2 days ago we talked about frames and different tints for your sunglasses. Today we will look at the right shape to fit your face.
Choosing The Right Fit And Shape For Your Face
Your spectacle frames can make you look fun, funky, classic, sexy, intellectual or individual… It only requires careful choosing to get the perfect fit for your face to give you the image you wish to project.
Frames:
Modern frames come in a huge range of colors and shapes and are usually made of plastics or metals.
Plastic frames are colorful and durable. Most plastic frames are made of cellulose acetate or propionate. Other options like Nylon are suitable for people with allergies.
Metal frames usually have a nickel-silver core which is coated on the exterior with other materials. Stainless steel and titanium frames are available for those who are allergic. Titanium frames are also extremely light, but they need to be 100% titanium to be hypo allergenic.
If your frames tend to distort easily, try special materials like Flexon which have a “memory” that helps them retain their shape.
Fit:
Frames should cover your eyebrows and pupils should be centered at the middle of the lenses where vision is the clearest.
The bridge or the nosepiece supports most of the weight of the glasses and should sit evenly and lightly on your nose.
The temples or the side pieces of your glasses should go behind your ears comfortably without obstructing peripheral vision. Comfort cables can hook behind the ear to keep your glasses in place during strenuous activity. Library temples extend straight back and are held in place by pressure, which makes it easier to slip them on and off.
Color Co-ordination:
The color of your frame should suit your skin tone. Cool complexions have undertones of pink and blue and can carry off magenta, black, pink, blue, beige and silver.
Warm complexions have a yellow base. Earthy and autumn colors like brown, gold, maroon, peach, orange and khaki will go well with them.
Selecting A Frame To Suit Your Face:
Your frame’s shape should balance that of your face. Generally, contrasting shapes off set each other well. Pull your hair back and take a good look in the mirror to judge your face shape. Often, faces have a combination of shapes; so trial and error and a second opinion is the most reliable way to a good choice. Here’s a general guide to point the way!
1. Square Face: Has a wide forehead, broad jaw line and a square chin. The face is usually as broad as it is long.
* Choose: Round or oval frames will soften the jaw and add length to the face. The frame should have more horizontal depth than vertical and be wider than the broadest part of the face. Some weight on the top and temples set at the top of the frame will draw attention away from the jaw.
* Avoid: square, narrow styles and ones that emphasize the bottom rim.
2. Round Face: Fairly short with few angles; broad forehead, full cheeks and rounded chin. The breadth and width of the face will be equal.
* Choose: Angular, upswept styles with color or decoration at the temples to draw attention to the upper part of the face and add length. Metal frames with adjustable nose pads are ideal as they will stop lenses from pressing on the full cheeks. Frames should be wider than they are deep.
* Avoid: Overly square, round, or large frames which will add to the roundness.
3. Oval Face: Balanced and proportionate, with the forehead slightly wider than the chin, high cheek bones and small features. This is considered the ideal shape and many different styles will suit this face, so you can afford to be adventurous!
* Choose: Small geometric shapes which are in proportion to the face.
* Avoid: Low swooping temples or large styles that will unbalance or overwhelm the features.
4. Oblong Face: The length of the face is longer than it is wide with a long cheek line and nose.
* Choose: Frames that break the length of the face and give it width. Frames should have vertical depth. Try round, deep or low triangular frames. Strong horizontal lines and decorative temples will add width. A low bridge will help to shorten the nose. Curved frames will help soften the angular nature of this face.
* Avoid: Angular frames and small square shapes that emphasize the length of the face.
5. Heart Shaped Face: Broader at the forehead, tapering to a pointed chin and small mouth.
* Choose: Low triangular shapes like aviators and butterfly frames. Very light colors, rimless glasses and frames with rounded tops and squared bottoms will help to reduce the width of the top half of the face. Low temples will add balance.
* Avoid: Frames which are wider or heavier at the top.
6. Triangular Face: Comparatively narrow forehead and eye line, with a broader jaw.
* Choose: Frames with heavy detailing on the top half. Square, straight top aviators and semi-rimless glasses will help to fill out the top half of the face.
* Avoid: Low temple styles and bottom heavy or small, narrow frames.
Other Features To Consider:
1. Hair:
* For graying hair, avoid silver colored frames. Try brown toned ones instead.
* If you are balding, it makes your face look longer. A strong brow bar will draw attention away from a large forehead.
* Facial hair requires a light frame for balance. Square bottomed frames pair well with a round beard.
* Thick eyebrows require thin frames.
2. Eyes:
* A thick or dark bridge will draw widely spaced eyes closer together. For close set eyes, using a thin, clear bridge will make them seem wider.
3. Nose:
* A low set bridge will make a long nose look shorter, while high temples draw the eye up and away from the nose. A high bridge will make a short nose look longer.
Caring For Your Shades:
Do:
Use both hands to hold the temples, mid way on either side, when you put on or remove your glasses. This will keep them aligned and in shape for longer.
Moisten eye glasses before wiping clean. Warm running water and a drop of mild liquid soap will help remove surface dirt and smears. Wipe dry with a soft paper towel. Spray cleansers are also available at eye care stores.
Use Micro-fiber cloth for wiping. It traps dust and lifts it from the lens. Be careful to machine wash the cloth weekly to remove the dust it holds, or it will scratch your lenses. Do not use any fabric conditioners or softeners while cleaning micro-fiber cloth since it leaves residues.
Ask your optician to apply a special fixing solution on the tiny screws in the frames to keep them from falling out.
Keep glasses inside their protective case when not in use so they do not get scratched, bent, or crushed.
Don’t!
Never use household cleansing agents like alcohol, ammonia, acetone, harsh detergents and such to clean your frames or lenses.
The chlorine in swimming pool water could ruin your glasses.
Never wipe your glasses when they are dry.
Excessive heat will damage both your lenses as well as the frame, so leaving your glasses on the dash board or in the glove compartment of your car is a big no, no!