You know you’ve got to find just the right footwear, outfits, and
accessories for summer, but what about eyewear? After all your summer look
won’t be complete without the right pair of shades. Here are a couple of
pointers for choosing the right sunglasses that make just the right statement.
Choose shades based on your face shape
Yes, the oversized shades are in this summer, and yes, sunglasses with
slightly lighter lenses are quite fashionable. But, don’t just pick up the
first pair of huge shades with lenses that aren’t black. Consider the shape of
your face and the shape of the frame of the sunglasses to make your look both
flattering and friendly.
If you have an oval face, the most common face shape, choose sunglasses that
have frames that are wider than the broadest part of your face, which will
probably be between your eyes and cheekbones. Steer clear of glasses that have
low temples, since this will make your forehead look longer than the rest of
your face. It’s also a good idea to follow your brow line, so that it doesn’t
look like you’re surprised or alarmed when you put your sunglasses on.
For a rounder face, select frames that will make your face look thinner and
elongated. You can accomplish this with angular frames and sunglasses with a
higher temple will make your profile longer. Avoid very round frames; these
will make your face look a little too full.
If your face is diamond-shaped, which is the rarest face shape, you should
select sunglasses that widen the forehead and minimize the cheekbones. Stay
away from decorated temples, because this could make the face look
disproportioned; instead, try glasses with no rims or frames that are heavier
on top.
Don’t try to match your shade colors with your outfit
Now that everyone is slowly (but surely) figuring out that you don’t have to
wear the same lipstick or eye shadow shade as your outfit, it’s time to
reinforce this rule when it comes to sunglasses. Just because your glasses have
a brown or tan tint to them, doesn’t mean that you should only wear these
shades when you’re wearing brown. Tinted shades look great with monochromatic
outfits, because it breaks the monotony, and may even bring out certain colors
in your accessories. However, it’s best to match the look of your shades with
the overall look of the outfit; sunglasses that are all one color (frames and
lenses) can be worn with just about any outfit, and glasses with smaller rims
and frames look great with clothes that are very tailored. But, it’s best to
make sure that you’re comfortable with your sunglasses/ outfit combination, so
try a few pairs on before you step out with your new summer look to find a look
that is most suitable for you. When you feel like you look your best, this is
bound to show.
Don't Spend a Ton of Money on Shades
Sure, sunglasses are an important accessory, but that doesn’t mean you have
to spend a lot of money to find shades that look good on you. You can find a
number of great sunglasses styles at places like Old Navy, Gap, Target, and
even Wal-Mart. It’s best to have a pair or two of sunglasses that are a little
pricey, however; you can use these year after year. But, if you want to
experiment with your look a little bit, or aren’t quite sure which sunglasses
look best on you, pick up a few pairs at the stores mentioned above, or at local
discount department stores and thrift stores to match up with your new summer
outfits. Sunglasses are one of the last things to go out of style, and your
face isn’t going to change shape, so you won’t have to worry about buying a new
pair every year—unless, of course you want to. Like any accessory, you can
never have too many sunglasses.