It took long enough, but the sunny summer days have arrived, and with them the need for a sizzling and sexy new pair of shades. This season, you have all kinds of options: Lolita-esque candy colored frames, sleek translucents, and chunky tortoise-shell looks. As for lenses, the choices are endless, but we recommend something dark and mysterious. Not only do they better shield your eyes from harmful UV rays, but they make it easier to check out the hot lifeguards without anyone else knowing. HAYLEY KAUFMAN

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  ULTRA VIOLET: Crank up the Ohio Players and get your ’70s vibe on with these colorful Carrera Champion T sunnies. $120, at Solstice Sunglasses, locations as the Mall at Chestnut Hill, the South Shore Plaza, and the Burlington Mall, as well as SOLSTICEsunglasses.com.
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  WELL RED: Kate Spade’s pink and red Angelique glasses are on top of the trends this season, with a saucy cat-eye shape that will look great by the pool. $128 at Solstice Sunglasses, locations as the Mall at Chestnut Hill, the South Shore Plaza, and the Burlington Mall, as well as SOLSTICEsunglasses.com.
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  ROUND THE BEND: H&M goes edgy this season with chunky round frames and lenses that will protect your pretty peepers. And at $14.95 you can’t beat the price. H&M has locations in Downtown Crossing, CambridgeSide Galleria, South Shore Plaza, and at www.hm.com.
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  PICK YOUR SPOTS: Animal prints are big this summer, and what better one to choose than this Hampton Panther by Lafont? Baby, you couldn’t look more like Marilyn if you tried. $390, available at www.lafont.com.
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  SHAPE UP: Be assured you will not see another pair of shades like these at Nantasket Beach. The Mabel Greystone, by Warby Parker, are not only ridiculously cool, but for every pair sold, another pair is donated to those in need. $95 for regular lenses, $150 for perscription shades at www.warbyparker.com.
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  SHELL GAME: The tortoise shell-style Helen Back sunglasses from Eyebobs have the hipster nerd look nailed, and the polarized lenses reduce glare all summer — and, later on, on the slopes. $99 available at eyebobs.com.
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  ON THE EDGE: Don these sunglasses, lie back, close your eyes, and imagine yourself as an extra in the cast of Fellini’s “8½." What’s a lazy summer afternoon for, if not for daydreaming? $9.95 at H&M locations and at www.hm.com.