How to Choose the Right Frames for Your Face

Eyeglasses do more than just help you to see. They frame your face and highlight your personal style. Choosing the just-right pair requires considering a combination of factors. Before you buy, take a look at what you need to know about selecting your next pair of go-to glasses.

You wouldn't use any shade of makeup or wear any color of sweater. You choose what coordinates with your skin tone, accentuating your natural good looks. The same goes for your eyewear. One study, from Taiwan's National United University, even found that consumers tend to put a greater emphasis on their tone when it comes to frame color preferences.

Which frame is best for your coloring? Pale or cool tones of skin tend to match well with silver, light purples, pinks, and blues. If you have a warmer or deeper skin tone, gold, bronze, copper, orange, beige, reds, or tortoise-shell patterns are options to consider.

Even though these skin tone-frame color matching guidelines can create an attractive (and coordinating) aesthetic, these aren't your only options. Create a bold look with a contrasting color - such as pairing a bold red hue with a cool skin tone or an icy silver with a warm, tan tone. This type of high-style pairing isn't always an everyday look. But for special occasions, it adds a special flare.

Like skin tone, matching your face shape with your eyeglasses is an important part of selection process. But if you're not sure where to start, consider:

Square face options. Squares faces tend to look sharp or angular. A round or oval frame can add softness that balances a square face.
Likewise, thinner frames can also soften an angular facial structure.

Round face options. Unlike angular square-shaped faces, round facial structure is soft already. Angular frames (such as square, rectangular, or cat's eye styles) can offset the softness and create an aesthetic statement.

Narrow face options. A narrow face can benefit from delicate round frames. Avoid heavy eyewear or wide styles. These can overpower a slim face shape.

Heart-shaped face options. The heart shape face is wider at the top, near the forehead area. Wide frames or elongated cat's eye styles can balance the face.

Trying on different types of frames is often the easiest way to figure out what works best for your face.

While aesthetics are a major part of the frame selection process, how you wear your glasses (and more importantly, what you wear them for) is another factor to consider. If you're athletic or extremely active, you'll need frames that don't slide and won't bend or break easily.

Avoid delicate wire frames. These can bend easily and aren't as likely to stay put. Likewise, ornate frames with accents or embellishments aren't ideal for an active lifestyle. These also come with an increased breakage risk factor. Sport-specific glasses/frames are made from materials that stand up better to activity and athletic-related impact.

Your opinion is the overriding factor when it comes to choosing eyeglass frames. Even though matching tone, face shape, and lifestyle factors to the frames are all important, nothing should get in the way of your personal preference.

A healthy sense of satisfaction in your appearance can build confidence. To better understand what you like, try on a variety of types, colors, and shapes of eyewear. You might surprise yourself with a new style that is different, but perfect, for your face.

Do you need new glasses? Are you looking for the ideal way to frame your face? Contact SouthPark Optical Center for more information on their styles and selection.