Travel essentials: women's sunglasses

Ray Ban Jackie O

Ray Ban is one of the dozens of well-known brands sold on a newish website, Pret a Noir, which matches the convenience of online shopping with the expertise offered by professional opticians based in Glasgow, Scotland. It can advise on and fit prescription lenses to all the brands of sunglasses but, obviously, you need to have visited an optician and have a current prescription. £84 (Dh485), plus £12.95 (Dh75) p&p (www.pretavoir.co.uk; 00 44 141 237 7375).

Linda Farrow Luxe

Our local department stores and boutiques in the UAE provide ever-fertile hunting grounds for sunglasses. Don't mention this in the malls but some shrewd shoppers first find a pair that suits them by trying numerous pairs on locally, then hunt online to find the best price. Square-frame sunglasses with brown lenses, £276 (Dh1,592) plus £20 (Dh115) p&p (net-a-porter.com; 00 44 203 471 4510).

Thierry Lasry Lingery

Chanel, Prada, Dolce, Gucci - to the classic brand names we perhaps have to add Thierry Lasry, whose glasses are increasingly seen perched on Hollywood noses. Jessica Alba, Madonna, Nicole Richie and Eva Mendes have all been papped recently wearing them. Oversized sunglasses with brown lenses, £310 (Dh1,788), with free delivery worldwide (www.asos.com).