The Quest for the Perfect Sunglasses
Sunny days are here and the hunt for sunglasses has started. No matter what kind you like, just make sure you don’t wear sport shades! Nothing kills a look faster than horrible eyewear on an otherwise perfect outfit! Unless you are training for the Olympics, leave the sport shades at home.
When searching for the perfect pair, it is important to ask yourself these questions:
Does the shade color match your skin tone and your hair color?
Does it match your face shape?
Does the style match the clothing you are wearing?
After answering these questions, you need to decide whether you want to buy expensive designer sunglasses or cheaper ones. Personally, I like to go for high-end designer sunglasses because of the quality of the lenses; I have learned that the price has to do with the quality. If you are looking for a good pair to keep for a long time, it will be worth the investment! If you want to buy sunglasses online to save money, make sure you have tried that specific model on in a store previously—this is primordial because you must see how it looks and fits on your face. Another way to save money is to try getting your sunglasses at a Saks Fifth Avenue outlet or Neiman Marcus outlet when they are on sale—you can get amazing deals on designer sunglasses.
Color
The color of the frames should complement your color tone, which consists of your skin and hair color. Most people have either a cool or a warm skin tone. Now, how do you determine if you are a warm or cool skin type? Lift your arm and look at the underside in natural daylight.
If you have a pinked or rosy undertone with blue tinted veins, you have a cool skin tone.
If you have a gold or apricot undertone and green tinted veins, you have a warm skin tone.
What color to choose if you are a cool skin tone?
Tortoiseshell is more flattering than black on very pale skin; the light it gives off adds warmth to your skin. If you want to experiment with bolder colors, black, rosy brown, plum, magenta, blue, silver, violet, pewter, gunmetal, blue-gray, charcoal, and darker tortoise shade frames will complement your complexion.
What color to choose if you are a warm skin tone?
Black or tortoiseshell will both work well, and, if you’ve got a bit of a tan, it’s worth trying a few brighter colors, too. Gold, bronze, copper, tortoise, honey, brown, coral, or aqua will complement your complexion.
Also take into consideration your hair color. Is it warm or cool? Hair colors with warm tones include: blond, light brown, brown, dark brown, and flat black. Hair colors with cool tones include: strawberry blond, auburn, silver, salt-and-pepper, silver, and blue-black.
The best frame colors for warm and cool hair colors are the same as those for warm and cool skin tones. If you are unsure about whether your hair is cool or warm, rely on your skin tone to select the best frame colors.
Facial types and frame shapes
After determining what color would be best for you, you need to take into consideration the shape of your face. There are four shapes: square, oval, round, and triangle/heart/diamond. In order to figure out the shape of your face, pull your hair back and take a close picture of your face. Trace the outline of your face along the hairline, around the cheeks and following the contours of the chin. You can also stand in front of a mirror, grab some soap, and draw the outline of your face on the mirror. Once you’ve done this, sit back and take a look at the shape you have drawn. Does it appear wider at the top or bottom? Is it round or more egg-shaped? These are all traits indicative of specific face shapes.
Square facial shape
A square face has angular lines with the distance between the temple being equal to that of the chin and hairline; the face will have distinct temple and jaw definition. Round or oval frames can soften your already angular features. Stay away from square frames because they will just enhance your angular lines.
What works best?
Aviator shapes work well. Opt for a larger size for strong features, and smaller for delicate features. The best shapes for your face are oval, round, or cat eye shaped.
Oval facial shape
Well balanced proportions and softly rounded, the chin is narrower than the forehead and has typically high cheekbones. An oval face goes well with pretty much any frame style; however, rectangular frames can help oval faces look a bit wider and larger frames can accentuate and chisel your cheekbones.
What works best?
Any frame shape would work. Just avoid frames that are too large for your features.
Round facial shape
A round face shape is circular, full, and without strong lines and angles. The width and length is proportionate, the cheeks are usually full, the forehead wide, with little to no angles and a slightly rounded jaw. Round faces are soft, so frames that are wide (slightly wider than the widest part of your face) and angular can help minimize curves and sharpen features. Square or rectangular frames can make your face look longer and thinner.
What works best?
Square or rectangular frames. Try to avoid round or small frames and also oversized frames; they will make your face look rounder.
Heart/triangle/diamond facial shape
Heart-shaped faces, also called triangle, usually have a broad forehead, wide cheekbones, and a small chin and mouth. To minimize the width of the top of the face, try frames that are wider at the bottom, very light colors and materials, and rimless frame styles.
Narrow rectangular or cateye shapes can help to widen the lower portion of the face and balance your jawline.
Diamond-shaped faces are narrow at the eye line and jawline and have broad cheekbones that may be high and dramatic. Diamond faces are a common variation of the heart-shaped face, and they look great with wraparound frames.
What works best?
Narrow rectangular or cat eye frames for heart-shaped and triangular faces; wraparound frames for diamond-shaped faces.
Triangular-shaped face
Diamond-shaped face
As a general rule, it’s good to avoid sunglasses that are shaped similar to your face; also, any you chose should be proportional in size.
it’s good to avoid sunglasses that are shaped similar to your face
If you have a strong jaw line or cheekbones, you want to look for glasses with more curves. If you have a round or oval face, you want to look for boxy rectangular frames. And please remember: no sunglasses indoors! It makes you look tacky and shady, and it is simply bad manners. Unless you are blind, suffer from photophobia, have a black eye, or just got your eyes dilated, there is no need to wear sunglasses indoors.
Have fun shopping for sunglasses, and as always, if you are interested to become more fashion-forward but need some guidance, or if you are feeling adventurous with your wardrobe and want to step it up a bit, contact Leila at Leila@thenouveaustyle.com.
About the Author: Leila Korn
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