Tania Tonello is a fashion stylist, personal shopper, and regular contributor to STYLE Canada based in Downtown Toronto. On #WardrobeWednesdays, she gives you fun yet practical tips and tricks to mastering the art of dressing and expressing yourself in a functional, economical, and more sustainable way. You can read last week’s instalment here.
Pop quiz: What do Anna Wintour and Jack Nicholson have in common? Besides 4-letter first names, they both share a love for glasses; a defining feature of their signature styles. This #WardrobeWednesday, I’m focusing on glasses: a small but mighty accessory that can have a major impact on your overall look.
When it comes to sunglasses and eyeglasses, do you know which styles look best on you? Here are some tips on how to find the most flattering frames for your face:
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Face Shapes
Your face shape is one of the most important considerations when purchasing glasses. Similar to body types and the garments that flatter them, shape and proportion also dictate which style of glasses suit your face. If you have a square or round-shaped face, rectangular and round frames look best. If you have an oval or heart-shaped face, square and round frames are most flattering.
Symmetry
Studies have shown that symmetrical faces are considered more attractive. Don’t have one? Me neither. Though all faces are beautiful, throwing on a pair of glasses with structured frames can give the illusion of a more symmetrical face. And they also happen to be great for hiding tired eyes in a sophisticated way – win, win!
Like the ‘scholarly’ look? You can purchase non-prescription to achieve it, even if you are blessed with 20/20 vision.
Frames
With hundreds of options available in the way of colours and shapes, searching for the right pair of glasses can feel overwhelming. Now that you have a better sense of which frame shape suits your face, let’s talk colour. Be sure to apply the skin undertone tips I provided in last week’s #WardrobeWednesday here.
Glasses also offer a playful way to inject a pop of colour to your look – a statement-making pink or purple frame isn’t something you see everyday. But if you’re not into that kind of flash, muted coloured frames and rimless glasses are great options too.
BONLOOK Cadence Eyeglasses, $149
Lenses
Besides being a fun fashion accessory, sunglasses are meant to protect our eyes from ultraviolet rays so when shopping for your next pair, look for those with 100 per cent UV protection and/or blue light filtering lenses.
What’s blue light? Light with blue wavelengths, often emitted through smartphone screens and televisions, it keeps you alert and boosts your reaction times. While this might sound ideal during the day, blue light can affect your sleep cycle when taken in at night.
What’s another way to add a pop of colour to your face? Try tinted lenses.
Marsquest Force Polarized Aviator Sunglasses, $70
Styles
Now that the warm weather is finally here, it’s time to dust off your sunglasses and safely enjoy the outdoors! If you’re in need of a new pair, here are some popular styles to inspire your shade search:
Aviator
Ray-Ban Aviators, $213
Oversized
Alfred Sung Oversized Square 58MM Sunglasses, $40
Cat Eye
Alexander McQueen Black Cult Cat-Eye Sunglasses, $230
Round
Fellow Earthlings ANNIE Sunglasses, $500
Rimless
Etereo 50MM Rimless Sunglasses, $38
Shield
Oversized Cyclist Sunglasses, $15
Rectangular
Tom Ford Rectangular Optical Glasses With Blue Block Technology, $490
Clubmaster
Le 31 Harrisson Sunglasses, $15
Butterfly
DIFF Becky 57mm Sunglasses, $115
Sport
MEC Logic II Sunglasses – Unisex, $35.95
Oval
Celine Oval Sunglasses, $480
Square
Zara Acetate Sunglasses, $29.99
Wayfarer
Ray-Ban New Wayfarer Sunglasses, $250
Virtual Assessment
Prior to COVID-19, many optical retailers offered virtual ‘try-ons’. Now more than ever, these tools are extremely helpful for finding the perfect pair of glasses from the comfort of your home. Take advantage of resources from these retailers:
Try on your glasses with Bonlook.
The Warby Parker app helps narrow down the perfect pair.
Shady Thoughts
I’ll leave you with words from our unlikely duo, Anna and Jack:
“They help me when I’m feeling a bit tired or sleepy… Incredibly useful because you avoid people knowing what you’re thinking about.” – Anna Wintour
“With my sunglasses on, I’m Jack Nicholson. Without them, I’m fat and 60.” – Jack Nicholson
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