Choosing a new pair of glasses is an important decision. After all, you’ll likely be wearing them every day so they should flatter your face as well as your style. But that may seem easier said than done. So how can you choose the best frames for your face? The first step is to visit your local optical shop in Austin. Meanwhile, check out these tips to ensure you not only look great but feel more confident than ever.

Identify Your Face Shape

All faces fall into one of the following categories: round, oval, diamond, square, or heart-shaped. Before you can select the right glasses, it’s important to know and understand the face shape you have and how it dictates the type of frames that would look best on you.

Round Face

  • Do: To offset the roundness of your face, choose frames that are square or rectangular in nature. Square frames make your face appear longer and slimmer, balancing out your rounder features.
  • Don’t: Avoid rimless, small, and round frames, which all tend to accentuate the roundness of your face.

Oval Face

  • Do: Choose frames with a strong bridge, that are a geometric shape, and that are wider than the broadest part of your face.
  • Don’t: Avoid oversized glasses that shield more than half of your face, which throws off the natural symmetry and balance of an oval face.

Square Face

  • Do: Choose frames that soften the angularity of your face, sitting high on the bridge of your nose. Go with oval or round frames, which tend to add balance as well as a thinner appearance to the sharp angles of your square face.
  • Don’t: Avoid angular and boxy frames that will only draw attention to and sharpen your angular features, resulting in a bulky appearance.

Diamond Face

  • Do: Choose frames that sweep up or that are wider than your cheekbones to narrow your forehead and chin. Cat’s eye glasses and oval frames are two good choices that can enhance cheekbones and other delicate features.
  • Don’t: Avoid narrow, boxy frames that emphasize cheek width, which can highlight narrow features without enhancing them.

Heart-Shaped Face

  • Do: Choose frames that balance out the narrowness of your chin with your forehead width. One way to add width to the narrow areas of your face is to choose frames that have low-set temples and bottom-heavy lines. For example, round or square eyeglasses featuring curvy edges won’t broadcast a wide or high forehead as much.
  • Don’t: Avoid frames with embellished tops or decorative temples, which only serve to draw attention to the forehead.

If you’re still unsure which frames to choose, keep this rule of thumb in mind: opposites attract. By opting for frames that contrast with facial contours while adding symmetry and balance to prominent features, you can accentuate all the right things with the ideal frames.

Understand Your Skin Tone

Next, consider skin tone to select the best colored frames. Just like face shape, your skin tone also plays a big role in choosing the ideal frame for your face. Identify the color palette that complements your skin tone by consulting the guide below:

  • Warm Skin Tone: You are considered to have a warm complexion when your skin has a yellow, peachy, golden, or bronze hue. Ideal frame colors for warm skin tones include gold, brown, honey, beige, light tortoise, and olive green. Stay away from pastel, white, and black frames.
  • Cool Skin Tone: You are considered to have a cool complexion when your skin has undertones of pink or blue. Avoid earth tones that can wash you out and instead opt for silver, gray, dark tortoise, pink, purple, mauve, or blue frames.
  • Neutral Skin Tone: When your skin is a blend of the two above options, you are considered to have a neutral skin tone. This gives you a wider range of colors to choose from, such as gray, black, champagne, light pink, mint, or blue.

Consider Lifestyle

Your lifestyle will be a determining factor in the frames you choose as well. Whether you’re an active person who loves to participate in sports, or you work long hours in an office setting, it’s important to align the type of frame you choose with the lifestyle you lead.

Active individuals will want frames that are extra durable, while professionals who work in a fast-paced office will want to choose bolder frames that make a statement.

Think About Personality

Eyeglasses say a lot about someone’s personality. Even when adhering to all the rules above, you can still have a little fun with your new look. And you don’t even have to stick with just one pair for all sides of your personality. Choose different ones for different activities or even days of the week.

For instance, choose a bold pair to show off your carefree side on the weekends, and another work pair that commands respect during the week to make a good impression on clients.

Visit Broberg Eye Care’s Optical Shop: 4207 Optical

4207 Optical has more than 1,000 designer frames to choose from, as well as all top brands of contact lenses. Formerly called OSA in South Austin, 4207 Optical is located across the street from the South Austin Hospital at 4207 James Casey, Suite 317. Get in touch today at (512) 462-2060.