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.

Style Guide: Sunglasses

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?

These gorgeous shades by Chopard are 23 k rose gold and cost $400. A far cry from their $400,000 pair, complete with 4 carats of diamonds. Image Chopard.

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.

Style Guide: Sunglasses

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.

Style Guide: Sunglasses

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.

Style Guide: Sunglasses

The oversized-shades look is over, people.

Next, determine your face shape and choose accordingly.

Style Guide: Sungalsses

If you have a heart-shaped face, like Deidre, complement your cheekbones and a narrower chin with rounded aviators.

 
Style Guide: Sunglasses

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.

 
Keira Knightley has a square face. So a rounded frame will play well with her sharp angles and complement her jawline. Sunglasses available via sunlasshop.com
If you have a round-shaped face like Kirsten Dunst, opt for a rectangular or square frame. Similar to Kirsten's Bulgari frames available at sunglasshut.com. But I'm warning you, these are very pricey. I've put my favorite frames for a round-shaped face in the Style Notes of the June Vault (for members only). Image and source.
Need help navigating the myriad choices of sunglasses for your face shape?  Allow us to help.  As Nashville Wardrobe Consultants, we have helped many clients find the right frames, both eyeglasses and sunglasses, to flatter their face shape. 
 
Not in Nashville? Find my favorite sunglasses for every face shape inside the Vault. See what you're missing and start shopping my favorite sunglasses, along with all my other must-haves. And get in our deals, too, that save members money while they shop.  
All new July Style Vault drops next week!
Thanks for reading.
Best,
Tina
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