There was a time when sunglasses were purely a functional affair designed to protect your eyes from the sun’s glare. Well, that time has passed and these days it’s about merging function with personal style. That’s easier said than done considering there are quite a few factors to consider when buying a pair of the best cheap sunglasses for men.
Choosing The Right Cheap Sunglasses For Your Face
There’s nothing worse than dropping your hard-earned cash on a pair of sunglasses online only to realise that they don’t fit. But fear not, there are ways around this problem. Measuring the dimensions of your face will help you get an idea of its size and shape for the right sunglass fitment. Note down the following numbers:
- Cheekbone to cheekbone. Place the end of a tape measure just below your eye. This is the top of your cheekbone. Measure to the same point on the other side of your face.
- Jaw line. Locate the ends of your jawbone below your ears. Measure from one side to the other, around the bottom of your face.
- Face length. Measure a straight line from the centre of your hairline, down over the front of your nose, to the bottom of your chin.
- Forehead width. Place the tape measure halfway between your eyebrows and hair. Measure the width of your forehead from one side of your hairline to the other.
Compare your measurements and use them to calculate your face shape.
Determining Your Face Shape
Knowing your face shape will bring you one step closer to picking the right sunglasses.
- Round. Round faces are characterised by a narrow forehead and curved jaw line. Defined angles are in short supply.
- Square. Square faces are similar in length and width across the face, with a broad forehead and a strong jaw line.
- Oval. Oval faces have gently rounded, largely even features, making them well-suited to almost any kind of adornment.
- Oblong. Oblong faces, also called rectangular, are long and narrow with minimal angles.
- Diamond. Diamond faces feature a narrow jawline and defined chin. The dominant cheekbones are the widest part of the face.
- Heart. Heart-shaped faces, sometimes called triangle, narrow strongly at the chin and are widest at the temples.
Pairing Your Face Shape With The Right Cheap Sunglasses
- Round. A round face lacks natural definition, so look for sunglasses that add it. Angular styles will help elongate your temples and lengthen your face. Steer clear of round frames that mimic your face shape.
- Square. Strong natural features call for larger frames and minimal detailing that won’t compete for attention. Aviators are a good choice.
- Oval. The oval is considered the holy grail of face shapes. Almost anything will suit, just keep proportion in mind. Any frames will look off if they’re too large or too small for your face.
- Oblong. Choose round or square frames to offset the long, narrow line from forehead to chin. Stick to frames that don’t extend past the widest part of your face.
- Diamond. Accentuate your prominent cheekbones by choosing deep frames that are more vertical than horizontal. A hint of cat-eye will be flattering to your face’s natural angles.
- Heart. Avoid sunglasses that sit high on the face and accentuate your broad brow line. Retro, rectangular styles balance your pointed chin.
Cheap Sunglasses FAQ
Some colors like grey, amber and green block more sun, making them useful for athletes who play baseball and golf. But if you want something that can cut off the glare coming off reflective surfaces like pavement or water, get a polarized lens. If your glasses have more coverage, the less sun damage that will be inflicted on your eyes. For this reason, oversized or wraparound-style glasses are better. Find a pair that complements the shape of your face. The general rule is that the shape of your sunglasses should be the opposite of your face shape. Also, invest in a pair with a classic shape so you can wear them for many years.What shade color is best for sunglasses?
Are bigger sunglasses better?
How to choose the right sunglasses?
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Warby Parker
That business model applies to both its eyeglass and sunglasses range, such as this pair of Downing sunglasses. Designed to mimic the popular round frame style, complete with a keyhole bridge. The acetate frames are hand-polished and available in a range of styles, including English Oak and Walnut Tortoise and you can even select from a range of lenses, including prescription.
RAEN Optics
The Wiley model is lightweight, simple and masculine. The lenses dominate the design, being attached to slimline arms, making them an ideal pair of cheap sunglasses for men with round faces.
Sunski
The Andiamo benefit from polarised lenses and the company's SuperLight recycled frames, and rock a square frame design. They're available in clear or tortoise-shell frames and are backed by a lifetime warranty.
Oakley
The majority of Oakley frames are less fashion-focused than the others on this list, so if you decide to invest in Oakleys, you're going to be after something like this Fuel Cell pair. They do, however, benefit from the company's own Prizm lens technology which is designed to filter out harsh light conditions and to save you from squinting. The frames are made from Lightweight O Matter to keep them practically featherweight, and if you want to change the lenses out, then you're able to do so.
Izipizi
The Aviator sunglasses rock the classic aviator silhouette and can be had in one of three stealthy colour finishes. Rubber nose pads ensure all-day comfort and a flexible hinge design will make finding the perfect fit for your face a piece of cake.
ASOS
This rounded-lens pair, for example, are on-trend (despite your personal opinions on the shape) and feature 100% metal gold-coloured frames. The lenses provide "good" UV protection, but for the price you can't really go wrong.
Quay Australia
Take the Evasive, which resembles the classic Clubmaster style. Combining square frames with metal arms and polarised lenses, makes them a perfect addition to your sunglass collection.
Le Specs
The Rebeller frames take on a rectangular shape and employ the use of polycarbonate frames. They're ideal for guys with medium to large heads with a 53mm lens width, and are available in three colour options.
Smith
The Transporter sunglasses rock round frames and get an additional bridge to add some masculinity, style and reinforcement. They also use Smith's Chromapop lenses which are designed to brighten the colours around you. Sleek, lightweight metal frames in either light or dark colours make them appealing to everyone.