The Secret to Sunnies
Sunglasses are so iconic. Would Breakfast at Tiffany’s be half as glamorous without Audrey’s dark shades? Would the Terminator be so menacing? Would Tom Cruise even have a career without sunglasses?! Sunglasses can say a lot about us, who we are or who we want to be. They protect your eyes (and sometimes your secrets)! Finding your own iconic look is no small endeavor. It takes patience, but with the following tips, you should find your perfect specs in no time!
The face that launched millions in sales of Ray Bans and Scientology memberships.
There are four main criteria to consider when buying sunglasses; flattering your face shape, fit, protection and cost.
FLATTER
There are 4 basic face shapes; square, round, oval and heart. To start, you’ve gotta know what you’re working with. If you’re not sure, the easiest way to figure it out is to take a quick selfie straight on into the camera, then use the mark-up tool to draw a line around your face. Just do it, don’t overthink it!
Square faces tend to have a forehead and cheekbones that are approximately the same width and are complimented by a strong jawline. Rounded and curved style glasses are flattering for you because they soften the angular nature of the face. If you have a round face, the opposite is true; square, angled styles compliment the softness of your face. A round face is about as long as it is wide.
A heart-shaped face is wider at your cheeks and narrows down through the chin. The lines of aviator and cat-eye styles can help draw the eye down to make your face feel balanced.
It’s said oval faces can wear just about any style, but speaking as someone with an oval face, I can assure you I’ve tried on MANY an unflattering pair! You have to remember that proportion is important too. If you have large features, larger styles will feel more balanced. Smaller styles compliment smaller faces. You can still try a glam oversize pair, just keep it oversize in scale to YOU! In general, I think the most versatile style is a cat-eye. Cat eyes can be very subtle and come in rounded and angular styles that can work for anyone!
FIT
You now know your face shape and complimentary styles, but you still need to think about how the glasses actually fit. The specificity of fit can be overwhelming, but let’s keep it simple. Remember to L.E.W.C. before you buy; Lashes, Eyebrows, Width, Cheeks. Your eyelashes shouldn’t touch the lens, your eyebrows should be visible (or partly visible) above the frame, the width of the glasses should be close to same width as your face, and the glasses shouldn’t rest on your cheeks! Any reputable optical retailer should be able to adjust the fit of your glasses, but they might not be the LEWC for you if you’re experiencing these issues!
PROTECT
Sunglasses are more than a glamorous accessory protecting you from the annoying paparazzi, they’re meant to protect your peepers! UV protection is non-negotiable! Glasses should offer as close to 100% UV protection as possible. Even cheap styles offer this, although the UV coating is typically sprayed on as opposed to baked on with more expensive styles. The color of the lens is a matter of personal preference, it doesn’t have anything to do with how much protection there is. Each color of lens offers differences in color and depth perception. Personally I prefer gray lenses that darken without altering color.
MONEY HUNNY!
I’m often told, “I lose sunglasses so only cheapies for me!” Are sunglasses worth spending money on? I think somewhere between Claire’s and Valentino, there’s a happy medium. Generally, you can feel the quality of the frame in a more expensive pair and see a difference in the lens, From the $10 to $60 price point I think there are vast differences, but from $70 up you start buying into the story and marketing of a brand. Break down the price by cost per wear. If you’re wearing them everyday it’s worth the investment. Are you wearing them just on vacation? Maybe not. I promise when you invest in a quality pair you’ll be so paranoid about losing them that you won’t! Keep your glasses in a case or cloth pouch to protect them and make them easier to find.
At the end of the day, trying on multiple pairs of sunglasses is going to be a lot more effective than looking at a mannequin head online, but there are many retailers that offer virtual try-on and filters to help you choose. To quell frustration, I suggest ordering a minimum of three pair to give yourself options. Scroll below to see some of my favorite styles and places to shop for sunnies. Don’t forget to send me picts of what you end up with or message me for more personal direction!
