We all love a pair of designer sunglasses. I know I do and, to be frank, I wouldn’t be seen outdoors without a pair of trusty sunnies in my bag, just in case the elusive British summer ever makes its presence known. Unfortunately, you can’t get away with wearing a cheap and nasty pair of sunglasses from your local discount store. For one thing they probably won’t be UV resistant, and for another, they will look less than stylish.

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Designer sunglasses are can brighten up even the plainest of outfits. You don’t need to splash out on a ridiculously expensive pair either. There are dozens of online retailers selling super stylish designer frames for a fraction of the price you might expect to pay on the high street, although if you need prescription sunglasses, you may have to visit your optician for advice before you buy. So what style of sunglasses should you look out for this year?

Cat Eye Sunglasses

Cat eye sunglasses have been popular since the 1950s. In fact, they never really go out of fashion, although colours and frame patterns tend to change from year to year. This year the trend is for colourful lenses and pale frames. For a really bang on trend look, you must wear pale pink, translucent frames – it’s the in-colour with the in-crowd.

Delectably Detailed Frames

They say the devil is in the detail. Well with some of this year’s sexiest sunglasses, they are right. Many of the top designers have produced some wonderfully detailed sunglasses this year. Look for lace-effect styles and floral embellishments. In some designs, the detailing is very subtle, but in others, it’s hard to miss.

Square Frame Sunglasses

We are used to cute, feminine round frame sunglasses, but this year you can dare to be square. There are some fabulous square designs, many of them seriously oversized. Felder Felder has created a charming pair of tortoiseshell square frames with a subtle graduated lens. Ralph Lauren’s square sunglasses are so dark the wearer’s eyes are invisible.

Dark Lenses

Speaking of dark lenses, many designer frames feature ultra-dark lenses this season. This is no bad thing if you are planning a trip to Marbella, as your eyes will be protected from the glare of the sun. Dark glasses are also excellent eyewear following a late night on the town. Look for styles with pastel pink frames combined with black lenses. They are super feminine, yet stylishly modern.

Reflective Lenses

Reflective lenses create an effective barrier against the world. With a pair of reflective sunglasses, you will look like a character from a Sci Fi movie. Very cool and very stylish.

Colourful Sunglasses

Coloured lenses are a hot trend this year. Yellow lenses have been living it large on the catwalks, but expect to see other colours out there, in particular orange and pink. Purple is also a popular hue for lenses, and when combined with cat eye lenses, you have fun all sewn up.

One pair of sunglasses is never enough, so make sure you invest in a pair for every day of the week.