If you have trips lined up for the new year, a travel essential you simply can’t leave out of your list is a pair of sunglasses.
For starters, wearing sunglasses is one of the expert-recommended ways to protect your eyes from sun damage. The eyes can be irreversibly damaged by the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays whenever you’re undertaking summer activities.
Sunglasses can serve as a physical barrier. They also reduce the risk of eye conditions like surfer’s eye, cataracts, and eye cancer.
To add, sunglasses can be a versatile fashion accessory that helps complete or accentuate your holiday outfits.
Best Types of Women’s Sunglasses for Travel
Whether you want a statement piece or another minimalist element for your looks, the wide range of styles and designs means you can find the perfect pair for your trip.
However, the key to choosing the right type of sunglasses is balancing style and functionality. So here are some of the best types of women’s sunglasses for travel.
Oversized sunglasses
Size matters when it comes to sunglasses. You want your frames to provide adequate coverage to your eyes and the surrounding skin area. Fortunately, you can find equally stylish and protective oversized options from the wide range of designer sunglasses offered by optical retailer Glasses Direct.
This includes designer brands like Ted Baker and its Zowie frames. These frames provide an oversized aesthetic, as well as Burberry and the BE2373 frames with a chic, cat-eye shape.
These options can make you fit in perfectly in romantic European cities like Vienna, Rome, and Amsterdam.
However, if you’re looking for something more budget-friendly, online retailers like Eyebuydirect have various oversized frames in metal, plastic, or acetate material.
Rimless sunglasses
The more fashion-forward travelers would do themselves a favor by packing a pair of rimless frames for their trips.
True, this type of sunglasses enjoyed popularity in the early 2000s. The Y2K resurgence has brought them back on trend, particularly after being worn by style inspirations like Bella Hadid and Nicola Peltz Beckham.
Bottega Veneta offers rimless rectangle-frame sunnies with a lilac tint, making you stand out even in the tropical nightlife of beach destinations like Bali and Ibiza.
Meanwhile, the more affordable Adolfo pair from Le Specs draws inspiration from European fashion capitals like Stockholm and Paris for a sleek metallic look. Whichever brand you go with, just ensure the lenses still provide 100% UVA and UVB protection despite being rimless.
Tinted or polarized lenses
Lastly, you can never go wrong with wearing sunglasses with tinted or polarized lenses for additional sun protection.
Polarization reduces glare from reflective surfaces like water and ice, which makes them suitable for snowy holidays in the Swiss Alps. On the other hand, lens tints or colors can be chosen depending on your preferred outdoor activity, whether playing golf at premier resorts in Las Vegas or hiking in natural parks across the country.
In 2023, Marchon Eyewear, Inc. — the leading eyewear manufacturer and distributor for brands like Ferragamo, Lacoste, and Nine West — collaborated with Eastman’s Tritan Renew to release stylish and sustainable tinted sunglasses.
Since the first eyewear line from Ferragamo utilizes 60% bio-based content and 40% certified recycled content, you can travel fashionably while also helping reduce environmental impact. We love that!
Stay fabulous while traveling
Keep these sunglasses styles in mind when shopping for your next travel-friendly pair. For more travel guides and resources, be sure to stay in the know with our weekly round-up newsletter.
Hot tip that you may know about, but we wanted to share. If you are a contact lens wearer, you can always wear your contacts to the beach, or you can opt for prescription sunglasses.
FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions
Choose sunglasses labeled “UV400” for 100% protection against UVA and UVB rays. Consider your destination, quality matters, and replace every two years. Style with safety – that’s how we roll!
Keep your sunnies scratch-free by using a microfiber cloth, storing them in a case, and avoiding contact with rough surfaces. This should be simple if you are wearing them.
While it’s a bold choice, wearing sunglasses indoors can be a style statement. However, it might not be suitable for all settings, nor safe if it is dark. Embrace the glam wisely!
