How to Wear Statement Sunglasses

I love sunglasses

But you probably knew that already. After all, there’s hardly a picture of me without my sunglasses on. I also have quite a collection of sunglasses (certainly more than I need), in different styles.

For me, sunglasses are a necessity: I have very sensitive eyes. But I also think that a fabulous pair of sunglasses is the ultimate diva accessory that completes the outfit. And that’s why I need more than one pair.

However, for a pair of sunglasses to end up in my collection, it has to be perfect in every way: glamorous or cool, it has to have my name written all over it. A rare gem, that’s what I’m after.

Fortunately, I find sunglasses very easy to shop for. That’s because I can spot the perfect pair of sunglasses as soon as I enter the shop, and I often buy the first pair of glasses I try on.

So, how do I do it? How do I spot the one perfect pair of sunglasses among hundreds of different styles? Well, I follow a set of simple guidelines that I have internalised to the extent that I don’t even have to think about them any more.

  STYLE AND SIZE

The Internet is full of more or less useful advice and all sorts of charts and pictures to help you choose the right sunglasses to suit the shape of your face. Yet, it’s not always so easy to determine what the shape of your face is. That’s because most people don’t fall neatly into categories, whether we are talking about face shape or something else.

For example, I have a rather long, angular face, with a high forehead and prominent cheekbones. Does that make my face ‘rectangular’, ‘oval’ or ‘square’?

Does that really matter? I know what type of sunglasses suit me and what don’t.

Let’s start with what doesn’t suit me: oval, round and rectangular sunglasses. They just make my face look even longer. Also, as much I’d love to wear aviator sunglasses, they really don’t do my face any favours. At best, they just look a bit blah.

Cat-eye sunglasses, on the other hand, suit my face perfectly. Provided that they are big enough, of course. Because when it comes to sunglasses, size matters. Smaller cat-eye styles look perfect on someone with small, delicate features or a heart shaped or a round face. On me, they would just look too small.

However, cat-eye sunglasses, whatever their size, also come in many different styles: some are more angular whereas others are rounded. The angular, geometric styles suit round faces with softer features as they provide some contrast. More angular faces, like mine, need more rounded shapes that are wider at the top for the same reason.

And that’s the secret to finding the perfect pair of sunglasses: I always look for cat-eye (or butterfly) styles that are rounded and oversized, and wider at the top.

DON’T BE AFRAID TO BREAK THE RULES

Whenever I’m shopping for a new pair of sunglasses, I scan the selection for the oversized, rounded cat-eye style that I know will always look good. Yet, every now and then, something completely different catches my eye.

This pair of  Prada sunglasses is one of my favourites, and it couldn’t be further from the ‘ideal’ style I usually go for:

In a way, it’s a variation of the classic aviator style, but with a twist. The shape of the lenses is triangular, yet rounded, and wider at the top.

Rounded, oversized, wider at the top

That’s the checklist I go through when I’m looking for new sunglasses. And yes, even though it’s not oversized, this pair fits the description.

Similarly, the square sunglasses below are a departure from the ‘ideal’ (= cat-eye) style, yet exactly what I usually look for: rounded, oversized and wider at the top.

IT’S ALL ABOUT PROPORTIONS

Thus, the style of the sunglasses matters less than size and proportion: the perfect pair of sunglasses must balance out the facial features. In other words, the sunglasses must be in proportion to the width and the length of the face.

What does that mean?

To put it simply, narrow glasses suit a narrow face, whereas a wider face needs wider glasses. Anything too narrow would make a wide face (like mine) look enormous, and too wide glasses on a narrow face would create the bug eye effect. Similarly, shorter glasses look better on a shorter face but would make a longer face look even longer.

So, as I have a wide and a rather long face, the width and the length of the lens should be more or less the same, so that the sunglasses are in proportion to my face. Or, if we take the square as the starting point: we stretch the top a bit to make it wider and give it some shape, then round the corners to soften the look, and that’s how we get the perfect lens shape for my sunglasses.

Your can do the same: all you have to do is look at the proportions of your face and choose sunglasses in a style and size and compliment you features.

Details:
mirrored sunglasses: Nina Ricci / leopard print sunglasses: Dolce and Gabbana /
silver-framed aviator sunglasses: Prada / minimalist square sunglasses: Longchamp /
wooden sunglasses: Woobs

Tiina

Linking up with:

Elegantly Dressed and Stylish, High Latitude Style, A Labour of Life, Curly Crafty Mom, Doused in Pink,  Not Dressed As Lamb, Living on Cloud Nine, Elegance and Mommyhood, Nancy’s Fashion Style, Shelbee on the Edge, A Pocketful of Polka Dots Style Splash, Away from the Blue, Mummabstylish , Mutton Years Style and I, Confessions of a Montreal Styling Diva, Independent Fashion Bloggers