Fashion Blogs

Sunglasses are distinct from most fashion accessories; they're not only designed to look great but also serve an important function - protecting your eyes. Which means there's way more to a pair of sunnies than their looks alone and quality typically comes at a price.

This isn't quite the case when it comes to sunglasses though. In fact, the vast majority of them are made by the same manufacturer and merely endorsed by those big name brands. Basically, you're paying for the name and - if you're not fussed about brand prestige - you can save a bundle by snapping up these quality (budget) sunglasses.

SUUNA

SUUNA sunglasses are a perfect example of how fine materials and authentic design can be found, even at the lowest end of the price scale. You can expect to pay around £30 to pick from a diverse range of styles and you would never guess they come with such a modest price tag - especially the impressively elegant designs of their thick rim pairs.

M:UK

Starting from as low as £15, British eyewear specialist M:UK offers a range of styles and a quality that hints at bigger name brands. From scantily framed aviators to chunkier, more colourful rims and tortoiseshell numbers, M:UK is up to pace with the latest fashion trends and you'll find a wide selection available here.

French Connection

French Connection enjoyed a number of years as one of the UK's favourite homegrown brands, mostly thanks to its controversial fcuk* campaign. Although the company failed to establish itself as a leading name in the industry, it's still in a position to produce quality sunglasses without the pricey burden of printing a big name brand on it's frames - which makes it a great budget option.

Guess

It's hard to include Guess in a list of budget sunglasses when some of their pairs break the £70 price barrier. But you can pick up a pair of Guess sunnies for little more than £50 and - while this makes them the most expensive option in this list - these incredibly stylish designs make them worth considering. In fact, a number of Guess pairs put the bigger names to shame in terms of design, only lacking the coveted brand to rival the giants.

Animal

Animal has done great things with its sunglasses designs over the years, knowing exactly which trends to pick up from the catwalk and industry rivals. The result is an impeccably up-to-date range of styles that cost as little as £25 and you won't need to pay more than £50 to get your hands on a pair of these stylish frames.

Quality for less than you think

The lesson here is that you don't need to pay silly prices to get a pair of quality sunglasses. Budget options don't always mean budget materials and, more often than not, you're paying for the name on the frames. Quality materials and lenses are widely available for less than you think - so as long as you check the basics for any pair of sunglasses, you'll find a wealth of options available.