The argument goes both ways. If you are one of those lucky people who look pretty good in most styles of sunglasses, you can probably get away with buying drugstore varieties. In terms of benefits, buying inexpensive sunglasses makes it possible to try out a variety of different styles to see which ones might suit you best. You can have a whole wardrobe of cheap sunglasses and not break the bank. If you like to try new trends and coordinate everything you wear, cheap sunglasses might be the best solution for you.
However, some people have faces which are difficult to put into frames. For these folks, everything seems to make them appear slightly off, except for expensive, well-made sunglasses. Designers seem to understand that not everybody has the same facial shape. They make shades suitable for people with round faces, rectangular faces, long oval faces... you name it. But the cheap brands, generally speaking, are more limited in terms of which facial shapes they compliment. There's nothing like an ill-fitting pair of sunglasses for highlighting your facial flaws!
Now, granted, if you lose an expensive pair of sunglasses, you'll basically be losing a good chunk of your hard-earned cash. That said, many people can really tell the difference between good and low-quality sunglasses, and for these folks this is a risk worth taking. Handsome materials simply look nicer against your skin. Additionally, the hardware on pricier frames tends to be positioned better, so you're less likely to snag your hair. Name-brand sunglasses are more likely to be comfortable as well. You know that cool plastic pair you never can wear because they rub your nose the wrong way? Not so likely to happen with a good pair of shades. They generally tend to feel good on your face, they fit well, and they're less likely to rub and chafe.
Additionally, there's the added satisfaction of owning nice things. Not only do designer sunglasses look nice against your skin and suit your facial shape well, but you can also feel kind of proud about them. If you take good care of them, they'll last a long time. Paint is not likely to peel off onto your skin, and the lenses won't fog or scratch.
I guess when it comes to sunglasses, it's usually worth it to pay a little more for better quality. The reasons are that better-quality sunglasses tend to look better, be more comfortable, and offer maximum protection from the harmful UV rays of the sun. And, since you can wear them theoretically every day of the year, if you take good care of them, expensive sunglasses are an investment that can pay dividends for years to come.
