These days, eye glasses seem to be less and less about vision correction and more and more about fashion. Stylish frames are easy to find, and options abound more than ever before. Many people wear contact lenses for vision correction, and choose one or two pairs of frames that they change, depending on their mood and the type of look they’d like to achieve. Of course, not everyone has this luxury, but some people even wear non-prescription lenses just to have frames for fashion purposes! With all the options available, how do you choose the best frame style for your face? Obviously, there is no substitute for trying on glasses before you buy them, but there are a few guidelines to follow in order to choose the most flattering and fashionable frames.
First of all, start by studying your face shape. Is it round, oval, or heart-shaped? Is it then or more full? These will be important factors. For a round face, choose rectangular frames for balance. Those with a heart-shaped face usually look best with lenses that balance the face by being wider at the bottom (but only slightly so). Oval faces, on the other hand, can wear nearly any style of frames and lenses. If you have small features, be sure to look at frames with small lenses. Large lenses will overwhelm the face and look outdated. If you have a narrow face, you will also be somewhat limited in your choices, as the frame of the eye glasses should not be any wider than the widest point of your face. These will simply look too big and will also overwhelm the face.
Beyond shape, also consider the material of the frames, and the color. Heavy, plastic frames can work for some people, but for others, they may be too severe. Light or fair-skinned people should shy away from dark, harsh colors such as black. Light colors will usually be most flattering. Rimless frames are another popular choice. With these eye glasses, the frame material does not surround the lenses, but the arms and nose piece simply connect to the lenses. These subtle frames are best for those who wish to minimize the look of the glasses on their face. Since color isn’t usually much of a factor with rimless frames, the shape is most important here. With a little bit of research and some trial and error, most anyone can find glasses that flatter their face and pull double duty with both fashion and function!