How to Look Good in Glasses (for Women)

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Glasses offer a way for you to change your current look or enhance it. Wearing glasses will often add to your overall look, and give you one more accessory you can play with. Women can enhance their look with the right pair of glasses that fit their face shape, and personality, and by styling with hair and makeup.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Choosing Glasses for Your Face Shape

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  1. Once you have identified your face shape, you should look at frames that will complement your face shape. If you do not know your face shape, there are several charts you can look up online to help you determine this. You should also keep in mind certain frame styles you should avoid. [1]
    • Round: If you have a round face, you have noticeable curves on both sides of your face and less defined angles, or cheekbones. The width and length of your face are mostly equal in size.
    • Oval: Individuals with oval faces have balanced features, and their chin is slightly narrower than their foreheads.
    • Oblong: If you have an oblong face, your face will be longer than it is wide. You will also have a long straight cheek line, and you may have a longer nose.
    • Base-down triangle: If you have a base-down triangle face, you will have a narrow forehead that widens at your cheek and chin areas.
    • Base-up triangle: If you have a base-up triangular face, you have a very wide top-third area of your face and a narrow or small bottom third of your face.
    • Diamond: This is the rarest face shape, where you have a narrow eye line and jawline and broad cheekbones that are high and dramatic.
    • Square: If you have a square face, you have a strong jawline and a wide forehead. The width and length of your face are the same proportions.
  2. If you have a round face, you should go for eyeglasses that are square or rectangular to contrast the roundness of your face. Avoid round frames and rimless frames, as these will only highlight your round face and will not complement your face shape. [2]
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  3. If you have an oval-shaped face, you should look for frames that have a strong bridge and are wider than the broadest part of your face. Geometric-shaped frames tend to look good against an oval shape. You should avoid glasses that are oversized and cover up more than half of your face. Big frames can throw off the natural balance and symmetry of your face. [3]
  4. Make your oblong-shaped face appear more balanced by choosing frames that have more depth than width. Look for frames that have decorative elements on the sides of the frames and a low bridge. Avoid round frames or small frames. [4]
  5. Highlight the narrow upper third area of a base-down face with frames that have color and detailing on the top of the frames. You can also try cat-eye-shaped frames. For a base-down triangular face, go for frames that are wider at the bottom to balance out the wider top area of your face. Frames in light colors and materials, as well as rimless frame styles, are also ideal for this face shape. [5]
  6. If you have a diamond-shaped face, you should look for cat-eye glasses or oval frames. These frames will play up your narrow forehead and chin and accentuate your cheekbones. Avoid boxy or narrow frames. [6]
  7. Individuals with square-shaped faces should look for eyeglasses that sit high on the bridge of their noses and have an oval or round frames. You should avoid angular and boxy frames that will draw attention to your angular features, as this can make your face appear bulky or heavy. [7]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Matching Glasses with Facial Features

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  1. Your eyeglasses should work with your facial features, rather than against them. If you are proud of a certain facial feature, such as your blue eyes or your strong cheekbones, look for frames that show off this facial feature. [8]
    • For example, you may choose blue frames to match your blue eyes, or you may look for red frames to match your red eyebrow hair. Or, you can play with contrasting colors. You could match purple frames with green eyes.
  2. Your skin tone should also complement your frames, as eyewear that works with your coloring will often look better on you. Your skin tone has been proven to be more of a deciding factor for eyeglass frames than your eye color or your hair color. [9] [10]
    • If you have a cool skin tone, go for frames that are silver, black, pink, purple, blue, mauve, gray, and dark tortoise. These frames will not wash out your complexion.
    • If you have a warm skin tone, look for frames that are the light tortoise, gold or honey, beige, olive green, and brown shades. Avoid pastels and white and black frames.
  3. Give your face more dimension by making sure your eyebrows fit with the look of your frames. If you have thick, bold frames in a bright color, you may want to keep your eyebrows simple and neutral so they do not compete with your glasses. You may do very light eyebrow maintenance, like plucking stray hairs and brushing your eyebrows out to keep them simple and clean. [11]
    • If you have plain frames or rimless frames, you may want to play up your eyebrows and draw more attention to your eyes. Use an eyebrow pencil to lightly fill in your eyebrows, following the natural arch of your eyebrows.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Wearing Glasses That Fit Your Lifestyle

