15 Best Sunglasses Brands in 2025, According to GQ Editors
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Sunglasses occupy prime real estate, and finding the right pair can be a daunting task. So think of the best sunglasses brands as the rare kind-vibed realtor that actually helps you ID the apartment of your dreams—except in this case, the real estate is your face, and the swanky new pad is a gleaming pair of shades.
If you have no idea where to start, don’t sweat it. (And don’t bother downloading StreetEasy.) All you have to do is check in with the names that define the category today, the brands that focus on eyewear not as an ancillary element of their business, but as their entire raison d'être. From the age-old masters to the next-gen upstarts, these are the absolute best sunglasses brands to keep your peepers protected year-round.
The Needs-No-Introduction Pick
Ray-Ban Original Wayfarer Square Sunglasses
The Pedal-to-the-Metal Pick
Persol PO0649 Aviator Sunglasses
The Gnar-Shredding Pick
Oakley Radar EV Path Sunglasses
Shop by Brand
- Ray-Ban
- Persol
- Oakley
- Jacques Marie Mage
- Chimi
- Oliver Peoples
- Carrera
- Moscot
- Matsuda
- Sun Buddies
- Randolph Engineering
- Garrett Leight
- Akila
- Warby Parker
- Crap Eyewear
Ray-Ban
Ray-Ban sunglasses shot in the GQ Studios
Bowen Fernie
Ray-Ban's eyewear pedigree speaks for itself. After nearly a century in the business, the brand's legendary roster of unisex sunglasses needs little introduction: Dylan's Wayfarers, Maverick's Aviators, Malcolm X's Clubmasters, and now A$AP Rocky's Puffer Wayfarers (see below). If you haven't owned a pair of Ray-Ban's always-in-style specs—almost always in a crucial assortment of scratch-resistant tints—at some point in your life, now's the time to rectify that mistake, STAT.
Ray-Ban
Original Wayfarer Square Sunglasses
Ray-Ban
Clubmaster Square Sunglasses
Ray-Ban
Wayfarer Puffer Sunglasses
Ray-Ban
Classic Aviator Sunglasses
Persol
Persol sunglasses shot in the GQ Studios
Bowen Fernie
There's a reason Persol's sunglasses have long been a favorite of pilots, Formula One drivers, and bona fide Hollywood royalty, new and old alike: the brand's instantly recognizable designs positively ooze old-school Italian elegance, without compromising on the type of eye protection, functionality, and durability a race track—or a red carpet—calls for.
Persol
PO0649 Aviator Sunglasses
Persol
PO3272S Sunglasses
Persol
PO3019S Sunglasses
Persol
PO3292S Square Sunglasses
Oakley
Oakley sunglasses shot in the GQ Studios
Bowen Fernie
Oakley isn't an official sponsor of the MLB, but it might as well be. Its performance-minded polarized lens have long been a favorite of the league's most stylish stars, who've always appreciated what the menswear masses are only now cottoning on to: the brand's distinct, sport sunglasses look good on anyone, anywhere—whether you're shagging fly balls in the park or strutting your stuff on the street.
Oakley
Radar EV Path Sunglasses
Oakley
Flak 2.0 XL Sunglasses
Oakley
Gascan Sunglasses
Oakley
Eyejacket Redux Sunglasses
Jacques Marie Mage
Jacques Marie Mage sunglasses hot in the GQ Studios
Bowen Fernie
If Jeremy Strong’s cosign didn't quite convince you, allows us to: GQ has been touting Jacques Marie Mage's bona fides for years now, outfitting the temples of Keanu, Brad Pitt, and others with its top-end frames. Eyewear obsessive Jerome Mage founded the cult-loved label in 2014, and it's racked up an impressive roster of high-profile clients since. Each pair is made by hand by artisans in Japan and released in small, numbered batches. These shades will cost you handsome sum, but rocking a pair of sunglasses that no one else at the beach/party/beach party will have? Priceless.
Jacques Marie Mage
Yellowstone Sunglasses
Jacques Marie Mage
Cleavon Sunglasses
Jacques Marie Mage
Sandro Sunglasses
Jacques Marie Mage
Vendome Sunglasses
Chimi
A favorite of style and price-conscious fashion types, Stockholm's Chimi—which also opened in New York City last year—specializes in simple designs that gently stretch the boundaries of conventional silhouettes. Approaching its tenth year, all of the brand's styles use premium Italian acetate, and come with UVA and UVB protection—no style over substance here. (If you wanted to feel even better about ordering a pair, know that Chimi cares about planetary health also—a portion of all its proceeds go to solar power initiatives that bring renewable energy to underserved corners of the globe.)
