Sunglasses are climbing the ranks of important personal items along with keys and cell phones.

Finding that perfect pair of sunglasses for the bright days ahead is easier when you educate yourself about the shape of faces, comfort, care, health benefits and affordability, said Kevin Saelee, assistant manager at Sunglass Hut in Arden Fair Mall. Trends that Saelee has seen this season are classics, such as Ray-Ban Wayfarers. He also said oversized shades are still in and that since the weather is getting hotter, there are a lot of white frames appearing again in several lines such as D & G by Dolce and Gabbana.

Steven Vue, a junior communication studies major, said when he looks for sunglasses, he tries to match the frames with his face shape.

People who are oval-faced are lucky because they match any shape of sunglasses, Vue said. Round faces match rectangle, shields, tea cup or cat eye shaped sunglasses.

Comfort is a huge issue for Vue, who said he loves his Ray-Ban sunglasses because sometimes he doesn’t even know he has them on.

There are certain ways a pair of sunglasses sits on the nose that are very important for comfort reasons, Saelee said.

Saddle bridge is ideal for customers who want the sunglasses to sit close to the eyes, reducing the amount of light that enters around the sunglasses, he said. It has equal contact on top of the nose to distribute the weight of the sunglasses evenly.

Keyhole bridge is best for customers with wide nostrils and who do not like the sunglass to rest on top of the nose. The fitting is on both sides of the nose without touching the top of the nose, he said.

Saelee said college students who are seeking a good and longer-lasting sunglass usually buy sunglasses that range from $70 to $200, and the most popular brands among college students are Ray-Ban, Oakley and Arnette.

Vue lost his $160 Arnette sunglasses while tubing down a river in Minnesota.

“I was pretty pissed. I was cursing,” Vue said. “Then I said, ‘Oh well give me a beer.'”

Vue now owns a pair of Ray-Bans that he bought from Sunglass Hut for $180 last summer.

“I don’t think anyone should spend more than $200,” he said.

But Mercedes Ben, a senior family and consumer science major at Sacramento State and designer of Benzo Couture clothing, owns several designer sunglasses, ranging from Burberry to Valentino, with her favorite being the Fendi shades she bought for $275 at Saks Fifth Avenue in San Francisco.

“A lot of this investing has to do with the name,” Ben said. “I won’t deny that.”

Saelee, who owns a pair of $425 Chanel sunglasses, said if you really like it, you should buy it no matter what the price.

Saelee warns students who do choose to invest in a good pair of sunglasses to never use Windex or any products similar to Windex on shades because the ammonia in the product strips away the coating that protects the eyes.

“With these Fendi glasses, I feel like I get the UV protection which is probably why I wear it more than others,” Ben said.

Saelee’s advice for people seeking that perfect pair of sunglasses is to go for something comfortable that fits.

“A lot of people try to follow the trends and overdo it,” Saelee said. “You could find the right look for your face and not overdo it.

His advice is true for Ben, who said she sometimes buys sunglasses for their uniqueness, but because they are so unique, she can’t pair them with anything.

Realistically, Ben said she knows that buying expensive sunglasses is wasteful, especially as you get older, where unnecessary spending matters.

“When I think about it, who really cares about it tomorrow?” Ben said.

Gia Vang can be reached at [email protected]