The 16 hottest sunglasses (under £25)

The sun has finally got its hat on – hurrah! And it's at this exact moment you realise you never replaced the pair of sunglasses that cracked/were mislaid on the beach/snapped by the kids last year, and the unexpected but joyous rays we're finally experiencing are making you squint unceremoniously. 

But the good news is that you don’t have to spend a fortune on a new pair of sunnies. As the styles edited below suggest, they can be as functional as you want – or a fun, outfit-making accessory.

At prices like these, don’t get hung up on what the experts say suit which face shape best – just pick a pair you love, wear and… bask!

Spanish retailer Mango does a wicked line in experimental shapes, which currently embraces the geometric and is finished in warm, tortoiseshell tones. But there are daintier styles to choose from, too, such as those with metal arms and rims and barely-there pink frames. Just be sure to carry them in a sturdy case.  

If reaching for a pair of frames brings out your inner film star, then hide from the (imaginary) paparazzi in a pair of oversized sunglasses. Ironically, discreet these are not, but chic, yes. A headscarf is optional.

There are so many sunglasses trends nowadays that not a single one dominates. Nostalgic styles just keep on attracting affection, such as the round tea-shade style associated with the late John Lennon to the shapely cat's eyes from the 1950s.

The beauty of affordable eyewear is that you can amass a small collection, much in the same way you curate your wardrobe. On days when you want to play things a little safer, a classic aviator shape or a D-frame won’t ever let you down.