Choosing your perfect glasses
It’s good to have a think about what you need your glasses for & how you would like to feel in them. Whether it’s for driving, reading, or using computers & other digital devices, it might be that you want your glasses to match most of your outfits, or that you want them to bring out certain features.
Whatever you’re looking for, pop to your local Boots Opticians & have a chat with a member of our team as they will be able to advise you to help you feel more confident in your glasses.
Here are some top tips from a Boots Opticians stylist to help give you confidence when choosing your glasses:
Try frames you’re immediately drawn to
If you find yourself feeling a little overwhelmed by the choice of glasses, simply try on the first pair that catches your eye & go from there. Don’t worry if they seem too big, a little brighter than you’d usually go for or a shape you never thought would suit you. It’s always better to try them on, take a look in the mirror & see how you feel so that you have a starting point. You may find you want to go for bigger or smaller frames, a slightly different shape or colour.
Finding frames for your face shape
Knowing your face shape gives you an advantage on finding the right pair of glasses, as certain styles are better suited to certain shapes & can help complement & accentuate your favourite features. The best way to find out is by taking a photo of yourself or look in the mirror to see which face shape you have
Oval face
An oval face is typically defined as one & a half times longer than its width with a chin slightly narrower than the forehead. Because the features on an oval face shape are considered rather balanced, most styles will suit you.
Try a selection of different shapes to find your favourite but try not to go too large or too small – we recommend going for styles that are a little wider than the widest part of your face.
Round face
A round face is characterised by wider cheekbones, a round chin & a curved hairline. Add balance & definition to your softer features by trying more angular frames. Square or rectangular frames tend to suit round faces, making them appear longer.
Choose frames that enhance your unique style - rimless or delicate arm details are great for work or go for a bold colour to make a statement.
Square face
A square face shape is typically angular with a square jaw line & a wider forehead in proportion to the length of the face. Round or oval frames suit square faces, creating balance by softening sharp angles.
The interesting shape of round glasses add a cool, vintage feel to your look while oval frames are classic & elegant.
Heart-shaped face
A wide forehead that tapers into a pointed chin is characteristic of a heart-shaped face. Look for frames that are wider than your forehead with detail on the hinges.
A cat-eye or wayfarer frame style will flatter your heart-shaped face, making your forehead appear narrower & your cheekbones more defined. For a more subtle look, rimless or bottom-heavy frames will also suit you.
Oblong face
Typically longer than they are wide with a narrow nose, oblong faces have a squarer jaw line than an oval face. Wide frames, such as an aviator style, will flatter a longer rectangular face by making it appear shorter & more balanced.
A square style will also be a great shape to go for & decorative arms will draw the eye, adding width to a narrower forehead.
Match frames to your personality
What you wear is a great way to express your personality & individual style. You can sometimes notice this with people around you such as friends & colleagues. Glasses are a great way to do this, especially if you are a little more restricted with dress code.
If you prefer a bolder look, you could also consider thicker rimmed frames or once with an unusual shape. Check out the new collection from Cocoa Mint which come in an array of colours & shapes with a thicker frame. If you are after a more minimalistic look, you could explore some glasses with thinner frames & lenses to give you a modern look, perhaps in golds, clear or frameless glasses. Our latest range from Chloé reflect a natural & sophisticated look. View our full range of prescription glasses here.
Find your frame colour
People sometimes look for frames based on their favourite colours. But certain skin tones & hair colours are better suited to particular hues. So, the first step is knowing your skin tone & which colours work best with it.
Your skin will generally have a warm, cool or neutral undertone. There’s a couple of ways you can find this out, one is to hold two separate pieces of gold & silver jewellery against your skin. If gold radiates warmth & richness against your skin then you’re warm toned & if silver enhances your complexion & looks more flattering then you’re cool toned. If you have a neutral undertone, you have a balanced mix of warm & cool undertones, so both gold & silver-based metals can flatter your skin beautifully.
Another way to find this out is by looking at your veins. If your veins look greenish, then you may have warm undertones. People with blue or purplish-looking veins usually have cooler undertones. If you have neutral undertones, then your veins may appear colourless or match the colour of your skin.
If you’re warm toned, these shades will help complement your look:
• Beige
• Brown
• Gold
• Pink
• Off-white
• Red
• Yellow
• Green
If you're cool toned, these are shades you could try:
• Black
• Grey
• Pink
• Blue
• Purple
Eye colour
Brown eyes work well with warmer tones, such as greens, golds & even tortoiseshell, whereas blue eyes are better suited to grey tones & rich browns to help the eyes pop. Green eyes work well with earthy tones, but also pinks & purples too.
If you would like more advice on finding your perfect frames, come & see us for some expert advice.
