Fashion

14 Pairs Of Shield Sunglasses To Protect Your Face This Summer

Futuristically practical!

by Jenna Igneri

The past few seasons have seen sunglasses trends run wild, with styles ranging in size from minuscule to ginormous. First, we saw the tiny sunglasses emerge back in 2018; then, beginning with the Spring 2019 runways, the size of our sunnies began to (thankfully) grow larger, some to even grandiose proportions. They have pretty much stayed on the larger side of the scale ever since. (Just take a look at Gucci or Tom Ford if you need proof.)

From these larger-than-life sunnies emerged the eyewear trend of Summer 2019: the shield.

Far more sporty and futuristic than the shield sunnies of the early aughts (think: Paris Hilton on The Simple Life), today's modern iterations are more fit for battling extraterrestrial beings, or, at least, hitting the slopes. More importantly, they're way more practical summer eyewear choice, as they offer far more protection from harmful UV rays than last year's teeny-tiny offerings.

Below, all the shield frames we'll be snatching up this summer.

Photo courtesy of Carolina Lemke

Carolina Lemke, Gemini, $90, available at Carolina Lemke.

Photo courtesy of Quay

Quay, Jaded, $60, available at Quay.

Photo courtesy of Shopbop

Oakley, Sutro Sunglasses, $163, available at Shopbop.

Photo courtesy of Le Specs

Le Specs, Engineer, $129, available at Le Specs.

Photo courtesy of Pretty Little Thing

Pretty Little Thing, Red Tonal Visor Sunglasses, $15, available at Pretty Little Thing.

Photo courtesy of Kaleos

Kaleos, Anderson 4 Titanium, $290, available at Kaleos.

Photo courtesy of Shopbop

Marc Jacobs, Sporty Shield Sunglasses, $160, available at Shopbop.

Photo courtesy of ASOS

ASOS Design, Wrap Half Frame Visor Sunglasses, $19, available at ASOS.

Photo courtesy of Westward Leaning

Westward Leaning, Stun 02, $225, available at Westward Leaning.

Photo courtesy of Urban Outfitters

UO, Spacy Shield Sunglasses, $18, available at Urban Outfitters.

Photo courtesy of Karen Walker

Karen Walker, Hallelujah, $201.75, available at Karen Walker.

Photo courtesy of I.N.D.Y

I.N.D.Y, Eclipse, $50, available at I.N.D.Y.

Photo courtesy of Topshop

Topshop, Minx Visors, $26, available at Topshop.

Photo courtesy of Net-A-Porter

For Art's Sake, Horizon D-Frame Silver-Tone Mirrored Sunglasses, $220, available at Net-A-Porter.

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