The nights are getting lighter and the evenings longer, which means one thing: it’s nearly time to get your sunglasses out. For those on the hunt for a new pair of shades, I’m sharing all the biggest sunglasses trends for SS24. The good news is that you’ll recognise a few, so you won’t need to make any drastic changes to your accessories drawer but regardless, you should take the trends you love and ignore those you don’t from this list. Fashion is a very personal thing, and what works for one person could be another’s fashion faux pas.

Gone are the days when shades were seen just as practical accessories for UV protection. In 2024, a pair of sunglasses is a fashion statement in itself that can change the look and feel of an outfit in an instant. Who needs to spend thousands on a new wardrobe when a pair of sunnies can give you a whole new vibe?

After dissecting the spring summer 2024 runways, I can confirm that all signs point in a very clear direction. The aviator silhouette is continuing its major resurgence this year, with designers Tom Ford, Balenciaga and Bottega Veneta offering an incredible selection of the 70s-style oversized shades. We’re also going to be seeing more and more of the Clubmaster shape which was introduced by Ray-Ban in the 1980’s, the oversized look that was huge in the early the tenties, the return of the cat eye frames and finally the 70s tortoiseshell style. Tortoiseshell never went anywhere and nor do they date, but I’m glad they’re back on the hot list again.

Sunnies don’t need to cost a bomb either. While designers undoubtedly set the trends, the high street follow suit with a selection of great shades that look super stylish while being seriously affordable. If you’re looking for inspo, Mango, Zara, H&M and COS have some of the best selections that are always bang on trend.

Keep scrolling for the biggest eyewear trends of 2024, and with both designer and high street options for each, there’s a perfect pair for everyone. Next, read about the bag trends and shoe trends for 2024 to get you inspired.

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Trend 1: Aviators 2.0

Aviator sunglasses, which are characterized by their teardrop shaped lenses, gained huge popularity in the 70s. The style was originally designed for pilots, but quickly became a fashion staple for the masses. This year, acetate aviators are huge. Look to Gucci, Tom Ford and Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini for inspiration.

READ MORE: The Sunglasses That Just Work Perfectly For Heart-Shaped Faces

Gucci High Bridge Fit sunglasses, £315, Sunglasses Hut

Gucci High Bridge Fit sunglasses, now £315, Sunglasses Hut buy now

Gucci might have changed direction with the introduction of new creative director Sabato de Sarno, but their iconic high bridge sunglasses are still very much available. This pair are on sale now at Sunglasses Hut too.

Retro Double Bridge Rectangle Sunglasses, £9.99, Amazon

Retro Double Bridge Rectangle Sunglasses, £9.99, Amazon buy now

On a tighter budget? Amazon always has a number of incredible options that are good to the bank balance as well as the wardrobe. This pair with tinted lenses are perfect and cost less than a tenner.

Occhiali Acetate Sunglasses, £360, Max Mara

Occhiali Acetate Sunglasses, £360, Max Mara buy now

Max Mara’s Occhiali sunglasses have ultra-thick frames, bringing the 70s look into 2024 perfectly.

Trend 2: Top-bar frames

The little detail makes all the difference, and one addition that’s coming up again and again are top bars. This bold look has been championed by the likes of Saint Laurent, where models wore the trending clubmaster style with metal top bars, and Chanel, which opted for chunky acetate, for SS24.

Black frame 51 sunglasses in acetate with metal, £390, Celine

Black frame 51 sunglasses in acetate with metal, £390, Celine buy now

Love the clubmaster shape? Celine has a pair we love too, with the additional top bar detail to add a little bit of gold to an otherwise simple style.

Spoiler new aviator sunglasses in metal, £370, Loewe

Spoiler new aviator sunglasses in metal, £370, Loewe buy now

The aviator is another easy way to wear the trend, especially when they look as good as Loewe’s Spoiler pair.

90s metal square sunglasses with temple detail, £14, ASOS DESIGN

90s metal square sunglasses with temple detail, £14, ASOS DESIGN buy now

For those on a budget, look no further than ASOS. The retailer has an enormous variety of shades, including this 90s-style pair.

Trend 3: XXL Frames

XXL sunglasses offer a larger frame that gives the wearer full coverage around the eyes. These sunglasses always make a bold fashion statement and are known for their glamorous and eye-catching appearance, which is why so many celebrities love them. They were huge back in the 2010 era, and right now they’re making a comeback. Whether they’re rounded frames or square sunglasses, this pair of glasses always add a touch of sophistication. Look to Tom Ford for the ultimate inspiration.