Chimi
Ellipse Sunglasses
Chimi
Blue 04
Chimi
Black 04
Chimi
Brown 11
Oliver Peoples
Olive Peoples sunglasses shot in the GQ Studios
Bowen Fernie
Oliver Peoples began life as a small boutique on Hollywood Boulevard peddling vintage American shades. Since setting up shop in the late '80s, the brand has evolved into a serious contender in the eyewear space, churning out handsome sunnies inspired by the retro frames it used to stock, crafted from some of the highest quality materials in the world.
Oliver Peoples
OP-13 Sunglasses
Oliver Peoples
Rosson Sunglasses
Oliver Peoples
Avison Sunglasses
Oliver Peoples
N.03 Sunglasses
Carrera
Carrera sunglasses shot in the GQ Studios
Bowen Fernie
Since their introduction in the '50s, Carrera's signature oversized shades have graced famous faces aplenty; the brand helped make Tony Montana a legend in Scarface and has been a perennial go-to for Tinseltown's A-list ever since. Today, Carrera sells sunglasses designed to help you avoid the paparazzi (or look like someone who might have to).
Carrera
Oversize Gradient Aviator Sunglasses
Carrera
Festival 99mm Oversize Shield Sunglasses
Carrera Eyewear
59mm Rectangular Sunglasses
Carrera Eyewear
62mm Oversize Gradient Navigator Sunglasses
Moscot
Moscot sunglasses shot in the GQ Studios
Bowen Fernie
For over five generations, Moscot has outfitted discerning New Yorkers—along with an increasingly global customer base—with eyewear that'd make its founder, the Belarusian immigrant Hyman Moscot, proud. The family-run NYC institution makes some of the best sunglasses in the game, and thanks to its expansive online presence you don't have to be an expert on Lower Manhattan subway lines to get in on the action.
Moscot
Foygul Sun
Moscot
Lemtosh Sun
Moscot
Zolman Sun
Moscot
Miltzen Sun
Matsuda
Matsuda sunglasses shot in the GQ Studios
Bowen Fernie
Matsuda’s carefully handcrafted shades have been an industry favorite since the late ‘80s, when Mitsuhiro Matsuda—a close associate of Kenzo Takada and a trailblazing designer in his own right—launched his debut eyewear collection. A mainstay of ‘90s pop culture, the line was reintroduced under new ownership in 2012, but it remains committed to its founder’s guiding vision: strong, architectural shapes made in Sabae, Japan, a small city in the Fukui prefecture famous for its optical expertise. With unparalleled precision and artistry, each pair can take up to 71 hours to create and require over a dozen different craftsman. The brand's frames merge distinct artisanal detailing with forward-looking designs, a mix Matsuda himself pioneered as a founding member of the Tokyo Designer Six. And thanks to a growing roster of global stockists, its under-the-radar sunnies are now easier than ever to access stateside
Matsuda
M2055 Sunglasses
Matsuda
M2099 Sunglasses
Matsuda
M3128 Sunglasses
Matsuda
M3101 Sunglasses
Sun Buddies
1960s cinema was the inspiration for all of the early pieces in the Sun Buddies line—the Bibi is inspired by Bibi Andersson in Ingmar Bergan’s Persona, for example—but in the almost ten years since the brand launched (as an extension of cult Swedish retailer Très Bien) it's become as much known for its collaborations with the likes of Stüssy, Opening Ceremony, and Eckhaus Latta. In short, when the it fashion brands want to expand into sunnies, it's Sun Buddies they call. That's partly because all the frames are crafted according to exceptionally high standards, from hand-cut acetate and using Carl Zeiss Vision optics, but the prices remain impressively reasonable.
Sun Buddies
Bibi
Sun Buddies
Lubna
Sun Buddies
Giorgio
Sun Buddies
Aaliyah
Randolph Engineering
Randolph Engineering sunglasses shot in the GQ Studios
Bowen Fernie
Randolph Engineering has been the prime aviator plug for the Department of Defense since the '80s. The company is still based in the small Massachusetts town it's named for, and its sunglasses are still manufactured with the type of military-grade precision that'll help your eyes withstand the everyday rigors of civilian life—and then some.
