Style Guide: Sunglasses
Tina, here.
Sunglasses are like seat belts in that everyone should be required to wear them, but let’s let the fashion police oversee this division. Such an important purchase. So much room for error. Fines for choosing the wrong pair. See below.
These shades are too wide and too tall for my face. Sunglass fail. For how to choose the right sunglasses for your face shape and coloring, keep reading.
Ladies, there is a pair of sunglasses for you out there. I promise, he’s waiting. And not just one fine specimen. You may be lucky enough to fall in love more than once in your lifetime. Let’s hope so since the life expectancy of a pair of shades is a year or two.
Which brings us to this question: should you spend or save on your shades?
Depends. Are you tough on your sunglasses? Do you take them off and just toss them willy-nilly in your handbag without the protection of their case? (For shame.) Do you wear them on top of your head like a head band, stretching them? (For shame.) And do you nervously chew on the ends? (No shame here, we all have a nervous habit and that’s not as bad as smoking, wink.)
So the verdict on spending or saving? I buy nice shades at discount stores. The best of both. High-low. It’s a way of life for me, really.
We all know pulling your hair back in sunglasses is a great bad-hair-day trick, but it’s also a bad-for-your-sunglasses trick. Mine are Prada here. Sign in and shop the exact pair inside the June Style Vault if you're a Vault member. (see Style Notes)
Here's your guide for shopping and wearing sunglasses.
1. A tortoise frame is universally flattering.
I love this pic of Barbara and Amy, our Nashville and Williamson County wardrobe stylists. Tortoise looks as good on brunettes (Amy is wearing some), as on blondes, like moi.
2. If you are lighter skin-toned, go with a darker frame, for some contrast.
3. If you are darker skin-toned, you can choose a lighter frame.
4. Upgrade to the UV protection, or don’t even bother wearing.
5. If the frame extends beyond your eyebrows, and above or past your ears to the side, they are too big.
The oversized-shades look is over, people.
Next, determine your face shape and choose accordingly.
If you have a heart-shaped face, like Deidre, complement your cheekbones and a narrower chin with rounded aviators.
I have an oval-shaped face. We can wear almost any style, but exaggerated aviators will make us look droopy. A subtle cat-eye is a great shape for us. See how we are basically taking whatever shape your face is and creating the opposite effect with the shape of your sunglasses? Take another example.