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  1. Consider how you would classify your style. Are you preppy, edgy, vintage, or athletic? Cat-eye frames would work well for a vintage style, but they might look out of place with an athletic wardrobe.
    • If you wear a lot of a certain color, like purple, consider wearing glasses that match that color.
    • For example, you may want to choose semi-round frames if you have a preppy style.
  2. Conservative frames are often the best choice if you are working in a serious business environment. Oval, rectangle, and almond frames work well for a professional style. Some common colors for this style are gold, silver, brown, gray, and burgundy for women. [12]
    • Avoid frames in bright colors or unusual shapes unless you work in a creative and/or casual environment.
  3. If you live a very active lifestyle, consider glasses that accommodate your needs. For example, choose glasses that have polarized lenses, or polycarbonate lenses that resist shattering. You can also choose wraparound glasses to help the glasses stay in place. [13]
  4. Functional does not have to mean unstylish. Ovals, soft cat-eyes, and upswept rectangle frames are functional, simple, and stylish. You can add a personal touch by choosing frames with metal accents or simple patterns. Basic colors like black, silver and gray are good choices, but you can add an edge to your style by choosing glasses in uncommon colors like plum and soft green. [14]
  5. Don’t be afraid to experiment with unique and colorful styles if you want to show that you are creative and fashion savvy. Consider modern frames that are made of metal and feature a geometric design. Or, large frames in bright colors or patterns (like a flower pattern) are great for showing off a quirky style. [15]
    • Fashion trends change often, and this includes glasses. Look up current fashion trends if you want to stand on-trend with your glasses.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Styling with Hair and Makeup

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  1. If you want to highlight your new bold frames, as well as your facial features, try putting your hair in an updo like a high bun, or a sleek chignon at the nape of your neck. Combining an updo with interesting eye makeup and bold lip color will ensure your face does not get lost in your hair or your frames. [16]
    • If you have bangs, a high bun can help to show off the lower half of your face, and your bangs will act as a great frame for your eyeglasses.
  2. If you have longer hair, past shoulder length, you can try curling the ends of your hair, and pinning back one side or both sides of your hair for a relaxed, casual look. This look is easy to do if you're strapped for time in the morning, and it will help show off your frames. [17]
  3. Make sure to take your glasses with you to show your stylist the next time you get a haircut. Your haircut may look good without glasses, but look different when you get home and put your glasses on. A pair of square frames would work well with long, straight hair. If you have bangs, try a pair of light frames. In general, wear light frames with a bold haircut and bold frames with a simple haircut. [18]
  4. Try to match the color of your frames with the basic tone of your hair. For brown or black hair, wear a dark or metallic frame. If you have blonde hair, try a pair of frames with light rims or no rims at all. Redheads can make just about any color of the framework, except white or yellow.
    • Take your glasses with you to show your stylist the next time you get a haircut.
  5. Just because your eyelids are behind a pair of glasses doesn’t mean you should leave them bare. Makeup can enhance the style of your glasses. Show off your eyes by applying a cat-eye with eyeliner, or using eye shadow in a light color. Light eye shadow will highlight your eyes, but darker and bolder eye shadow may make your eyes appear too dark. [19]
    • You can also wear an eye shadow that complements the color of your glasses. For example, choose a violet eye shadow if you wear yellow frames.
  6. For black, square frames try cherry red lipstick. If you wear glasses with caramel frames, try a red-orange lip color. Bold lipstick, however, looks great with any glasses. Colors such as coral, wine, and fuchsia can be worn all year long. [20]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I choose the right glasses?
    Kalee Hewlett
    Image Consultant
    Kalee Hewlett is a Celebrity Stylist & Confidence Coach with almost two decades of experience helping clients build confidence and ‘dress for success.' She works with her clients to transform their sense of self 'from the inside out’ by merging her expertise in image consulting with Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Kalee’s work is rooted in science, style, and the understanding that ‘identity is destiny'. She uses her own methodology and Style To Success Strategy to create positive identity shifts. Kalee is a fashion TV host and appears regularly on QVC UK sharing her fashion expertise. She also was appointed as the head judge and host of Fashion One Network’s 6-part TV show 'Design Genius.’
    Kalee Hewlett
    Image Consultant
    Expert Answer
    There are a lot of factors in finding the right glasses. First and foremost, you should look at what styles of glasses work on your face shape, but you should also consider your haircut and color, your skin tone, and your personal style. For instance, if your style is more vintage and a little alternative, you might choose glasses with a round rim, but for an executive look, you might choose a square frame.
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      Tips

