Ultimate shopper’s guide on how to buy sunglasses online

Is there anything better than soaking up that summer sunshine? We don’t think so! New sunglasses are one of the easiest ways to enhance your summer wardrobe, so why choose a new pair of sunnies to really tap into those fun summer vibes? This ultimate shopper’s guide will make it easy for you to feel confident buying your new sunnies online. After all, when you’re buying sunglasses online you want to know that they’re going to be the perfect look for you to rock all summer long. 

So, when it comes to sunglasses, how do you know what’s going to suit you without actually trying them on? Turns out it’s simpler than you might think. With these three simple steps, you’ll be waiting by the mailbox for your new favourite sunnies in no time…

Step 1: Getting to know your face shape 

Knowing your face shape will go a long way to helping you feel confident buying the right style of sunglasses for your face. But what exactly do we mean when we ask ‘what type of face shape do you have?’? There are essentially four key face shape classifications. They include round-shaped, oval-shaped, square-shaped and heart-shaped faces. 

To work out which face shape you have, stand in front of a mirror and use a whiteboard marker (or even a bar of soap or lip gloss if that’s easier!) to trace around the reflection of your face. Take a step back and look at what shape you’ve drawn to find the answer to what face shape you have!

Step 2: Choosing the perfect sunglasses

Once you’ve determined what face shape you have, you’re well on the way to finding your perfect frames. For each face shape, there’s a helpful set of guidelines used to make it easy to find frames that will complement your natural features. 

So, with so many iconic designs and styles to choose from, let’s talk frames…

# For those with round-shaped faces

There are lots of styles that will suit you. You’re best to steer away from rounded, curvy frames and opt instead for

• Geometric shapes
• Strong, angular lines
• Rectangle, horizontal or Wayfarer style designs
• Bright colours and prints – these work really well for you

# For those with oval-shaped faces

You’re in luck – it’s actually hard to find a style that doesn’t suit an oval face! Go for any styles you’re drawn to, including 

• Retro cat-eye frames
• Rectangular designs 
• John Lennon style round frames

It’s generally thought to be best for those with oval faces to steer away from oversized frames, but designs with embellishments and funky shapes work well so you can feel confident having fun with something a little different, too!

# For those with square-shaped faces

Rounded frames will suit you best. Light colours or frames with a bit of colour or patterning work well for those with square-shaped faces. Steer away from heavy, straight-edged designs and instead look for

• oval-shaped or cat-eye frames
• semi-rimless frames
• butterfly-style frames

# Heart-shaped faces

Light coloured frames suit you well, so tortoise patterns are a great match for you. Avoid heavy, straight-edged frames and instead, opt for

• rimless designs
• rounded frames with exaggerated bottom edges
• wrap-around styles and Wayfarer-style frames 

Now you know what style is going to suit you, all the hard work is done. It’s time to have fun finding the right store – and the right pair – for you! 

Step 3: Finding the right place to buy from

Let’s face it. Shopping online is a great – and convenient – way to shop. But that doesn’t mean you should just go ahead and buy from anywhere. This is especially true for purchases like sunglasses. 

Find a well-established company with good reviews. You want to know you’re dealing with a company that cares about their customers. Things to look for include postage processes (it’s worth finding a company who takes postage seriously and who won’t charge you a small fortune for it) as well as turn around times. Make sure you check out returns policies too, because at the end of the day if something goes wrong you want to know you can return them. This can help to give you peace of mind that, should anything go wrong with the sunglasses or with the shipping, you’re dealing with real people who care about the experience you have with their company. 

So, shop around and get a sense of who you’re dealing with. 

Final Words

Now that you know the three key steps to buying sunglasses you can go ahead and feel confident buying online. Check out the styles you like and use our handy guide to find the frames that are going to perfectly suit your features. Then, find the perfect shop make your purchase easy. 

Next step? That’s easy. Get ready for some fun in the sun!