There’s no need for us to wax on about the importance of carefully chosen accessories in elevating an outfit. But if ever the maxim bears repeating, it’s in the warmer months, when layers are duly shed and those finer details take on even greater weight. A pair of snazzy sunglasses are a go-to for their protective properties as well as their aesthetic ones. And while this quintessential summer accessory may occupy relatively little real estate, we’d wager that it’s one of the most impactful – capable of adding character, exuding mystery, or, let’s be honest, just making you look really cool.

That said, anyone who’s ever been confronted by rack after rack of sunglasses in a poorly lit department store or, worse, the airport will already know that picking the perfect summer frames can be nothing short of a minefield (and that’s before you begin to factor in the most flattering style for your face shape). Hence why we at MR PORTER have concluded that, this year, we’re not content with simply running you through the gamut of options, but have gone one step further and created our own frames. We could think of no better partner for our Mr P. label than our good friends at Cubitts.

For those who aren’t yet fans, allow us to provide a quick refresher on Cubitts. A fellow Londoner and eyewear expert, exquisitely crafted spectacles and sunglasses are pretty much its bread and butter. Since launching in 2013, the brand has racked up a devoted and discerning following to rival its more established counterparts thanks to unflashy, unfussy designs that are handmade with traditional techniques and pay attention to the details.

The Cubitts x Mr P. collaboration is a concise capsule collection of can’t-go-wrong styles that eliminates all the guesswork from shopping for sunglasses. There is no shortage of handsome options, but not so many as to leave you in a tailspin. In fact, we’ve kindly whittled it down to seven key styles that cover all bases (and suit all faces).

So, which to introduce first? How about the thick-framed, round-bodied Montague, which is sure to make a statement? Or maybe you’ll be tempted by the slender construction and smoky green lenses of the Carnegie? There’s also the Herbrand, which features circular frames that flatter more angular features. Meanwhile, the somewhat less chiselled might favour the architectural Panton, whose structured, square profile is the eyewear equivalent of a facelift.

Of course, no sunglasses capsule worth its salt is complete without a louche, 1970s-style aviator. Enter the Killick, which bears all the markings of the retro classics (double bridge, curvaceous lenses), but trades metallic frames for Cubitts’ signature acetate. The Judd, on the other hand, is all moody, dark lenses and chunky, angular frames that hark back to the 1960s, while the Cromer, with its sculptural, Art Nouveau influences, is easily the quirkiest pick of the bunch.

It wouldn’t be a Mr P. collection without a laser focus on craftsmanship, and in that regard, Cubitts is something of a kindred spirit. The brand is proud to publicise its 50 (yes, really) stages of production, including four stages of polishing for a gleaming high shine, and you can expect no different from this capsule. As for the all-important materials, we’ve relied on Cubitts’ trusty and suitably fancy-sounding Mazzucchelli acetate, which consists of wood pulp and cotton. In short: each pair is pleasingly lightweight, reassuringly resilient and, best of all, surprisingly easy to repair should you be so unlucky as to sit on them.