Between 80 to 90 percent of the country's population wears sunglasses. With those kinds of numbers, you'd think everyone would have styling and wearing sunglasses down to a science, but that isn't the case.
We've all seen someone wearing sunglasses who just looks wrong. Sometimes it's clearly the cheapest pair out of a boardwalk bin and thrown to the bottom of their closet. Sometimes it's a dorky, out-of-date style that makes the person look more like your grandpa than a fashion-oriented young person. Sometimes their face is so overwhelmed by the size and shape of the sunglasses that you miss out on their natural beauty.
We've broken down sunglasses style to the essentials so that you can feel confident in your next sunglasses purchase and know how to style them every day.
Find The Right Sunglasses For Your Face Shape
Just like certain clothing styles look better on certain body types, the same applies to faces and sunglasses. Each face is unique, but certain attributes can be diminished or different sunglass styles.
The general silhouette of your face will give you a clue about which sunglasses are right for you. You'll need to determine your face shape and then compare it to the styles that look best on that type.
Even once you find the right sunglasses for your face shape, you'll also need to find sunglasses that are the right size. Sunglasses that are too big will overwhelm a face with smaller features, and sunglasses that are too small will look comical or childish on a larger face.
Choose the Right Style
Sunglasses in fashion send different messages. They can be laid back, cool, glamorous, and practical. When choosing a pair of sunglasses, first come up with what vibe you hope to give with your style. Then find a pair that matches that style.
Bright colors are great for the bold among us. A cat-eye shape brings to mind the vintage dinette style. A big round pair screams old Hollywood glamour. If you're trying to look cool and rugged, a pair of aviators never misses.
Make Your Sunglasses the Center of Attention
When you style sunglasses, less is more. Your sunglasses should be the focal point especially of your accessories. Keep everything else light or minimal. Small, dainty jewelry or a watch is alright, but since you already have something substantial on your face, you don't want to look buried in accessories.
Save those chunky necklaces and dangly earrings for a different outfit, and let your sunglasses be the center of attention.
Keep Them Around
Sunglasses are a great accessory even if you aren't always wearing them on your eyes. It isn't always practical to expect to wear your sunglasses all day, and not everyone wants to carry the case around in a bag.
Luckily, you can put your sunglasses in a couple of places for safekeeping that still shows them off. Hook them onto your button-up shirt, in the v of a v-neck. If you are wearing a blazer, a nice pair of sunglasses will look great alongside your pocket square. If you're an easy, breezy kind of woman, one of the best summer hair looks is using your sunglasses to push back your long locks.
Use Your Prescription
Nothing is worse than buying a pair of sunglasses and then not being able to use them. If you wear glasses, you might as well get your sunglasses in your prescription. Even if you wear contacts, you don't want to find yourself on a day where you want to wear sunglasses and are unable to because you forgot to put in your contacts.
If you're sure that you'll have contacts in and don't want to accidentally double up on your vision correction, get two pairs of sunglasses - one with a prescription and one without. This way you know that you'll always have the ability to be stylish and keep your eyes safe and shaded.
Buy From a High-Quality Brand
There are a few reasons that expensive is better when it comes to sunglasses. First of all, you can just tell when someone is wearing a cheap pair of sunglasses. The lens will be foggy, the plastic will look thin, the varnish will look worn, and the shape will be just a little... off.
A high-quality pair of sunglasses will also last you longer. Paints and dyes won't wear off. The tiny hardware won't come apart, the plastic or metal is less likely to bend or snap in your bag and break.
It's also worth noting that some cheap sunglasses aren't as good at protecting your eyes. The whole point of sunglasses is to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays and make it easier to see. A pair of cheap sunglasses with poor polarization will be hard to look through and ultimately not give your eyes the longevity they deserve.
With more expensive sunglasses, you can also invest in the newest sunglasses technology such as Bluetooth. Imagine being able to take calls and listen to music right through your sunglasses. No need to pull out headphones!
Wearing Sunglasses That Are Right For You
Looking good while wearing sunglasses is all about getting the right pair. Knowing your face shape and the best glasses to complement it is the first step. Then you just need to make sure you're buying a high-quality pair of glasses and letting them be the focal point of your outfit.
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