It’s an unfortunate fact, but not every pair of glasses will suit you. This, along with the countless choices out there, can make glasses shopping a stressful and intimidating experience. But there are some simple guidelines you can follow to make the process easier.
Overall, remember that shopping for eyeglasses can be an enjoyable experience. Glasses are not only functional but can also be a reflection of your personality. Considering frames is not as serious a decision as buying a car or a refrigerator – so have fun.
Which pair will suit me best?
We admit it can be a little difficult imagining what a pair of glasses might look like on your face, when all you have to aid your decision are two dimensional pictures on a computer screen.
OZglasses.com offers the interactive feature Try-On enabling customers to upload their picture and superimpose frames onto their face. This imaging tool allows users to not only ‘virtually try-on’ their favorite glasses, but also to receive feedback from fellow users, friends and family about the suitability of certain frames. Users can repay the kindness received from others by commenting on others’ pictures.
Skin tones are another guideline you can use to decide whether a pair is suitable for your face and complexion. People with warm-toned skin, or golden or apricot undertones, generally look great in strong bold colors like gold, copper, orange, coral, red, warm blue and yellow. Those with cool-toned skin, or pink or rosy undertones, are typically more suited to black, plum, dark brown, magenta and blue frames.
Obviously, this is only a rough guideline, and like most things there are often exceptions to the rule. If you are confused or unsure about your skin tones, just ask a friend or family member to watch you hold a few color swatches against your face to get their opinion about what shades suit you best.
Finally, the shape of your face is another factor determining which frames are flattering. Here are some simple rules you can follow:
For round faces, try boxy or narrow rectangular eyeglasses to lengthen the face. Wider lens shapes are preferable to longer ones, and avoid round frames which make the face look larger.
Oblong faces are long and thin. This type of face will seem shorter and more balanced with wide rectangular or even triangular lenses. Frames that have embellishment near the sides will broaden the face.
An oval face can support any type of frame due to its equal proportions.
Try round or oval frames to soften the look of a square face. To make this face shape appear longer, try frames with slightly more width than depth.
Diamond faces generally have wider cheekbones, while the jaw and eye lines are narrower. Choose oval, cat-eye shaped or rimless glasses to reduce the horizontal distance between your cheekbones.
Flatter a heart-shaped face with frames that are wider at the bottom than the top, or select a rimless or light colored frame to draw less attention to the top of your face.
Will they fit me properly?
Here are a couple of things to ease your mind about correct fitting when purchasing eyeglasses online.
The OZglasses.com website provides measurements on every product page. You can measure an old pair of comfortable glasses you own against these measurements to see if the frames you want are a suitable size.
If your glasses don’t fit properly OZglasses.com offers a full refund (not including shipping costs) if you return the frames within 7 days of receiving them. Please see our Shipping & Returns page for terms and conditions.
You also have the option of taking the glasses to a local optician for them to adjust the temples, ear pieces and nose pads, to make them fit your face properly.
Which is the perfect pair for me?
There are additional factors which also might contribute to your decision. If you have a career-oriented lifestyle which involves long hours in an office, in front of a computer, or in business meetings you may want to consider glasses that project professionalism and diligence. If you perform manual labor from day to day, you should probably consider frames that are practical and durable.
Personality is also a great guide for finding perfect frames. Those with bold, artsy personalities should opt for glasses that reflect this inherent nature, while someone who is fashion-forward should obviously opt for something cutting-edge and chic.
Finally, frame materials and lens coatings can be integral to making your final decision. Glasses frames are available in a variety of materials including titanium, stainless steel, plastic and nylon. Depending on your personal preferences and lifestyle you might want to consider only searching for frames of a specific material. Plastic, for instance, is lightweight and comes in a wide range of colors, but is not as durable as metal.
Additionally, keep in mind that some frames and nose-pads contain nickel which can cause an allergic skin reaction in those with this sensitivity. There are frames on the market, like some made from stainless steel or titanium, which are hypoallergenic. As there are so many options available with numerous pros and cons, research is the best way to determine which materials are right for you.