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Womens Sunglasses:

"How to Buy Fashion Sunglasses that Suit Your Face"

Sunglasses from Sunglass Warehouse

You want to make sure you place your money on a pair of womens sunglasses that will look good on you and not least, be safe on your eyes!

They range from bold large sunglasses, trendy wayfarers to casual womens aviator sunglasses. Many women base their choice on what they've seen in magazines. But just because a pair looks fantastic on your favorite celebrity doesn't mean it will look good on you too. So unless you have the exact skin complexion, face shape and facial features, you'll need to figure out what will flatter your appearance.

Read along as we'll go through 7 points on finding the perfect match for your face :-)

Determine Your Face Shape

Speaking of your face. Pick a pair that complements the outlining of your face.

The right ones will looking flattering on you by balancing out the shape -- creating a proportional and visually pleasing face shape. Like for example, if you have a wide jaw, wide forehead, round face, long face, etc., the wrong frames will only highlight that.

Click here for a simple step-by-step guide to find your face shape (opens in a new window).

Decide What Complements Your Face Shape Best

I assume you've found your face shape and are ready to select a pair of frames?

Two rules of thumb when choosing sunglasses for your face shape are:

1) Wear a pair that are of the same size of your face, and

2) Choose a pair with frames that contrast with the shape of your face and facial features.

Like say, if you have a small face with delicate features, large sunglasses will overempower your face, making you look like a little child wearing your mother's dress. You might want to go for smaller sunglasses with angular frames to harmonize with the size of your face but at the same time sharpen the roundness.

Or if you havea wide face and you attempt to wear a pair of narrow sunglasses - it will only make your face shape more noticeable. It's like trying to fit in a dress that's too small and everything just pops out in a form for bumps and boobs. So you should opt for oversized sunglasses with either angular or round frames depending on how sharp or delicate your features are.

Let's have a look the different common face shapes and what suits each of them the best:

Oval Face Shape

Lucky you! You have the most options when choosing sunglasses because your facial shape is already proportional. Squarish frames with gently rounded corners will look really good on your face.

Sunglasses for oval face shape

Frame suggestions: All sunglass shapes and designs. But if you have delicate features, go for angular shapes.

Round Face Shape

Your main goal should be to elongate and slim down your face. So choose frames equal to or slightly wider than the broadest part of your face.

Sunglasses for round face shape

Elongate your temples with brow bars or double brow. This will help to create a longer profile. You might also want to off-set your rounded face shape and sharpen it with angular frames. Avoid round and narrow frames at all cost.

Frame suggestions: Wider frames, angular, rectangle, double brow style, brow bars, oversized sunglasses

Triangular Face Shape

You want to balance out your wide lower part by adding more width to your forehead with for example aviators, brow bars and double brow, or frames with details on the upper rim (think horned rim glasses).

Sunglasses for triangular face shape

Frame suggestions: Shapes that angle outwards at the top corners like cat eyes. Should be wide enough to form a straight line with your broad jaw. For example: Wayfarer, aviators with double brow style.

Square Face Shape

Your main goal is to soften your angular face with delicate, curvy frames like round and oval, like for example aviator sunglasses. If you have a short square face shape, follow my advice on round face shapes on elongating your face.

Sunglasses for oblong narrow face shape

Frame suggestions: Oval, round, cateye

Narrow/Oblong Face Shape

Your main goal is to shorten as well as widen your face shape. Try not to "hide" your shape with oversized sunglasses as it can make your face noticeably longer/narrower. Detals at the temples and narrow sunglass styles will look good on you.

Sunglasses for oblong narrow face shape

Frame suggestions: Round, square, decorative and contrasting temples, light colors like white

Heart/Diamond Face Shape

You might want to soften your wide cheekbones with something delicate and with curves like frames with rounded corners. If you have a heart shape consider adding more width your lower part with sunglasses that slightly angle outwards the lower corners.

If you have a diamond face shape try adding more width to your narrow forehead with sunglasses that angle outwards the upper corners.

Sunglasses for heart diamond face shape

Frame suggestions: Shapes with rounded corners.

Pay Close Attention to Your Facial Features

If you have strong features (strong chin, prominent nose etc.), choose a pair that softens them. Or if you have delicate features ( like a short nose, rounded jaw etc.), choose a shape opposite from it to visually sharpen them a little.

Secure a Couple of Basics

Two basic colors that work with absolutely everything are black and dark brown. A little bit of gold or silver is also versatile. From special occasions to a day out with your friends.

Choose Womens Sunglasses in Colors That Complement Your Complexion

Pick the right colors for your hair and skin complexion.

Colors affect the way you look. It can either make you look drained or give an healthy glow to your face and hair.

Generally, if you're warm-toned, you suit golden colors like brown, gold, red and orange.

If you're cool-toned, colors like black, blue pink and silver will suit you better.

Check out Cheryl Cole's warm colorings compared to Sarah Harding's:

Cheryl Cole with oversized big sunglasses

Sarah Harding with oversized big sunglasses

Images via sunglasses-shop.co.uk

Note: If you're warm-toned and wish to wear black sunglasses then choose ones that have a warm-colored lense in for example brown, yellow, dark charcoal grey, golden red, etc.

If you have cool skin and hair, then you might want to choose purple and bluish lenses.

You might want to find your best colors by doing a seasonal color analysis.

This will give you a more accurate explanation on what colors suit you best.

Dare to Try Something New

We sometimes tend to be stuck in a fashion rut. Look trendy with different types of fun sunglasses suited for your face and style. There's a huge variety of womens sunglasses out there! Be creative.

However if you want to be on the safe side, stick to a classic design but in different color or design. Review my suggestions for your face shape and get some ideas on what to buy the next time you shop.

And for the Boring Part; Check the Label for UV Protection

Wearing sunglasses reduces the risk of eye damage due to sun exposure. Just like sunscreen lotion protect you from dangerous ultra violet rays (that can lead to skin cancer) sunglasses protect your eyes.

You do know that exposure to sunlight can contribute to cataracts and eye disorders?

According to Sheryl Berman, M.D., a medical officer in the FDA's Division of Ophthalmic and Ear, Nose, and Throat Devices, light still enters from the sides of sunglasses and can be reflected into the eye extra protection, no matter if the sunglasses give 100% UV protection. So you might want to look for close-fitting, larger-lensed or wrap-around sunglasses. These will prevent UV rays from filtering in from around the edges.

Don't assume that you get full protection from sun rays with pricier sunglasses with darker tint. You might want to look at the label specifically states that the glasses have at least 99%, or best of of all 100% UV Protection. This is often stated on the online store item description or on a small sticker on the sunglasses at your local store.

Note: The best way to secure that the sunglasses you're buying online are UV-safe, is to buy at reputable stores. If you're not sure of their level of UV protection, you could also ask an eye-care professional to test your sunglasses.

Beware that most counterfeit (replicas) cheap sunglasses, especially sold from street vendors, don't have UV protection, no matter how dark the lenses are or how good they look.