Most sunglasses that claim UV protection look like they were bought at a petrol station and priced accordingly. The frame sits wrong, the lenses have that cheap reflective finish that belongs on a child’s toy, and they age badly in the pocket. We know this because we’ve worn those pairs too. What we’ve been looking for here are sunglasses that take the eye protection seriously without making you look like you’ve compromised on everything else to get it.

The frames that made the cut have proper CE rated or UV400 lenses, construction that will survive a summer, and shapes that actually suit adult faces. We’ve paid particular attention to how they sit on the nose and whether the temples are adjusted properly, because a pair that slides down every ten minutes is useless regardless of how good it looks on the website. From classic acetate frames to cleaner metal options. These protect your eyes and you’d actually want to be seen wearing them.