Choose the right frames for your face shape

Before you even begin to worry about whether or not your glasses are trendy, make sure they actually fit your facial features. If the glasses don’t suit your face shape, they’ll never look fashionable. If you aren’t sure what shape your face is, or which types of frames go best with your face shape, ask a friend or the assistant at the optics shop for help.  When you know your face shape, you can get tips and recommendations at various sites online to determine which frames will be best for you.

Pay attention to materials

What are your frames made of? There are all kinds of materials used to create glasses, and each offers a distinctive look. Eco-conscious consumers should look for frames made from recycled materials. Titanium and stainless steel frames have modern appeal but are also quite durable. Hipsters look best in chunky plastic glasses. Fashionistas tend to gravitate towards frames made from aluminum, which are often exclusively created by high-end designers.

Glasses Shapes

The shapes of frames go in and out of style quickly, so it is important to choose one that won’t look out of date in a month (unless you enjoy spending mass amounts of money on frames). As mentioned above, the way the frame fits your face holds more importance than the current style quotient of that frame. The next thing is to determine how conservative you want your look to be. John Lennon glasses may work for an artsy college student, but they aren’t appropriate for the office.

Colours and Patterns

Sometimes, the hardest part of glasses shopping is choosing the right colour. Frames come in every shade of the rainbow, and some feature multiple shades, or even intricate patterns. When choosing a colour or design, be sure to keep your current wardrobe in mind. Don’t waste your money on lime green frames if your clothes are all pastel colours. You will also want to take your skin tone, eye colour and hair colour into account, because the wrong frames can wash out your complexion. If you want to express your creativity or make a bold statement, look for a pair of glasses with a unique pattern, such as leopard print or polka dots.

Sara Roberts is a content contributor for Just Eyewear, a prescription eyeglasses and prescription sunglasses retailer.

Many cheap brands of sunglasses are made from materials that really don’t properly block UV rays. A popular material for inexpensive sunglasses in triacetate, which is also used to make fabric blends. It only absorbs about 40% of the UV rays that are coming toward your eyes. Since the impression of darkness makes your pupils widen, allowing in more UV rays, sunglasses made out of triacetate blends can be worse than wearing no sunglasses at all. You will be under the impression that you are protected when actually you have very little protection in place.

So how can you be sure that your sunglasses are doing more than just casting a shadow over your pupils? The key is looking at both what the lenses of the sunglasses are made from and who is trying to sell you the sunglasses. Top quality sunglasses that provide 100% UV ray absorption and protection are made with polycarbonate or polarized lenses, and they will be sold by high end brands or specialty optical shops.

Putting a priority on the materials that are in your sunglasses can add extra time in your hunt for the perfect pair of sunglasses for the summer, but in the long run your eyes will thank you for the extra attention. Don’t risk the potential for UV ray damage with cheap lenses made from triacetates. Get the protection you expect to have from your sunglasses – look for truly protective lenses!