IMAGES: Make a splash with super-sexy sunglasses!

Over and above necessity, sunglasses are also the season's biggest style statement!

Yes, you need to protect your baby blues from the UVA and UVB rays that beat down mercilessly in the raging heat of summer.

But hey, you have to admit, shades are cool in more ways than one -- the pair you wear reflect not only the sunlight, they also reflect your style quotient!

Whether you're a fashionista whose sunglasses have to match every outfit down to a tee or a regular consumer who needs just one pair to last through the season, here are the latest eyewear trends!

Cat eye frames

This is the single biggest 'in' pair you can invest in for 2011. You may have laughed at your grandma's pics from the '50s and '60s in cat eye glares, but they're back with a bang!

All the biggest names in eyewear have come out with outrageous cat-eye designs, some of them complete with crystal embellishments and other quirky detailing, that make a statement.

They're not so square anymore, if you know what we mean! Angular rims are no longer passe -- they're being pushed by a lot of high-end brands this season and the good part is that unlike other shapes, they suit most faces.

Ditch the predictable blacks and browns this year, it's time to jazz things up! Go with colour -- brighten up your peepers. The favoured tones are aquas and blues for the lenses and purples and reds for the frames.

It's just one more step in a very flamboyant direction -- crystals, metal and all sorts of detailing and embellishments are welcome if you've got the confidence to pull them off. Just keep in mind that when these go 'out', you'll probably be stuck with a pair of very overpriced, very out-of-style glares.

Butterfly frames are those which move from the ridge of the nose into the lenses in a design that mimics a butterfly with wings outspread; some of them even have a slight indent where the stems start to further warrant their name, like the ones you see here. Celebs have fallen for them in a big way this season -- everyone who's anyone is wearing them.

This is something we've seen for a couple of years now -- sleek, slim glares show no sign of coming back in vogue. They're supposed to be large, overstated and in-your-face (pardon the pun!). So purchasing a huge 'don't-look-at-me-I'm-a-celebrity' pair is a safe bet.

We're talking about 'the' distinct teashade style, also known as 'John Lennon' sunglasses because they were made popular by the late Beatle. A lot of leading designers have endorsed them at fashion weeks around the world -- and what they say goes!

The classic look created by Ray-Ban decades ago is still going strong and several high-end brands have followed suit -- these may well be on-trend forever!

And hey, just two tips before you're headed out to purchase your pair. Make sure the ones you pick are FDA-approved. This ensures that they truly will protect your eyes against UV rays and shouldn't break even if you're in an accident. Also, ensure that however 'with it' your sunglasses are, they're comfortable -- there's no point in investing in a pair that feel heavy after a few minutes, for instance, or don't sit well behind your ears. You should get your money's worth!