Choosing a pair of glasses needs to be about more than just stylistic considerations – important as these are. When picking out spectacles, thinking about functionality, your hobbies and your work is key to ensuring you get the right glasses to fit in with your day to day life.
Your ideal eyewear should mesh form and function perfectly, so take some time to choose a pair that is right for you. Here are some tips to consider when it comes to working out to how to choose glasses that work for your particular style.
Think About Lifestyle
When selecting a new pair of glasses, think about your lifestyle and the impact this could make on your choice. If you’re active, or play sports regularly, consider sports glasses for their durability, anti-fog and anti-glare properties. Sports glasses are usually scratch resistant, too. GlassesUSA.com stock a wide range of sports and other specialist glasses in a range of frames so that you don’t need to compromise style for performance and practicality.
If you drive for long periods regularly, you might want to consider transition lenses, polarized lenses or glasses with an anti-reflective coating to make your time behind the wheel more comfortable. Anti-reflective lens coatings can also benefit workers who spend a lot of time in front of the screen, as they help to minimize glare, which can be a cause of eyestrain and headaches.
Consider Your Face Shape
The shape of your face will have a huge effect on the style of frame that will best suit you.
If you have an oval face shape, glasses from nearly any style or frames will suit you, although frames that are just slightly wider than the widest part of your face will probably be the most flattering option.
Round faces will likely look best wearing angular or rectangular frames, which add balance to the features; rimless frames can work well with this shape of face, too.
Oval or round frames are great for square faces, and can soften angular features. Choose oval frames for elegance, and round ones for an edgier, on trend look. Decorative details on the arms can be effective for this face shape, also.
A heart shaped face will benefit from wayfarer style or cats’ eye frames, and frames that are wider than the forehead are very flattering for this face shape; rimless frames also work well and promote a contemporary look.
Think About Your Skin Tone
When choosing glasses, taking into consideration frame colors that match with your skin tone is a great way to make your face glow and to complement your natural beauty.
Warm skin tones particularly suit tortoiseshell frames, or those in red or purple shades. Brown, green and gold frames look great with medium-dark skin tones, while cool skin tones are great partnered with blue, black, purple or metallic frames. If your skin tone is dark, opt for purple, black, clear or off-white frames to show off your skin perfectly.
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How to Ensure a Comfortable Fit
Whether you’ll be wearing your glasses for specific activities or keeping them on full-time, finding a pair that is comfortable is crucial. An optometrist will be able to take measurements to make sure that the glasses you choose are adapted to fit perfectly – alternatively use these tips to help you find a great fit for yourself:
- Make sure that the top of the frame should not sit higher than your eyebrows
- Look at the width of the frame – it should not be wider than the width of your face at the temples
- Ensure that the bridge of the glasses sits in a comfortable position on your nose
- Check that the lowest edges of your glasses are not touching your cheeks
- Make sure that the size of the frames are in proportion to your face – for example, a petite face can be overwhelmed by very large frames
Lens Treatments Available
The option to customize your eyewear further is present in the form of lens treatments; these extras are worth considering in order to tailor your glasses to your needs and lifestyle.
For those with high prescriptions, lenses can often be made thinner and lighter, which means that they sit in your chosen frames more attractively, and put less pressure on the nose and ears. Customizing the lenses in this way can often make them 40% lighter and thinner than a standard lens made up to the same prescription.
Polarizing lenses eliminate glare, have superior UV protection and can enhance contrast; as discussed above, they are particularly useful for drivers as they make driving in snow and rain more comfortable.
Reaction lenses adapt quickly to changing levels of light, and also offer excellent UV protection. They’re particularly convenient for those who prefer to have just one pair of glasses, rather than separate work spectacles and sunglasses.
Focus on Style and Comfort
Selecting the right pair of glasses can have a significant beneficial effect on your daily life. By taking care to think about style preference, lifestyle factors, your face shape, skin tone and the details of your specific prescription, you will be able to choose comfortable eyewear that works for you…and looks fabulous, too.