Oversized Sunglasses: Shapes and How to Choose

Oversized Sunglasses: Classic Shapes and How to Choose

Updated 28/10/2026 · 3 min read

Large oversized sunglasses have big lenses that cover much of the eye area. They are a fashion classic that keeps coming back, in butterfly, cat-eye, square and aviator shapes. This short guide shows the classic shapes and how to choose a pair. The full story of the retro look, size, weight and prescription lenses is in Oversized Glasses: A Retro Trend That Keeps Coming Back.

Key points at a glance

Oversized sunglasses have big lenses and a strong front; a lens width of 60 millimetres or more is not unusual.
The classic shapes are butterfly, cat-eye, square, round and aviator.
Choose by face shape, and look for UV400 protection and the CE mark.
Frames with a flat to slightly curved front are the easiest to fit with prescription lenses.

Large oversized sunglasses: the classic shapes

Huge sunglasses are nothing new. In the 1960s, film stars and style icons made them popular, and very large round or square models are still often called “Jackie O” sunglasses, after Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. These shapes are the ones to know:

Butterfly: lenses that widen towards the top outer corners.
Cat-eye: upswept corners that visually lift the face.
Square: strong lines for soft features.
Round: a soft retro look, especially with a thin metal frame.
Aviator: teardrop-shaped lenses, a classic in large sunglasses.

How to choose oversized designer sunglasses

Start with your face. Large sunglasses suit medium to wide faces best, where small frames get lost. On a round face, angular oversized frames create contrast, while round ones suit an angular face. For a heart-shaped face, choose shapes that are not too heavy at the top, such as aviators. A narrow face carries large lenses best with a fine frame or a transparent colour. More in our guide Which glasses frames suit my shape of face?

Then look at the lenses. Grey changes colours the least, brown gives more contrast, and gradient lenses are darker at the top. Polarised lenses reduce glare from reflections, for example on water or a wet road. Whatever you choose, look for UV400 protection and the CE mark. Large lenses also let in less light from the side.

Finally, check the size. The measurements are usually printed inside the temple, for example “56□18 145”: lens width, bridge width and temple length in millimetres. Compare them with a pair of sunglasses that fits you well.

Oversized prescription sunglasses

If you need a prescription, flat to slightly curved fronts are easier to fit with prescription lenses than strongly curved models, and many sunglasses can be fitted this way. Large lenses show thickness more, so ask an optician which lenses suit your values. Our guide Prescription Lenses for Sunglasses – Guide to Custom Lenses explains what matters.

Oversized designer sunglasses in the shop

In the shop you will find women’s sunglasses in many shapes and sizes, among others from Prada, Miu Miu, Gucci, Ray-Ban and Oakley. A large classic for women and men is the Ray-Ban Aviator Large Metal. Not every colour is always available. The product module shows the current selection.

Women's sunglasses