Randolph Engineering
Aviator Sunglasses
Randolph Engineering
Sportsman Aviator Authentic Sunglasses
Randolph Engineering
Navigator Aviator II Authentic Sunglasses
Randolph Engineering
Classic Aviator Sunglasses
Garrett Leight
Garrett Leight sunglasses shot in the GQ Studios
Bowen Fernie
For Garrett Leight, sunglasses aren't so much an accessory as a birthright. The son of Oliver Peoples founder Larry Leight, the West Coast native launched his own line of premium eyewear in 2010 and never looked back. (Worry not: the two are still close.) Inspired by the sights and sounds of the younger Leight's Venice Beach hometown, the eponymous label takes classic styles and updates them with a distinctly LA twist. Today, the brand specializes in the type of discrete shades you'd slip on to avoid an awkward fan encounter at Erewhon or shield your eyes from the paparazzi's flash—y'know, the typical trappings of California livin'.
Garrett Leight
Ace II Tortoiseshell Sunglasses
Garrett Leight
Ace II Sunglasses
Garrett Leight
Bentley Sunglasses
Garrett Leight
Ryder S Sunglasses
Akila
Akila sunglasses shot in the GQ Studios
Bowen Fernie
LA-based newcomer Akila has been shaking up the industry since 2018, bolstered by its knack for collaborations with some of the coolest indie labels on the market. From '90s-inflected shapes to forward-looking designs, Akila's approach to sunglasses is fun, free-spirited, and experimental. But don’t take that modern charm and youthful approach to mean that they don’t respect the craft. Each pair of Akila shades is made with premium plant-based acetate, high-quality rivets and barrel hinges, and intricate filigree details—all for a fraction of the cost that you’d expect.
Akila
Apollo Sunglasses
Akila
Mal Sunglasses
Akila
Cascade Sunglasses
Akila
Ascent Sunglasses
Warby Parker
Warby Parker sunglasses shot in the GQ Studios
Bowen Fernie
A little over a decade ago, Warby Parker sent Big Eyewear into a panic with its promise of middleman-less, affordable eyewear made with the same standards as its luxury counterparts. In the years since, the DTC eyewear giant made good on its promise to upend the industry by expanding into sunglasses too, causing rival executives no small amount of headache and giving customers across the country plenty of reason to celebrate.
Warby Parker
Harris Sunglasses
Warby Parker
Elio Sunglasses
Warby Parker
Julio Sunglasses
Warby Parker
Hatcher Sunglasses
Crap Eyewear
Los Angeles-based Crap Eyewear exists to make sunglasses both cheaper and more fun—without hurting the planet. So far, it's going pretty well. The carbon-neutral company uses many of the same suppliers as luxury brands, and packs UVA and UVB protection into all of its multicolored, handcrafted frames. Not too shabby when a majority of the line comes in at $99, with free shipping and returns. It also outfits a ton of skaters and surfers, referred to by the brand as the “Crap Family.” Join it if you will.
Crap Eyewear
The Heavy Tropix
Crap Eyewear
The No Wave
Crap Eyewear
The Spaced Ranger
Crap Eyewear
The Speedway
How We Test and Review Products
Style is subjective, we know—that’s the fun of it. But we’re serious about helping our audience get dressed. Whether it’s the best white sneakers, the flyest affordable suits, or the need-to-know menswear drops of the week, GQ Recommends’ perspective is built on years of hands-on experience, an insider awareness of what’s in and what’s next, and a mission to find the best version of everything out there, at every price point.
Our staffers aren’t able to try on every single piece of clothing you read about on GQ.com (fashion moves fast these days), but we have an intimate knowledge of each brand’s strengths and know the hallmarks of quality clothing—from materials and sourcing, to craftsmanship, to sustainability efforts that aren’t just greenwashing. GQ Recommends heavily emphasizes our own editorial experience with those brands, how they make their clothes, and how those clothes have been reviewed by customers. Bottom line: GQ wouldn’t tell you to wear it if we wouldn’t.
How We Make These Picks
We make every effort to cast as wide of a net as possible, with an eye on identifying the best options across three key categories: quality, fit, and price.
To kick off the process, we enlist the GQ Recommends braintrust to vote on our contenders. Some of the folks involved have worked in retail, slinging clothes to the masses; others have toiled for small-batch menswear labels; all spend way too much time thinking about what hangs in their closets.
We lean on that collective experience to guide our search, culling a mix of household names, indie favorites, and the artisanal imprints on the bleeding-edge of the genre. Then we narrow down the assortment to the picks that scored the highest across quality, fit, and price.
Across the majority of our buying guides, our team boasts firsthand experience with the bulk of our selects, but a handful are totally new to us. So after several months of intense debate, we tally the votes, collate the anecdotal evidence, and emerge with a list of what we believe to be the absolute best of the category right now, from the tried-and-true stalwarts to the modern disruptors, the affordable beaters to the wildly expensive (but wildly worth-it) designer riffs.
Whatever your preferences, whatever your style, there's bound to be a superlative version on this list for you. (Read more about GQ's testing process here.)