They are the must-have accessory of the moment and those UV rays aren’t getting any safer, so they are likely to stay that way. It’s always time to get another pair of sunglasses, but how do you decide what to buy? Sure, you can pick up a handful of bargain bucket sunnies for a few dollars but is that who you really are? The world is full of great sunglasses but if you are going to spend serious money, choosing your next pair needs careful consideration. There are over fifty different basic styles of sunglasses, though the variations on those styles run into thousands: that’s a cause for celebration not despair and if you don’t get it quite right this time, you can always buy another pair.
Face Shape
There’s a whole pseudo-science out there about what kind of frame goes with what kind of face, but I’ve never been able to work out whether my face is a triangle, a diamond or a heart. You’ll know soon enough when a shape works for you. Internet wisdom will tell you not to go for round John Lennon glasses if you’ve got a round face, but maybe that’s the look you’re after. Have confidence in your own judgment.
What image do you want to project?
Different sunglasses have different vibes so be clear about what you are getting yourself into. If you go with bright red oversize cat eyes, you’re making a pretty boisterous statement, would you be more comfortable behind a pair of enigmatic Wayfarers? You can be whatever you want to be but be in control of your choice.
The frame
When folk chooses sunglasses, this is the focus of their attention. Do you go large? It makes a lot of sense in terms of eye protection. Or do you go slinky micro or somewhere in between? Part of your decision-making is going to be directed by the context in which you intend to wear your sunglasses. What’s great on the beach may not go down so well in the office. If you’ve always gone with Aviators, because everyone loves Aviators, then why not try something new? Liberate your inner hippy with a pair of round lenses. As I said, there’s a lot of variables to play around with. You’ve got full frame, half frame, frameless, plastic, acetate, metal, wood among many other variable choices.
The lens
The lens is of course what you really should be paying attention to when you buy sunglasses. Once you’ve decided on a shape you’ve got a whole bunch of other choices. Optical glass, plastic, polycarbonate, what you really need to ensure is that you are getting 100% UV protection. Then there’s the colour, orange is good for depth perception, brown gives you high contrast, red is soothing and so it goes. If you wear prescription glasses, then there are prescription sunglass options too. There’s the lens coating to consider as well, polarised to protect your eyes from glare, photochromatic to adjust to changing light intensity or mirrored to freak people out.
And finally
No matter how much you love them, they’re no good if they don’t fit correctly. Measure your face to make sure they fit perfectly.
