for a scant $35, you pay attention.
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best west coast sunglasses brand
Raen
Pros
- Handmade craftsmanship
Cons
- Not ideal for when you want an understated, classic pair
Raen may not have the long history of some of the other brands on this list—it started in 2008—but the brand still delivers timeless style in spades. Inspired by surf culture, the California-based company offers up handmade sunglasses that cost a lot less than you'd expect.
best iconic sunglasses brand
Ray-Ban
Pros
- Tons of classic styles
Cons
- Can be hard to narrow down options
Ray-Ban is the first and last name when it comes to sunglasses, with the catalog of now-signature styles to back it up. If Wayfarers were good enough for Tom Cruise in Risky Business, they're sure as hell good enough for you now.
best elevated sunglasses brand
Persol
Pros
- Sleek, stylish frames
Cons
- Pricey
Persol is the ultimate in Italian luxury sunglasses. The brand was a personal favorite of Steve McQueen's ever since the King of Cool showed up to the set of The Thomas Crown Affair rocking a pair of the brand's 714 shades (a style that now bears his name).
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best elegant sunglasses brand
Tom Ford
Pros
- High-quality sunglasses
Cons
- Most styles are black
Very few bona fide fashion brands have managed to become as solid a resource for sunglasses as Tom Ford. It helps that the designer himself is rarely seen without a pair these days and that he is his brand's own best ambassador.
best classic sunglasses brand
Carrera
Pros
- Bold, rugged look
Cons
- Pretty much only makes oversize sunglasses
Carrera has been making its signature racing-inspired sunglasses since the '50s, and a few decades later it received the ultimate stamp of approval: acquisition by Safilo, one of the biggest names in the business.
best celeb-favorite sunglasses brand
Illesteva
Pros
- Unique style
Cons
- Not many classic styles
Illesteva runs a small but mighty operation in SoHo, New York. Founded in 2010 by Daniel Silberman, the brand has roughly 50 employees in total, all of whom are committed to offering exceptional frames and lenses that don't break the bank. And if that doesn't convince you, know that Bey and Daniel Craig are fans.
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best sporty sunglasses brand
Oakley
Pros
- Durable performance styles
Cons
- Not great for a high-end look
Oakley's not just about unabashedly bright wraparound shades anymore (though those do offer exactly the right amount of over-the-top oomph for this era of maximalist menswear). The brand's classic styles, like the Frogskins you see here, are starting to look real solid right about now, too.
best luxury sunglasses brand
Cartier
Pros
- Sleek, fashion-forward options
Cons
- Pricier than other brands
You can't get much chicer shades than those made by Cartier. The brand speaks for itself when it comes to refined accessories.
best chic sunglasses brand
Garrett Leight
Pros
- Cool, elegant styles
Cons
- Buyers report they feel delicate
Garrett Leight comes by the sunglasses trade honestly. The son of Larry Leight, the founder of Oliver Peoples, Garrett launched his own namesake label in 2011 after learning the ropes working for his dad's company and today makes some of the best sunglasses around.
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best cool sunglasses brand
Retrosuperfuture
Pros
- Great for funky frames
Cons
- Doesn't have many classic, understated looks
"Back to the future" is the best way to describe Retrosuperfuture. Founded in the early aughts, the brand made a name for itself by offering acetate sunglasses in a full range of electric colors, all of them cast on frames that nod to the past but are intrinsically forward-thinking.
best casual sunglasses brand
Oliver Peoples
Pros
- High-quality, chic looks
Cons
- $$$
Oliver Peoples' sunglasses make you think of sun-drenched California days and the seemingly endless opportunities of a long summer weekend. Is there any better endorsement than that (besides, perhaps, a particularly memorable American Psycho shout-out)?
best designer sunglasses brand
Prada
Pros
- Simple, sleek, and stylish
Cons
- Most styles have a large logo
From nylon bags and Saffiano-leather suitcases to some of the best runway shows in history, Prada always brings the directionality, the elegance, and the timelessness that are the foundations of luxury fashion. The same could be said of its eyewear.
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best elevated sunglasses brand
Salvatore Ferragamo
Pros
- Cool frames made with quality craftsmanship
Cons
- Most frames are oversize
Ferragamo is a marquee Milanese label, releasing styles year after year that, like its parent city, are rich, slightly industrial, and incredibly sexy.
best heritage sunglasses brand
Moscot
Pros
- Brand has a long history of producing sunglasses
Cons
- Buyers report they feel small
Moscot's been in the sunglasses game for a minute now (and by a minute, I mean over a century), and the fifth generation of Moscot family members currently work at the company. Any label that inspires that level of loyalty is worth checking out.
best versatile sunglasses brand
SALT.
Pros
- Comfortable, lightweight frames
Cons
- Polarized lenses have a glare
This celebrity-loved brand specializes in polarized lenses that offer perfect color clarity, so you can wear these indoors, outdoors, all day, all night. If you're looking for sunglasses you'll never want (or need) to take off, you've found 'em.
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best trendy sunglasses brand
Chimi
Pros
- Modern, fresh looks
Cons
- Tends to have a narrow fit
Stockholm-based brand Chimi started as an eyewear company and has since expanded into chic, minimalist clothes and accessories, but sunglasses will always be at the heart of its success. With sleek, slim styles designed to fuse function and fashion, there's no going wrong here.
best investment sunglasses brand
Dita
Pros
- Great look and great quality
Cons
- Most styles are square
Dita's handcrafted sunglasses sit at the pinnacle of luxury. With modern and timeless styles, these are well worth the investment.
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