These days sunglasses have become the ultimate fashion accessory, and their look can change with the trends from season to season. Whilst they may be glamorous and stylish on the rack, make sure you choose appropriate ones for your shape. Unlike other fashion accessories, your shades will draw immediate attention to your face, so select wisely.
From neutral tones to bright-fashion colors, from oversized to small frames, today's fashionista needs a few pairs in her wardrobe collection. By choosing different sunglass styles and colors, the frames can reflect your attitude and your mood. They can change your outward appearance and personality in an instant.
Choose a Style to Suit Your Face
Just as you are likely to select an outfit that flatters your body shape, the same should be true of your sunglass styles. A pair that fits your face rather than fights against it can take years off you, so apply the rules carefully to avoid costly mistakes.
If you are only intending to invest in a couple of pairs this season, then with styles such as wraparounds, visors, aviators and tiny or oversized frames – it pays to take on board a few tips before getting out your purse!
The main thing to bear in mind is the overall shape of your face. You may also like to consider what works best with your skin tone and hair coloring when choosing the colors of frames.
Finding the Shape of Your Face
Face shapes are categorized in terms of the whole facial shape, from the forehead in relation to the chin. If you are not sure about your shape then trace around your face from your photograph, and use it as a guideline. Decide whether your faced is predominantly oval, square, oblong – long and narrow, round or triangular (from forehead down, or inverted, from the chin up).
According to Erin Morgan’s All About Vision article “Which Eyeglass Frames Would Look Best on You?” the most flattering frames contrast with your facial shape. The size of the frame should also ideally be in scale with the size of your face. Whilst this doesn’t necessarily apply to big, oversized sunnies, shape is still important, so you avoid looking like a clown.
Best Sunglass Styles for Your Face Shape
Whilst fashion designers like Michael Kors, advocate that creating your own style means it’s okay to break the rules, it does help to have an understanding of what is likely to best flatter your face.
In her book, Style A to Zoe, Hollywood celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe offers a few tips to bear in mind when choosing the correct frames:
- Oval face shapes are the most versatile because of their balanced proportions. Virtually any frame-shape suits this face, but, according to Morgan, it is advisable to look for frames which are wider (or as wide as) the broadest part of your face.
- Square face shapes need a slightly curved frame in contrast to the face. These need to sit high enough, to minimize the jaw line. Another alternative is a narrow frame, one that has more width than depth, to widen the eye area.
- Oblong faces are long and narrow, with long straight cheek lines. Says Zoe, “you need to play down the length by choosing frames which cover the center of the face.” Select frames which have the effect of shorting your face– a deep frame with embellishments or decorations that will detract from your long cheeks and jaw line.
- Round faces need a contrasting frame such as a straight or angular one. Make your face appear thinner by choosing a clear bridge over the nose, which widens the eyes. Go for a narrow frame which lengthens the face.
- Triangular – with a broad forehead and narrow chin, contrast your shape by wearing thin-rimmed frames which don’t sit high on your face. This is one instance where oversized sunglasses can make you face appear even wider, but if you still have the confidence to carry them off, then go for it!
- Inverted Triangle – with a narrow forehead and wide chin, you want a frame which widens the top part of your face, and narrows the chin. Brightly colored sunnies with lots of detailing can be a distraction from your lower facial area, and wide, cat-eye-styles will give the illusion of broadening your forehead and eyes.
Choosing a Colored Frame
Whilst we all need a pair of neutral staples such as black or brown, recent sunglass trends have seen the growth in popularity of brightly coloured frames such as amber-yellow, hot reds and oranges, and cobalt blue.
The color of your frames will also depend on whether you want them to match or contrast with your outfits, or reflect a particular aspect of your personality or style. If you are not going for dark or mirror lenses, then you may also want to consider what works best for your eye color, or which frame lifts your skin coloring or complements your hair. For example, thick black frames can make a sallow skin look even pastier, but metallics can lift and lighten the face. Bronze beauties and those with warm olive skin tones look good in brown, khaki green, peach, cream and gold. If you have a cooler complexion, then silver works well, along with black, blue, red, plum, gray, tortoiseshell and amber.
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