Sunglasses are just as much about style as they are about protection, but how do you know if you're getting a pair that will look great as well as shield your eyes from the sun? With so many different women's sunglasses available, it may be hard to narrow it down to the perfect pair. This women's sunglasses buying guide has the information you need to know how to buy sunglasses that will flatter you and protect your eyes.
Any style of sunglasses that you love will look good if you feel confident wearing them. However, if you're unsure of which style will give you that kind of confidence, consider the shape of your face. In general, sunglass frames that are the opposite shape of your face will be the most flattering.
Square
A square face with a strong jaw looks best in round sunglasses because curved shapes will complement your angular features. You'll want to avoid sunglasses with flat, straight bottoms. The most flattering sunglasses will be a pair of oversized sunglasses.
Triangle
A triangular, or heart-shaped, face has a wide forehead and narrow chin. Choose sunglasses that are slightly rounded or oval-shaped to complement your angles. Aviator sunglasses are especially flattering on your face because they angle inward at the bottom edge.
Oblong
A long or oblong face calls for frames which create a strong horizontal line, like wrap sunglasses. To shorten an oblong face, look for sunglasses where the top is heavier than the bottom or ones that have more detail along the top.
Round
A round face has the most noticeable curves, and to help make your face appear longer and leaner, your sunglasses should have fewest curves. Rectangular frames and square sunglasses will be the most flattering.
Oval
An oval face has gently rounded curves that work with almost any style, from sport sunglasses to fashion sunglasses.
Sunglasses will be the most flattering when they are the same width as the widest part of your face. You'll want to consider the measurements of sunglasses when you are online shopping and can't try them on.
Sunglasses measurements are given in millimeters and have three numbers: the width of the lens, the distance between the two lenses and the length of each arm. For example, you may see the measurement "60 - 16 - 115." This means that each lens will be 60 millimeters wide, the bridge across your nose will be 16 millimeters, and each arm will be 115 millimeters along each side of your head.
To determine which size you should buy, stand in front of a mirror with a ruler or measuring tape and measure at the widest point of your face. Then measure the width at the top of your nose, where the sunglasses will sit; this is the middle number. Take the total measurement, subtract the bridge size and divide it in half; this is your lens size, the first number.
While you are shopping, remember that a millimeter is very small, so if you decided that 60 millimeters is your perfect lens size, but you love a pair that measure 62 millimeters, you can probably be sure that they will still fit well.
Unlike any other accessory, your sunglasses have a serious job to do. They're protecting your eyes from harmful ultra-violet rays that can cause irreparable damage to your vision. Sunglasses can also protect the delicate skin around your eyes, especially if you choose a pair of oversized sunglasses. And when you aren't squinting into the sun, you aren't as likely to get little wrinkles around your eyes.
To fully protect your eyes, be sure that the sunglasses you buy have at least 60 percent UVA protection and 95 to 99 percent UVB protection. If the sunglasses you like are not described as having UV protection, you may want to pass on that pair and keep on shopping. Luckily, these days, most sunglasses do have full UV protection.
Lens colors
For the most part, the lens color of your sunglasses is personal preference, but some lens colors can affect the way you see colors while you are wearing them.
Grey: Grey lenses are the least likely to affect the way you perceive colors, so sunglasses with grey lenses are perfect for driving or other activities where you need your vision the most.
Green: Green lenses, often found in aviator sunglasses, make colors appear cooler than they are. Green lenses are also good for driving.
Brown or amber: Brown and amber lenses will block out blue colors, giving your vision high contrast, making them perfect sports sunglasses.
Purple, pink, red or blue: As much as everyone would like to see the world through rose-colored glasses, these lenses interfere with color perception the most and should only be worn for fashion.
Can I have my sunglasses resized?
You can have the arms adjusted, but the width cannot be changed. Even if you don't wear prescription sunglasses, you can take them to an optician to have the arms shaped to better fit over your ears. If a pair is too wide or narrow, however, you will need to keep on shopping to find the right pair for you.
What are polarized sunglasses?
When light reflects off a flat surface, it reflects horizontally and creates a glare, and polarization can block out that horizontal light. Wearing polarized sunglasses can reduce the glare you see reflecting off flat surfaces, like water, snow and the road. However, because some types of light are blocked, some experts do not recommend wearing polarized sunglasses when driving. Sports sunglasses are often polarized; many people love wearing polarized sunglasses for sports, like cycling, running and boating.
Which is better: metal or plastic frames?
While some more expensive metal sunglasses may have sturdier hinges than plastic sunglasses, it is mainly about fashion and not function. You can choose whichever style you prefer.
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From head to toe
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Summer fun
If you are shopping for a new pair of women's sunglasses to wear this summer, then you may need some new swimwear, too. Overstock.com a giant selection of the one- and two-piece swimsuits that will perfectly complement your new sunglasses, so you can coordinate your summertime look without spending a lot of money.
