Sunglasses Fitting Guide
The Shapes Of Things: Choosing The Right Pair Of Sunglasses To Fit Your Face Shape And Your Sense Of Style
While oversized sunglasses are all the rage these days, there are a wide variety of shapes, sizes and styles to choose from. Choosing the right size and shape for your face will help you put across the best image. With that in mind, here’s a rough guide to help you choose the right pair.
The Proportion Principle
The rule of thumb is simple: people with smaller faces should choose smaller designer sunglasses, while people with larger faces should choose sunglasses with larger frames. Fine artists pay attention to the principle of proportion when creating their works of art; choosing sunglasses that are appropriate for your facial size and shape, you become a work of art!
Contrast
Another artistic principle is the concept of contrast. If you have a round face, sunglasses with rectangular frames make a nice counterpoint. Sunglasses with rounder frames may offset a longer, rectangular face. If you wear lipstick or rouge, you need to consider if your sunglass frames compliment these. Anything goes, and rules were meant to be broken. Have fun finding a pair that creates the image you want to put across.
The Oval Face
Frames with wider lenses compliment the oval face shape. Choose sunglasses that are wider at your face’s widest point: between your eyes and your cheekbones. To avoid emphasizing your forehead, stay clear of sunglasses with low temples. Finally, if you have an oval face – the most common face shape – choose sunglasses that cover or follow your brow line, to avoid a perpetual look of surprise or amazement. Wraparounds and shields look fantastic with an oval face. Suggested Sunglass Frames: With an oval face, any frame is acceptable.
Any style works for persons with an oval shape. Try with the latest looks such as wraparounds or shields. Also sqaure shaped frames with gently rounded edges and higher temples also look fabulous on an oval face.
Suggested Sunglasses Frames: Any frame shape.
Round Face
You’ll want to avoid frames with very round lenses, to avoid emphasizing the roundness of your face. Minimize curves and add definition by choosing sunglass frames with soft, angular and rectangular styles. Sunglasses with angular frames and a higher temple will lengthen your profile. To make your face appear longer, pick designer shades with brow bars to pull the eye upward. Suggested Sunglass Frames: Wider frames with angular and rectangular lenses compliment the round face very well.
Diamond Face
A long or diamond-shaped face will benefit from frames that are heavier on top. Your goal should be to minimize your cheekbones and give the appearance of widened cheekbones. Rimless frames are a good choice. Sunglass pundits advise you to avoid decorated temples if you have a diamond shape face, because they may give your face a disproportioned look. Suggested Sunglass Frames: Oval, square and rimless lenses compliment the diamond face shape.
Square Face
With its broad forehead, wide cheekbones, and B jawline, the square face will benefit from sunglasses with soft curvy frames that help define your faces straight lines. Classic ovals, round lenses, and cat eyes lenses are ideal for the square face shape. Suggested Sunglass Frames: Oval, square and rimless lenses
Oblong Face
Round or square sunglass shapes look best with the oblong face. To widen and shorten the face’s appearance, choose sunglass frames that do not go beyond the widest part of the face. Frames with short horizontal lines, and long vertical lines also compliment the oblong face. Frames with temples that are decorated or contrasting will also widen the appearance of the oblong face. Suggested Sunglass Frames: Round or square.
Triangle Face
You can soften the lower third of the triangle shaped face, which features a narrow jaw and wide forehead, by accenting the eye area with cat eye frames, or rimless metal frames. Suggested Sunglass Frames: Round or square.
Complexion
Dark Complexions
Silver, gold, and clear frames in particular look terrific contrasted against a dark complexion. Black may be too heavy for some skin colors.
Pale Complexions
For a more moderate appearance, choose frames with softer tones and a touch of color. Darker frames contrast more for to create a bolder appearance. If you wear makeup, you can adjust your frames accordingly.
Style In Style
In the final analysis, style is a personal thing. In other words, if it looks good, it is good. Oakley shades with business wear? Why not? Funky shades from Ed Hardy in the cab on the way to a business meeting? Sure! Stylish Chanel, YSL, or Salvatore Ferragamo shades with flip flops at the beach? Go for it! It’s up to you! Some say that the color of your lenses should closely match the color of your attire or makeup – others say your should “dare to be different.” Your personal sense of style is up to you – and picking a pair of sunglasses that compliments your sense of style is an important part of putting across the right image.
