The Perfect Fit

Well chosen sunglasses can enhance your appearance by creating balance, offsetting imperfections, and drawing attention to your best features.

Face shape is a key factor in selecting the most flattering sunglasses. Overall, it is important to remember the three general rules.

• The shape of the sunglasses should contrast with the shape of your face for maximum appeal.
• The size of the sunglasses should be to scale with your face size and the eyes should appear centered in the sunglasses.
• Sunglasses should balance personal proportions.

Proportion refers to the overall size of your face and the total relationship between sections of your face in proportion to each other.

Facial Features

Frame shapes can also help maximize or minimize specific facial features. Here are a few fitting tips.

• Long nose: low, dark, straight bridges shorten the nose
• Close-set eyes: clear bridges widen close-set eyes
• Wide-set eyes: dark bridges make wide-set eyes appear closer together
• Strong/thick Rx: oval shapes and high index lenses help minimize lens thickness
• Long profile: Low temples shorten a long profile
• Short face: high temples lengthen face
• High forehead: to shorten a high forehead, try a frame that is even with the brow or slightly higher
• Wide jaws: wide jaws can be offset by a narrow frame with a pronounced horizontal line
• Narrow face: Decorative or contrasting temples can widen a face

Check out the benefits of the common tint colors below:

• Brown/Amber: Reduces glare and improves contrast and visibility by selectively filtering blue light. Great for driving, golf, water and snow sports.
• Gray/Green-Gray: General purpose tint that reduces glare while maintaining natural colors. Good for fishing, running and biking.
• Yellow/Rose: Enhances contrast and definition, especially in lower light conditions. Popular among shooters and hunters.

Face Shapes

Round

A round face is just that – full and possessing curvilinear lines with the width and length in the some proportions and little to no angles.

Do: Choose frames that make the face appear longer and thinner.

• Slightly angular frames that make the face appear longer and thinner.
• High or mid-height temples help to create a longer profile.
• A clear bridge to widen the eyes.
• Try colored temples and frames that are wider than they are deep to add width.

Don’t: Choose excessively rounded or square styles which will exaggerate facial roundness.

Tip: Metal frames with adjustable nose pads will keep lenses from resting on the fuller checks.

Oval

The oval face is considered to be the ideal shape because of its balanced proportions. The chin is lightly narrower than the forehead and the cheekbones are typically high.

Do: Choose frames that keep the oval’s natural balance.

• Select frames that are as wide as or wider than the broadest part of the face.
• Keep frames in proportion to the face.

Don’t: Choose frames with low or “dropped” temples which will unbalance the face.

Tip: It is common for people who have a classic oval face to have small features. The goal is to keep the face in balance. Make sure the frame is in proportion and doesn’t overwhelm the features.

Heart

The heart-shaped face has a very wide forehead and high cheekbones. The face narrows gradually to the chin.

Do: Minimize the width of the top of the face. Frames should add width below the eye line to offset the narrow chin.

• Try frames that are wider at the bottom.
• Low temples will add balance.
• Other choices include aviator, butterfly or low-triangle styles. Frames with rounded tops and squared bottoms will also work.
• Very light colors and rimless styles are also effective.

Don’t: Choose frames that are decorative or heavy at the top.

Tip: The heart-shaped face is a very difficult face shape to fit because almost any pair of glasses will add emphasis just where you don’t need it. Rimless frames are an excellent choice.

Square

A square face is characterized by a strong jaw line, a broad forehead, and a wide chin and cheekbones. The width and length are normally proportional to one another.

Do: Choose frames that make the face look longer and soften hard angles.

• Gently curved narrow styles will minimize angles and lengthen the face.
• The frames should be wider than the widest part of the face.
• Frames should be more horizontal than vertical.
• Select frames with weight on top.
• Try oval shapes with temples in the center.

Tip: Usually it is better to avoid a frame that is flat on the bottom as this will mirror the face shape. Instead, look for a frame that has some curve or uplift to draw attention away from the jaw line.

Triangle

The triangular face has a narrow forehead that widens at the cheek and chin areas.

Do: Choose frames that add width to the forehead while softening and narrowing the appearance of the jaw, chin and cheeks.

• Frames should accent the eye area and be wide enough to balance the jaw line.
• Frames should be slightly top heavy; bottoms should angle inward.
• Try square straight top aviators, semi-rimless (no rim on the bottom half) or any sunglasses with emphasis on the top half of the frame.

Don’t: Choose low-temple styles.

Tip: Try frames that are heavily accented with color and detailing on the top half or try cat-eye shapes.

Diamond

Diamond-shaped faces are narrow at the eye line and jaw line with a small forehead and chin. The cheekbones are often high and dramatic. This is the rarest face shape.

Do: Choose frames that widen the forehead and jaw and minimize the temples.

• Select frames that are heavy on top.
• Frame sides can be straight or rounded. Rimless frames can be a good choice.
• Square frames or frames with a straight top and curved bottom will also work

Don’t: Choose lowered temple frames.

Tip: To highlight the eyes and bring out the cheekbones, try frames that have detailing or distinctive brow lines or try rimless frames or oval and cat-eye shapes.

Oblong

The oblong face is longer than it is wide and has a long straight cheek line and sometimes a longer nose. To create an illusion that the face is less long, the oblong face needs a frame that is deeper than it is wide.

Do: Choose frames that “break” the length of the face making the face appear shorter and wider.

• Frames should have a top-to-bottom depth.
• To shorten the face, try round deep or low-triangle shapes or frames with strong horizontal lines.
• Decorative contrasting temples can add width to the face.

Tip: A low bridge can help to shorten the nose and low or “dropped” temples can help a long face appear shorter.

Additional information can be found at www.eyecessorize.com.