Flattering frames

So, before you buy a new pair of shades, check out this guide to make sure you’re getting the right pair for your face!

Sunglasses should be proportional to your face. This means that smaller sunglasses are best for smaller faces; larger sunglasses for larger faces. On the other hand, the frame’s shape should contrast with the shape of your face. Here are a few tips to help you to choose the right frame for your face.

Oval face

This face is slightly narrower at the jaw line than at the temples, with a gently rounded hairline.

Lucky you! You have the most options when choosing sunglasses because your face is already proportional. Square frames with gently rounded corners and higher temples look good on an oval face.

Frame suggestions: Sunglasses in any shape and designs would work well on an oval face. However, if you have delicate features go for angular shapes.

Famous oval faces: Jennifer Aniston, Halle Berry, Cindy Crawford

Round face

This is a fuller-looking face with a round chin and hairline. The widest point is at the cheeks and ears.

Your main goal should be to elongate and slim down your face. So choose frames equal to or slightly wider than the broadest part of your face. Elongate your temples with brow bars or double brow sunglasses. This will help to create a longer profile. You might also want to sharpen your rounded face with angular frames. Wider frames also minimise fuller cheeks. Avoid round and narrow frames at all cost.

Frame suggestions: Wider frames, angular, rectangle, double brow style, brow bars, and oversized sunglasses.

Famous round faces: Drew Barrymore, Kate Winslet, Kirstin Dunst

Triangular face

This face has a dominant jaw line that tapers or narrows toward the cheeks and temples.

You want to balance out your wide lower part by adding more width to your forehead with, for example, aviators, brow bars and double brow or frames with details on the upper rim.

Frame suggestions: Shapes that angle outwards at the top like cats eyes. Wayfarers and aviators with double brow styles widen out the forehead.

Famous triangular faces: Victoria Beckham, Kathy Ireland, Vaneeza Ahmed

Square face

This face has a strong, square jaw line and usually an equally square hairline.

Your main goal is to soften your angular face with delicate, curvy frames like round and oval, for example aviator sunglasses. Look for curved frames with an oversized oval shape. This will soften your strong jaw line, broad forehead, and wide cheekbones.

Frame suggestions: Oval, round, cat-eye.

Famous square faces: Sandra Bullock, Demi Moore, Cameron Diaz, Meera

Narrow face

This face is long and slender with about the same narrow width at the forehead and just below the cheekbones.

Widen and shorten your face with sunglasses that do not extend beyond the widest part of your face. Try not to “hide” your face with oversized sunglasses as it can make your face look noticeably longer/narrower. Look for sunglasses with detail around the temples to add width to your face and to draw on-lookers’ eyes vertically. Avoid anything with vertical lines – it will only make your face look longer.

Frame suggestions: Round, square, decorative and contrasting temples.

Heart face

This face is wide at the temples and hairline, narrowing to a small delicate chin.


You might want to soften your wide cheekbones with something delicate and with frames having rounded corners. If you have a heart face consider adding more width to your lower part with sunglasses that slightly angle outwards at the lower corners.

Frame suggestions: Shapes with rounded corners.

Famous heart faces: Reese Witherspoon, Ashley Judd, Jennifer Love Hewitt

Diamond face

This face is widest at the cheekbones and equally narrow at the forehead and jaw line.

If you have a diamond face try adding more width to your narrow forehead with sunglasses that angle outwards at the top corners. Oval sunglasses will soften the contours of your face, although softly curved square frames will work as well. Make sure the styles are no wider than the top of the cheekbones.

Frame suggestions: Oval, cat eyes, square or rimless sunglasses.

Famous diamond faces: Rihanna, Linda Evangelista

Picking the right colour

Colours affect the way you look. They can either make you look drained or give a healthy glow to your face and hair. Generally, if you are warm-toned, golden colours like brown, gold, red and orange will suit you. If you are cool-toned, colours like black, blue, pink and silver are a better option. A few basic colours that work with absolutely everything and are versatile for different occasions are black, gold or silver.

Check the label for UV protection

Wearing sunglasses reduces the risk of eye damage due to sun exposure. Just like sunscreen lotion protects you from dangerous ultra violet rays, sunglasses protect your eyes. Don’t assume that you get full protection from sun rays with pricier sunglasses or a darker tint. Look for the label that specifically states that the glasses have at least 99 per cent, or best of all 100 per cent UV protection. This is often stated on the item description or on a small sticker on the sunglasses at your local store.

The question isn’t whether or not you wear them… the question is, what kind you like to wear!

Top 5 most expensive sunglasses in the world



1. D&G, $386,609 (32,989,346 PKR)

These D&G luxury sunglasses are designed to be as clean as a whistle in water at a surprising price of $383,609. What you can expect for that price? These brown-tinted shades are framed in gold; it also has the D&G famous logo on both stems, which are patterned in diamonds.





2. Style 23, $65,000 (5,546,450 PKR)

Precious metal is not limited to jewelry. I guess you will agree when you notice that these sunglasses are made of genuine 18-carat yellow gold with ivory buffalo horn temples and accessorised with 132 hand-cut diamonds, which weighs 3.45 carats. With all of those features, I guess the rich doesn’t think that $65,000 is expensive.



3. Moss Lipow, $3,800 (324,254 PKR)

Several people like to go classic when they’re choosing their sunglasses. Moss Lipow is made with an ostrich and alligator leather frame. And I guess there are a number of people who would want to pay $3800 for this kind of eyewear.



4. Chrome Hearts,  Kufannaw II,  $1,350 (115,163 PKR)

These stylish sunglasses are made with a high-end silver jewelry design. They are hand-made and will undoubtedly attract the attention of everyone where ever worn. The quality of the craftsmanship is excellent.



5. Evasion by Louis Vuitton, $1,200 (102,361 PKR)

These sunglasses from Louis Vuitton are made of solid, lightweight titanium. The lenses are made of nylon that contains 100 per cent UV protection. It has folding hinges at both stems and the bridge. It has LV’s classic Damier pattern on the frame, perfect for anyone who has a true sense of style.

SOURCE: www.worldinterestingfacts.com

Published in The Express Tribune, March 13^th, 2011.