Sunglasses-do you choose cheap and replace often, or expensive?

[fedup21]

I have always gone for a couple of pairs of cheaply Primark, New Look or DP sunglasses each summer and replace them when they get scratched but have been eyeing up the Raybans on TKMaxx which look lovely! I am unsure if it’ll be an expensive mistake though??

What do you do?

Expensive - I’ve had my current Prada pair 7 years and I used them everyday nearly living in a sunnier climate.

It’s worth it as long as your not someone who loses glasses all the time

I think Ray bans are quite reasonable for the quality, my wayfarers are still going strong & they are old, I think around 12 yrs old. I have quite a few Topshop pairs, lots of Raybans & some other more £££ ones. Le Specs have some nice options at around £50

Have 1 pair of Ray Bans, wear them year round for 4 years, great VFM! X

Ray Bans all the way. I keep them in their case in my handbag. My previous pair lasted 4 years until I dropped them down a portaloo at a festival . I replaced them the same day with an identical model (aviators). Ray Ban have a really cool feature on their website where you can create your own design.

I have two pairs- expensive ones for looking glamorous at summer events and parties, then a decent but robust pair for wearing with the kids and in water. Never cheap though because decent UV protection is essential.

Also, expensive sunglasses can make you look awesome in spite of a bad hair day, tired eyes, cheap outfit, etc. It’s worth the investment!

Always expensive, in fact I’ve just ordered a new pair of Raybans this morning. I probably have 12 - 15 pairs but some are at least 15 years old. I’m still gutted about a pair of Fendi ones I lost a few years ago and won’t throw the case away in case they magically turn up!

Used to have many and often but got prescription Ray Bans a few years back and would never go cheap again.

I go for a in between option. I like Quay sunglasses which are around £50+ but decent quality. I always get compliments when wearing High Keys.

Cheap sunglasses are fun as a one off pair, eg metallic blue lenses for a festival.

I used to buy expensive sunglasses but stopped after I lost a pair.

Of course it is, it's the same as most 'branded' goods, you are largely paying for the name and perhaps a small amount of better quality.

It really isn't when you are talking about lens quality. It's your eyes FFS! Look after them. Polaroid lenses are great for eye protection. You won't get good quality ones on cheaper glasses.

A simple test is to hold the lenses up and look through them at something vertical and dead straight like a door frame, turn the lenses. High quality lenses will not distort at all, cheaper lenses will have minor distortions in them very cheap lenses a lot of distortions.

I'm talking here about non-prescription sunglasses obv.

I prefer to pay for quality. You can really tell the difference between Raybans or a cheaper own brand pair and the dirt cheap plastic crap you can find in Primark etc.

It really isn't when you are talking about lens quality. It's your eyes FFS! Look after them. Polaroid lenses are great for eye protection. You won't get good quality ones on cheaper glasses.

I'm not necessarily talking about the lenses, I'm more talking about forking out for Prada as opposed to Primark. I don't think the quality is that much better, you are paying for the brand.

And if you want polarised lenses, you still don't have to pay loads for them - my DH would never spend more than necessary on sunglasses and he has polarised lenses. I can tell the difference when I look through his compared to mine, but his certainly still aren't 'expensive'.

A simple test is to hold the lenses up and look through them at something vertical and dead straight like a door frame, turn the lenses.
I've just tried that looking at the door frame through my cheap sunnies (think they were about £10-£12 from Sainsburys) and they didn't distort at all.
Plus lenses in the UK are marked with the UV protection rating and I always choose rating UV400 which is the maximum.

So as long as you are selecting ones with a high UV rating, they shouldn't be any worse for your eyes than an expensive pair. Obviously ones bought abroad may not have the same rating or controls.

I've got a Chanel pair I bought second hand from eBay which are for when I'm feeling fancy. Apart from them I have several cheap pairs knocking about.

I should say the Chanel pair feel and look way better than the cheap ones

Exensive ones for me, had my pradas for about five years and they had so much wear. Just bought myself a pair of Miu Miu ones but Im sure they will last ages too. I just don't look after cheap ones, sit on them, lose them, never have them in a case but the expensive ones I look after really well.

I get something in the middle. £30-40 from boots usually. They’re decent quality so don’t get scratched as easily and don’t randomly bend or feel uneven like super cheap ones can. But if I only get 1-2 summers out of them I’m not too annoyed. I can’t deal with non polarised ones so have to spend a certain amount to get that. My main criteria is that they feel comfy on my head and stay there firmly- this means I just push them up and tend not to lose them. Last pair I didn’t check, and I lost them v quick because they didn’t sit right on my head so I kept taking them off entirely and left them somewhere.

I've always bought cheap ones, I have about 4 scattered all over the house. I loved my poundland pair they were my favourite. I splashed out on some prescription ray bans, I love them so much and I take care of them more. They were about £230 which is a huge amount to me but my new job includes health cash plan so they were paid for. I'm due a new pair next month and I'm thinking of getting some aviators.

I have two pairs of £30+ polarised sunglasses, both from Boots and one pair of Ray Ban polarised for my birthday this year. I will only wear polarised for driving.

I have a pair of Ted Baker glasses and Roxy sunglasses which look great but polarised are so much better for actually seeing.

I also have probably 20 pairs of cheap sunglasses dotted around the house though!

Oh and a random pair of Ray Bans which arrived in the post from China one day even though I hadn't ordered them. I have no idea whether or not they're genuine or why they arrived on my desk. Unfortunately, they're fucking hideous!

I think raybans have polarising filters or something g because they make it much easier to see while regular sunglasses just dim everything iyswim. I’ve been considering getting some for driving. Wouldn’t bother with cheap sunglasses though. But I’m not big on sunglasses - I’d need to be convinced into buying them. Currently nicking my husband’s so cant really be bothered buying my own.

I buy designer because i absolutely love them - but often at outlet shops etc.so not so high priced. I buy a new pair every year and have them all in a tray in a drawer so I can pick my faves each day assuming the sun's out of course!
For driving any distance though, my polarised Rayban wayfarers are my absolute go to's. I dont think they ever date really, and are by far the best lenses.

I've still got and wear my RB Aviators that I got in 1997.

I also had a cheapish pair from Boots I bought three years ago for about £25 that I managed to snap the other week.

Oh and I had a pair of Oakleys that I've managed to scratch the coating off the lens I think anyone know if I can have them fixed anywhere?

I think raybans have polarising filters or something g because they make it much easier to see while regular sunglasses just dim everything iyswim.

Not all Ray Bans are polarised. If they've got a P next to the logo on the lenses they're polarised.

I agree re other sunglasses blocking the sun but not making things clear.

Driving through dappled sunlight is when polarised come into their own.

I have both.

Cheap for work (school) and RB's for out on the razz.

I had one pair of RB's bought in the 80's that lasted about 12 years. I still mourn them . Waiting to see if the latest match up.