Adding a pair of sunglasses to a great outfit is an easy way to class up what you’re already wearing. Celebrities have long hid behind the dark shades of their sunglasses, and many possess up to ten pairs or more. Young female celebrity Nicole Richie recently told InStyle magazine that she owns over 500 pairs of sunglasses – and that she feels they are the best accessory a girl could have.
However, when choosing your next pair of sunglasses, there’s a lot to choose from. There is a huge selection of sunglasses styles, prices and features out there – it’s difficult to choose which pair is best. Not to mention, you should be looking for a pair that protects your eyes, flatters your face shape – the list of things to consider goes on and on.
Sunglasses can be a wonderful accessory and an even better addition to your already fabulous outfit, but only if they look good on you. So, how do you find that perfect pair? Relax – there’s a lot to think about, but this article will help you decide.
First and foremost, you have to think about UV protection. Sunglasses might look great, but you can’t forget that they’ve been created for a purpose – and that’s to protect your eyes from the harsh rays of the sun. A good pair of sunglasses will protect you from ultraviolet radiation, which can cause eye disease.
The FDA, which oversees the manufacturing of sunglasses and sales in the United States, is in charge of dictating how sunglasses are made. In order to keep your eyes safe, the FDA recommends that your lenses block ninety-nine to one hundred percent of UVA and UVB rays (yes, there are two kinds of rays).
You want the label on your new pair on sunglasses to read either UVA 400 or 100% UV protection. If your glasses are cheap, chances are, they won’t say anything about UV protection at all – these sunglasses are just for looks, and while they might look great, keep in mind that protection should come first, and that even if they’re tinted, your glasses might not be protecting you from the sun.
Wondering how exactly your glasses protect you from the sun? The lenses in different pairs of sunglasses vary – some are heavier than others and certain ones are more durable than others.
Three materials that you’ll commonly find in sunglasses are the following:
* Polycarbonate, which is a lightweight but durable plastic
* CR-39, which is a plastic that is generally used in prescription-grade glasses, not regular sunglasses, and
* Glass, which, while durable, is heavier and therefore harder to wear.
But what about sun protection? Most good pairs of sunglasses will have UV filtering, which is one coating that’s applied to sunglasses lenses – but there are also a variety of tinted colors that help to diffuse the sunlight. Some people prefer black, others gray – the color you choose is for the most part a matter of personal taste, but realize that the color you choose also has an effect on the kind of care and protection you’re choosing for your eyes.
For example, gray lens tints reduce brightness, so the sun doesn’t seem as bright, but on the bright side (pun intended), they don’t distort color. Brown and amber tints can reduce glare, but because the glare is created by the blue frequency in sunlight, they can make things appear a bit hazy. Hence, brown and amber tints distort colors more than grey ones do.
Yellow lens tints reduce the haze from the blue light better than brown lens tints do, so they sharpen your view, but they can also cause more color distortion. Green tinted lenses reduce glare and help to filter out blue light – they also provide a good contrast between objects. Rose colored lenses are a good choice if you’re big into water sports, because they provide a good contrast for objects viewed against blue or green backgrounds.
Now that we’ve covered safety, how do you choose the best pair of sunglasses for your face? As a general rule of thumb, round faces do best with slimming wraparound sunglasses and oversized rectangles.
Circular frames, which work well on long, slim faces, add fullness to your face and hence, don’t look good on people with round faces.
Oval faces should stick to oversized square frames, aviators and wayfarer styles.
Square faces should choose either upturned wayfarers or cat-eyes – both of which soften the jawline. Square frames, which echo the angle of your face, aren’t good for you.
Heart shaped faces should draw attention upwards with oversized square sunglasses and wraparound styles. Teardrop shaped aviators will emphasize a sharp chin, so stay away from those if your face is anything like actress Reese Witherspoon’s.
The perfect pair of sunglasses can protect your eyes from the sun while adding that perfect air of coolness to your look. Find your next pair now.