When you’re too tired or too rushed to do a full face of makeup it’s all too easy to pop on a fabulous pair of sunnies, a lick of lippy and you’re out the door in style. Of course sunglasses aren’t all about fashion but get your frame style right and your peepers will be styling. Choosing glasses to suit can take a little longer though.
Choosing the perfect style for you needn’t be difficult, there’s a perfect pair of sunglasses or prescription glasses for everyone.
Recently I chose a pair of glasses from the comfort of my own home using the at home service offered by Sneaking Duck. Too much choice overwhelms me and quite frankly gives me a bloody headache, stepping into an optometrists store hurts my brain. Are you the same?
When the crew at Sneaking Duck gave me the opportunity to try their ‘choose your own at home’ service I was all in. It’s as easy as jumping on their website, uploading a selfie and ‘virtually’ trying on the styles of glasses. Choose your favourite five and then have them delivered to your door to try. Yay, choosing glasses just got a whole lot easier!
These ‘Bubblegum Quasar’ frames were favourites…
This is when you enlist the help of friends, which is why I asked you all which style you preferred. The vote was split down the middle between two styles but one had my heart. I then sent all the glasses back in the return post pack and ordered my frames, they can even add your prescription lenses.
I chose these ones, ‘*Tempered‘…
So how do you know what’s right for you?
It’s all about balance baby, the shape of your face is the guide for choosing glasses.
Basically the rounder your face, the more square your shades. The more square your face, the rounder your shades…simple.
Oval
An oval face often means a symmetrical face, the holy grail in beauty perfection. You can pretty much wear any shape of shades and look great, lucky duck. Choosing your sunglasses isn’t strictly governed by guidelines, instead it comes down to style personality, choose who you want to be and commit.
Heart
A heart shaped face is more square in the forehead moving down into a narrower chin. This means that you want to balance the width so choose a slightly rounder frame that’s also on the larger side.
This will add width and draw the eye back up the face taking the emphasis away from the length. Think a frame with curves. A classic cats eye or larger aviator will work every time. TIP…I have a larger head so when purchasing aviators I sometimes purchase from the men’s range.
Round
Now remember the rounder the face the squarer the shades…so go for it! Here’s your chance to play with square or rectangular shapes, try some classic Ray Ban’s Wayfarers, on trend angular styles or retro throwbacks. I recently purchased these angled PRADA sunglasses and am in love!
Square
When choosing sunglasses for square-shaped faces, you want to avoid frames that exaggerate your angles. Instead look for frames that soften the sharpness and add length to your square face. By adding curved lines you can make a square face appear thinner and softer.
Rounded or upswept frames will add curves, look for frames that are wider than they are tall to slim down a square face.
TIPS TO REMEMBER
+ Darker lenses aren’t always better. Choose quality ultraviolet protection (95%or higher), this is what gives your eyes protection and can help protect you from eye cancers and cataracts.
+ The larger the frame the more protection. Smaller frames allow more light ( and glare) to hit your eyes, so if eye protection is important to you then look for larger and wrap styles. Remember the more light and glare the more you will squint which can also lead to more wrinkles (shudder).
+ Polarized lenses cut glare, they won’t offer more sun ‘protection’ but will be more comfortable on the eye when driving or when spending time in the sun.
+ Get the whole family wearing quality sunglasses. I have older boys (18 & 21) and I know how they love a $10 pair of sunnies, but once this age group try a quality pair there really is no comparison. If their budget doesn’t stretch then consider a new pair of glasses for a birthday or Christmas gift.
+ Coloured frames matter. Well, they do to me and when I place coloured frames on the faces of my clients it’s a game changer. Remember our best colour palettes should be used close to our face and this includes the frames of our glasses.
Personally I have light, dark and patterned frames. I have black, grey, tortoiseshell, claret and an ever so pale pinky oatmeal colour.
Next time you’re in the market for frames and find yourself needing help choosing glasses take these tips with you and you’ll avoid the headache and make your peepers happy.
What colour frames do you wear? Would you consider a try at home service when choosing frames?
til next time,
Jen x
*Item sent to me for editorial consideration in accordance with my disclosure policy.
Nice post Jenni. I have a round face but also a broad bridge and this makes buying glasses a nightmare! Big sunglasses are great on me but only if the bridge is wide enough and a lot aren’t. I’ve had to get mens opticals as most women’s are too narrow in the bridge and make me look as though I’m wearing childrens glasses! People think I’m being fussy but the struggle is real believe me. ?
Not fussy! They are on your face so you want to get it right xx
Wow! How I have missed your daily posts. And then today this blog popped up. I’m happier now. Great read and good glasses are so important no matter what age you are. Hope you are well! ???
Miss you too miss maggie! Hope the moving is going well. X
I’ve just got new reading glasses and varifocal prescription sunglasses too! I had to take my peeps with me to help me choose because a) I have no idea and b) I am super indecisive. They did a great job of spec selecting but if I can’t rally the troops next time around, I’ll definitely be referring back to this post 🙂 You glasses look fab and those Prada shades are especially swoonsome!
Thanks Sammie, I do love my Pradas x
I have a pinhead so finding suitable sunglasses and reading specs is a bit of a nightmare. I’ll try on every pair in the store and even then I’ll second guess myself when they come in! At the moment, I’m rotating between several pairs of $8 Kmart sunnies but I think I’ll need to treat myself to a decent pair soon, I miss my Kate Spades that perished in a toddler-related incident. You made excellent choices!
Yup, toddlers will mess with your good stuff. The tip is, they do grow up and you can have nice stuff again LOL