How to Choose Sunglasses That Actually Suit You

Sunglasses do more than protect your eyes.

They're one of the first accessories people notice, and because they sit directly on your face, the right pair can have a surprisingly big impact on your overall appearance.

Picture the same man in a simple white T-shirt and navy jacket.

Put him in oversized frames that overwhelm his features, and something feels off.

Switch them for a pair that balances his face, works with his coloring, and complements the rest of his wardrobe, and the entire look feels sharper.

That's what good sunglasses should do. They should look like they belong on you.

Here's what I look at when choosing sunglasses for a client.

1. Start With Your Face Shape

Face shape is a useful starting point because the shape and scale of your frames can either complement your natural proportions or compete with them.

Generally:

Oval faces: Most frame shapes work well, including aviators, wayfarers, and rectangular styles.
Square faces: Rounded or oval frames can provide contrast to stronger angles.
Round faces: More angular or rectangular frames can add definition.
Heart-shaped faces: Aviators, browline styles, and other frames with balanced proportions can work particularly well.

But I wouldn't choose sunglasses based on face shape alone.

Two men can both have square faces and need completely different frames depending on the width of the face, bridge of the nose, brow line, coloring, and overall proportions.

Face shape narrows the options. Proportion determines whether the frames actually work.

2. Get the Scale Right

This is one of the biggest things I pay attention to.

Frames that are too narrow can make a broader face look even wider. Frames that extend too far beyond the face can overwhelm smaller features. Lenses that are too tall can dominate the entire face.

Ideally, the sunglasses should sit naturally within the proportions of your face.

Look at:

Overall frame width
Lens height
Bridge width
Temple length
Where the top of the frame sits in relation to your eyebrows

This is the same principle behind how men's clothing should fit.

Whether I'm looking at a jacket or a pair of sunglasses, proportion matters.

3. Choose Frames That Match Your Personal Style

Your sunglasses should also make sense with the way you actually dress.

Someone with a classic, understated wardrobe may naturally gravitate toward a clean black or tortoiseshell frame.

Someone with a more relaxed wardrobe might prefer lighter acetate, softer shapes, or a subtle metal frame.

And if you spend a lot of time outdoors, driving, traveling, or near the water, functionality becomes even more important.

The goal isn't to choose the most interesting pair in the store.

It's to choose the pair that feels natural once you put the rest of your clothes on.

That's how I approach men's accessories in general. They should add personality without feeling disconnected from the man wearing them.

4. Consider Color, Not Just Shape

Shape gets most of the attention when men shop for sunglasses, but color can make just as much difference.

Black frames create stronger contrast.

Tortoiseshell tends to feel warmer and slightly softer.

Brown, olive, smoke, and translucent acetate can be useful alternatives if traditional black feels too harsh.

Metal frames can create an entirely different effect depending on whether the finish is silver, gold, gunmetal, or something warmer.

This is where your natural coloring and the neutral palette of your wardrobe become useful.

You don't need your sunglasses to match your clothing.

But they should look at home with the colors you wear most often.

The best frame color should work with your face first and your wardrobe second.

5. Don't Ignore Lens Quality

Style matters, but sunglasses still have a job to do.

Look for lenses that provide appropriate UV protection and good visual clarity. Depending on how you'll use them, polarized lenses can also be useful for reducing glare, particularly when driving or spending time around water.

Lens color also changes the appearance of the frames.

A tortoiseshell frame with a brown or green lens feels very different from the same frame with a dark grey lens.

So don't evaluate the frame by itself.

The frame and lens should work as one design.

6. Make Sure They're Comfortable Enough to Actually Wear

A beautiful pair of sunglasses isn't useful if you're constantly pushing them back up your nose.

They shouldn't pinch behind your ears.

They shouldn't slide every time you look down.

They shouldn't leave you with uncomfortable pressure around your temples.

And they should sit evenly rather than appearing noticeably higher on one side.

When trying them on, move around in them.

Look down. Turn your head. Wear them for more than thirty seconds.

The right sunglasses should stay put without requiring your attention.

7. Build a Small, Useful Sunglasses Rotation

Most men don't need ten pairs of sunglasses.

For many of my clients, I'd rather establish two strong options that cover most situations.

For example:

Black frames for a cleaner, sharper look.

Brown or tortoiseshell frames for something warmer and slightly more relaxed.

That gives you enough variation to work across professional, casual, travel, and social settings without creating another collection you have to manage.

It's the same principle I use when shopping strategically for a wardrobe.

Don't buy another pair simply because you like them.

Ask whether they give you something your current pair doesn't.

Sunglasses Worth Knowing

You don't need a designer name to find great sunglasses, but there are several longstanding styles that can be useful reference points when figuring out what you like.

Ray-Ban Wayfarer: A recognizable acetate shape that works particularly well if you prefer something classic and casual.
Persol: Known for refined Italian-inspired acetate frames and understated styling.
Oliver Peoples: A strong option for men who prefer quieter, more refined eyewear.
Warby Parker: Offers a broad range of approachable everyday shapes and sizes.
Tom Ford: Often stronger and more substantial, useful if your features can support a bolder frame.

Rather than starting with the brand, though, start with the frame that suits your face.

The name on the temple won't make the wrong proportions look right.

Final Thought

The best sunglasses shouldn't look like something you added to make an outfit more stylish.

They should simply look right on you.

The shape balances your face. The scale works with your features. The color complements your coloring. And when you put them on with the clothes you actually wear, nothing feels disconnected.

That's why sunglasses are one of the finishing details I consider as part of a complete wardrobe, rather than an accessory chosen in isolation.

For men who want those details considered alongside clothing, fit, shoes, belts, and the rest of the wardrobe, my Private Wardrobe Advisory takes the same individualized approach to the entire system.

The right sunglasses don't need to make a statement. They make you look more like yourself.

Men’s Sunglasses: How to Pick the Perfect Pair for Style and Comfort