Without sounding like your mom, I find oversized glasses the best in terms of actually doing their job at protecting your eyes from the sun. For me, they’re the only ones that fully cover my eyes as they give protection above and below the eyes due to the larger surface area of the shape. If I wear a smaller shape, I always somehow ending up squinting. It helps that they’re also super chic.

Oversized S055 Sunglasses In Black, £400, Celine

Oversized S055 Sunglasses In Black, £400, Celine buy now

If you want to feel like a celebrity in an instant, Celine’s oversized sunglasses are the key.

Square Sunglasses, £49.99, Zara

Square Sunglasses, £49.99, Zara buy now

Zara is slowly dropping summer pieces into their collection, and this oversized pair of square shades jumped out at me.

The Swirl 2, £129, Jimmy Fairly

The Swirl 2, £135, Jimmy Fairly buy now

For a good in-between option, try Jimmy Fairly. The tinted shades give these a cool girl look, while the thick frames are very 2024.

READ MORE: 16 Pairs of Sunglasses That Look Perfect on Round Faces

Trend 4: The New Cat Eye

Cat-eye sunglasses are characterised by their upswept outer edges that give the appearance of, you guessed it, cats eyes. These vintage-inspired shades were originally popular in the 50s and experienced a major resurgence in the 70s. In fact, they haven’t gone far! They’re such a fun feminine and glamorous look with a touch of vintage charm. There is nothing more glam than a white pair when dressing up for a summer event. For a more modern take on the trend, look for styles with a square detail at the edge.

Miu Miu MU 04YS Cat-Eye Sunglasses, £263, Selfridges

Miu Miu MU 04YS Cat-Eye Acetate Sunglasses, £263, Selfridges buy now

Miu Miu’s cat-eye sunglasses are utterly perfect for achieving the vintage aesthetic. The monochrome frames make a nice touch too.

Hypnosis Cat Eye Sunglasses In Ivory, £51.41, Le Specs

Hypnosis Cat Eye Sunglasses In Ivory, £51.41, Le Specs buy now

Le Specs’ angular style give a slightly cooler look and would look dreamy teamed with a cute sun dress.

Tortoiseshell-Effect Acetate Rectangular Sunglasses, £49.99, Zara

Tortoiseshell-Effect Acetate Rectangular Sunglasses, £49.99, Zara buy now

Zara has added an angular edge to their cat-eye shades, giving the usually feminine style a tougher appearance.

Trend 5: 70s Style Tortoiseshell

The 70s was a decade that embraced bold and eclectic fashion, and this was reflected in the sunglasses of the time. If you’re looking for sunglasses with a 70s flair, there are many different takes on the style, however based on the street style at the Copenhagen Fashion Week that took place recently, we’re seeing a common trend of tortoiseshell and tinted lenses.

Topshop Lillie angular cat eye sunglasses in tortoiseshell, £16, ASOS

Topshop Lillie angular cat eye sunglasses in tortoiseshell, £16, ASOS buy now

Tick two trends off in one go with this cat eye pair of shades in tortoiseshell from Topshop.

Rectangular tortoiseshell-acetate sunglasses, £274, Loewe Eyewear

Rectangular tortoiseshell-acetate sunglasses, £274, Loewe Eyewear at Matches Fashion buy now

For those with a little more budget to play with, opt for Loewe’s rectangular tortoiseshell shades with thick frames.

Rectangular Thick Frame Sunglasses, £27, Other Stories

Rectangular Thick Frame Sunglasses, £27, Other Stories buy now

Other Stories also has a similar pair of rectangular shades for less than £30 that we love.

Trend 6: Sporty shades

It’s not for everyone, but sporty and technical shades are another major trend for SS24. Experimental, futuristic-style sunnies like visor, shield and bug-eyes that pack a punch.

First rimless shield metal sunglasses, £400, Fendi Eyewear

First rimless shield metal sunglasses, £400, Fendi Eyewear at Matches Fashion buy now

For a more subtle take on the trend, opt for this pair of rimless shield shades from Fendi.

Paul’s Ibiza shield acetate sunglasses, £410, Loewe Eyewear

Paul’s Ibiza shield acetate sunglasses, £410, Loewe Eyewear at Matches Fashion buy now

Loewe has a slightly bolder pair of shield shades, which are an investment at over £400. You’ll definitely turn heads though!

Extreme bug sunglasses in off white, £9, ASOS DESIGN

Extreme bug sunglasses in off white, £9, ASOS DESIGN buy now

For a more affordable option, head to ASOS. This pair of bug sunnies are just £9.