Sunglasses or ‘sunnies’ as they are commonly known are an important part of your wardrobe. Apart from obviously protecting your eyes from the elements, they add a pop of style to your outfit. However, not just any pair will do. Various factors should be considered when picking sunnies.
Face Shape
Depending on the shape of your face some sunnies will either flatter your features or make you look like a freak. There are 4 basic facial shapes: square, heart, oval and round. A square face has a wide forehead, strong jawline and wide cheekbones. Sunnies with soft lines such as aviators or those with round rims match well with this shape. Heart-shaped faces have their narrowest point at the jawline. If you fall in this category, look for glasses that are narrower at the bottom than the top like the cat-eye type.
An oval face is longer horizontally than vertically. People with this shape can pull off any design of sunnies. The key is to keep the proportions matched with your features- make sure the frame isn’t too small or too large. Rectangular, cat-eye and oversized frames work well with round faces since they help to minimize the roundness.
Design
Consider the occasion you’re wearing your sunnies for. A simple pair works for almost any setting. Quirky and in-your-face frames are perfect for artsy festivals while ornate or embellished glasses make a bold statement at glam events.
Function
For normal environments ordinary sunnies are enough. However if you’re planning to go biking or hiking in windy and dusty locations, choose those that curve towards your face at the outer corners of the eyes. This keeps the harmful elements out. There are specially-made glasses for this.
If your eyes are sensitive to light more than average, look for sunnies with UV protection. For extreme cases it’s advisable to contact your physician. Note though that the colour of the lenses isn’t necessarily related to the level of UV protection. That is usually indicated on the frame but if in doubt, take them to an optician for evaluation.
