In the shades

For such a long time I considered sunglasses to be an adversary. I was never able to find the right shape, and the oversized sunglasses trend made me look blind and/or like an insect.  Now it seems like shopping for sunglasses has never been easier, with a plethora of guides that tell you which frames will suit your face shape best (I reccommend the iVillage illustrated guide). Here are some of my favourites.

1. Forever 21 has one of the biggest selections of sunglasses I have possibly ever seen. Worried you'll be overwhelmed by the choice, well why not indulge in several pairs as they only cost $6 each! I like round tortoiseshell pair for their elegance and retro feel.

2. OK, I had to sneak in this retro Gucci pair from Retro Sun because we all like a bit of luxury. Most pairs on this site rack up at about £140, so approach with caution. The stunning frames date from the 70s, 80s and early 90s and designers include Dior, Paloma Picasso and Christian Lacroix.

3. As a child it was acceptable to wear bright red polka dot Mickey Mouse sunnies, hell, they even looked cool. So why stop now? House of Sunglasses offer a great range of very affordable glasses (this pair are only $9.99!) and they have a nice range of fun shades to reflect an outgoing personality that's willing to look that bit different.

4. Eco warriors pay attention, these glasses are not only very sexy but are also produced from 100% renewable material thanks to the E.C.O (Environmentally Conscious Optics) by Dragon Alliance. This rather trendy lifestyle company also offer sleek ski goggles, nice logo tees and hats. For those of you who like to travel down various hills at ridiculous speeds or risk drowning in the name of fun, you might want to check out their blog.

5. With Ray Bans being the first choice of the "I'm too cool to even wash" kids and a staple for the "yeah, I have money but I like to look poor and short-sighted"  youth, it's nice to find a brand like Tres Noir, which offer all the style, extremely high quality and limited-run ranges, ensuring that your money is going towards something a little bit more special.

Some other tip top sites for sunglasses shopping:

Standard Eyewear

Go Optic

Blue Planet Eye wear - Eco-friendly, recycled eye wear.

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Image credits: All images taken from respective sites.