Accessories are meant to make a statement and take your outfit to the next level, and for most, we have to ask the age old question: is it better to save or splurge? For some accessories, like statement necklaces, it’s definitely a good idea to save, but it gets a little trickier when we’re talking about sunglasses. A great designer pair of men’s sunglasses or women’s sunglasses can last you many years, but if you’re a clumsy or forgetful person, you may end up losing or breaking them, which could result in a huge waste of money. You also need to take into account the quality of the sunglasses themselves and whether or not you would be okay with a less expensive version.
Spend when it's worth the value.
There are some sunglasses styles that cheaper brands simply cannot replicate, like aviator sunglasses. Ray-Bans, Steve Madden, and Tory Burch make several flawless pairs that fit your face like a glove and protect your eyes from harmful rays. A $5 pair from Forever 21 will not be the same. So, if you’re searching for a pair of womens aviator sunglasses or aviator sunglasses for men, it’s probably worth your money to just fork over $100-$200 and get the real thing. You won’t regret it! (Just don’t take them camping or fishing or anything). Another style of men’s sunglasses that are worth splurging on are wrap around sunglasses. If you don’t go all out and purchase a pair of Oakleys, you might as well not even buy them because their cheaper counterparts look, well, cheap.
Save when you can't tel the difference between cheap and costly.
On the other hand, there are a few styles of sunglasses that you can buy for cheap that still look super chic and trendy. Those styles include: round lens sunglasses, cat eyes sunglasses, and vintage-inspired clubmaster sunglasses. The frames on these styles are generally plastic, so they will look pretty much the same, no matter if they cost $300 or $30. You can find round sunglasses for women and round sunglasses for men at a variety of inexpensive retailers, like Steampunk Goggles and Urban Outfitters. You can generally find all of the other styles at places like TJ Maxx, Ross, Thredup, and 6pm. The best part about these retailers is that you may even find a pair of gorgeous designer sunnies for the price of regular ones!
Ask yourself these questions first.
Finally, the last major concern that you need to evaluate when deciding to splurge or save is how careful you are with your sunglasses and when you plan on using them. For example, if you just want to wear your sunglasses while you’re driving or window shopping, there’s a pretty low chance that you will lose or break them, so designer sunglasses are a great option. However, if you love outdoor activities, like hiking and boating, you may want to keep a pair of cheap sunnies on hand for those occasions because there’s a much higher probability that your sunglasses may not make it out of your outdoor activity alive.