      • Try on several pairs of frames before you choose one. Before you buy eyeglasses, it’s essential that you go in person to a frame store and try on several pairs before you choose the one for you. [21]
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      • Many frame retailers also have online stores where you can take a picture of yourself and do a virtual try-on of several pairs of frames.
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      • Some people buy several pairs of glasses to wear for different settings. For example, you may get one pair of glasses that shows off your funky side for the weekends, and a pair that emphasizes your professional tone for work.
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      Warnings

      • A pair of glasses that you love may be costly. Decide on a budget before going glasses shopping.
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      References

      1. ↑ http://www.allaboutvision.com/eyeglasses/eyeglasses_shape_color_analysis.htm
      2. ↑ https://www.mathervisiongroup.com/how-to-choose-right-frames-face-shape
      3. ↑ https://www.mathervisiongroup.com/how-to-choose-right-frames-face-shape
      4. ↑ https://www.mathervisiongroup.com/how-to-choose-right-frames-face-shape
      5. ↑ https://www.mathervisiongroup.com/how-to-choose-right-frames-face-shape
      6. ↑ https://www.vsp.com/how-to-choose-glasses.html
      7. ↑ https://www.vsp.com/how-to-choose-glasses.html
      8. ↑ https://www.vsp.com/how-to-choose-glasses.html
      9. ↑ https://www.vsp.com/how-to-choose-glasses.html
      1. ↑ http://www.allaboutvision.com/eyeglasses/eyeglasses_shape_color_analysis.htm
      2. ↑ http://www.allaboutvision.com/eyeglasses/makeup.htm
      3. ↑ http://www.allaboutvision.com/eyeglasses/accessorize.htm
      4. ↑ http://www.allaboutvision.com/eyeglasses/accessorize.htm
      5. ↑ http://www.allaboutvision.com/eyeglasses/accessorize.htm
      6. ↑ http://www.allaboutvision.com/eyeglasses/accessorize.htm
      7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM46nyXLeqU
      8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM46nyXLeqU
      9. ↑ http://www.thehairstyler.com/features/articles/hairstyles/glasses-hairstyle
      10. ↑ http://www.allaboutvision.com/eyeglasses/makeup.htm
      11. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM46nyXLeqU
      12. ↑ https://www.vsp.com/how-to-choose-glasses.html

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you’re a woman who wants to look good in glasses, make sure you get the right frames for your face shape to help complement your look. For example, if you have rounder features, go for square or rectangle glasses. For more angular, stronger features, choose oval or round frames. You can also match your glasses to your style. For example, if you're a sporty person, consider polarized lenses or polycarbonate lenses that resist shattering. Or, if you wear a lot of vintage clothes, go for cat-eye frames. To highlight your glasses, style your hair in a high bun or updo. Alternatively, if you have longer hair, curl the ends for a relaxed, casual look. For more tips from our Fashion co-author, including how to choose the right colored frames for your glasses, read on!

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