Did you buy the right glasses?

Did you buy the right glasses??

No, not the prescription, but did you buy the right frames?

Do they really look good, or are people just telling you that?

Far too often, I see glasses that are WAY off when it comes to fit and proper size for their face. Who is letting these people leave the store? I mean, how can you possibly let someone spend almost $500 on something ugly, and tell them to have a great day?

So maybe you did buy the wrong frames for your face, or you're looking to update and find that perfect pair. You live in these, so you might as well take the time to figure out what frame makes you look your best.

All this stems from my work at Sunglasses Hell (sorry, I mean Hut). For a small hourly wage I was forced to learn about face shapes and what frames work well with what people. I was given homework (yes, for $8 they wanted me to “study” their process for selling a pair to every person. Unpaid. Mind you it was only hourly, no commission) which I never did.

A great example of what not to buy...

I have no shame, this is a picture of me in a pair of Versace Sunglasses (when your bored, what else would you do?).

We should start with your face shape. What you end up buying will be based off of this. This is not about if your face is boxy, round or fat. It's the general shape that your face is.

There are four basic face shapes for men and women. These will decide what shapes DO and DO NOT work for you. This means that those beautiful frames you see people wearing, and desperately want, may not be the frames for you.

There are four basic shapes; oval, round, heart, and square.

To determine what kind of shape you have, because they seem to be pretty vague, take a look a good look in the mirror (yes, I'm going to make you actually look at yourself). If you don't start to see a shape, take a selfie straight on (for those of you with long hair, pull it back).

You can now either trace your face onto a piece of paper or be trendy and use Snapchat to ask your friends (trust me they know). The shape may not be an exact, but choose whatever seems more appropriate. Here is an image from FramesDirect just in case you don't know what these shapes look like.

We've established your face shape, now its time to discuss which frames go with it. Unless you plan on buying multiple pairs, its important to choose one that's versatile:

• Look for frames of good quality, this does not mean you need designer glasses, but focus on what brands that last and have a great reviews.
• Colorful glasses tend to never match everything in your closet. Glasses should be a subtle expression of you. Stick with tones that contrast well with your hair and skin tone, then they will always blend into your style.
• Be weary of metal frames, they look cool, but they can get very hot in the summer sun.
• Keep in mind your lifestyle; work, play, hobbies. These will effect if you need a pair thats more function than fashion.
• Have fun, bring your best friend, you'll know when you find the right pair.

Glasses vs. Sunglasses

Glasses are designed with a straight forward view in mind. Sunglasses feature more eye coverage for protection from UV rays, so they wrap around the face. Glasses do not, they will always have a flat front for the purpose of the lens, they need a flat frame to create the proper prescription.

P.S. You can buy sunglasses and have the lenses replaced with prescription lenses, but they tend to be slightly bulky and less attractive with clear lenses. Feel free to get them replaced with your prescription , that way you can ditch the frames on those sunny summer days.

Tips on what works:

Oval

-Always taller than it is wide-
You can almost do anything with this shape, see it as a get of a jail free card. Have a great time buying frames, because the rest of us are jealous. Feel free to rock them all confidently.

Round

-Creates a circle-
Contrast your round face with sharper angles and more bold frame options. This will balance out the softness with a harsh accent.

Square

-Have more of a broad jawline-
Try out some more rounded options for a great contrast to your face shape. Also you could try out a rimless option that may be a little wider than your face. Contrast to your shape is a key to success.

Heart

-Wider at the temple that at the jaw-
Your high check bones give and narrow defined chin let you go for more playful options. Stick with smaller temples and frames that are wider than your forehead.

Terminology:

There are quite a few different terms when it comes to frame. There are three numbers that are used for every single frame measurement. They usually look like this: 54 x 15x 140. The first number (54) refers to the width of the lenses. The second (15) is the distance between the lenses. The third number (140) measures the length of the arm (the part that folds in). If you can figure out your measurements you can order frames online with confidence. Fetch Eyewear has a great article on finding your proper size.

So you should be all set to run off and find your perfect pair of glasses!

A pair that matches your everyday, for every occasion.

Any thing you want to read about? Let me know in the comments below!

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