Remember when wearing eyeglasses was uncool? As youngsters, many of us were devastated when the ophthalmologist prescribed glasses for us. Some of us were pretty sure our lives would end because we were going to start high school wearing clunky, plastic-framed glasses. Back then, wearing spectacles meant surviving unimaginative but sticky monikers.
Thankfully, all that’s changed. No longer are glasses just an aid for the optically challenged or the butt of every playground joke but the must-have accessory among the long- and short-sighted — as well as a fair few with a perfect 20/20 vision. They have become a fashion statement. You can look brainy and fun at the same time.
In case you are in doubt, there are plenty of celebrities who wear glasses and they prove us right by making eyewear look like high fashion.
DEMI LOVATO
The Let It Go singer’s statement thick black frames are perfect for days you want to go a bit low-key, but still want to look super stylish
JENNIFER LOPEZ
The Latina sensation is no stranger to daring fashion choices and here she shows us how a great pair of cat-eye frames can look sultry
JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT
There’s always this certain appeal that men wearing glasses have, and Gordon-Levitt always seems to have the perfect pair to finish his look
CRISTIANO RONALDO
The famous No 7 prefers looking nerdy to sporty at important events, and we are impressed how well he carries off this thick wood-panelled number
CATE BLANCHETT
If you never considered simple tortoise shell specs as a serious choice for eyewear, allow Blanchett looking flawless in a pair to change your mind
ANNE HATHAWAY
The Princess Diaries actress has been spotted out and about donning a rather fetching pair of aviator-style frames, inciting some serious outfit envy
THE PERFECT PAIR OF GLASSES FOR YOUR FACE SHAPE
IF YOU HAVE A DIAMOND-SHAPED FACE…
Your face is longer than it is wide, with wider cheekbones and a narrower chin and forehead.
What works: Use frames with soft, smooth lines such as round or oval. But to balance your face, make sure that the frames aren’t wider than your cheekbones. Consider styles with extra detail at the top of the frame such as a contrasting colour or decorative cat eye.
IF YOU HAVE A ROUND FACE…
Your face has just about the same width and length with no definitive corners at the jaw.
What works: Go with a square or rectangle-shaped frame as you want to create a contrast between the face and frame. Try a frame with sharp edges or angles to add some definition to highlight your bone structure, such as a cat-eye style. As you’re naturally drawing the eye and the face up, it helps to define and create a more angular face.
IF YOU HAVE A HEART-SHAPED FACE…
Also known as an inverted triangle face, your face is wider at the top and gradually narrows down towards the jawline.
What works: Choose a frame that mimics the features of your face shape, such as ones that are wider on the top than the bottom. If you have a heart-shaped face, it’s ideal to choose a pair of wider, oversized frames. They’ll draw attention to your eyes instead of your chin and help to fill out your face.
IF YOU HAVE AN OVAL FACE…
Your face is longer than it is wide, and the width of your brow, cheekbones and jaw is almost equal.
What works: People with oval faces can rock a wide range of styles. It is the most versatile fit, say opticians. So go ahead and flaunt a flat-top frame or a rimless style. Or try an oversized frame, a bold colour, or a frame with texture. This shape complements almost every style of frame and you can get away with practically anything.
IF YOU HAVE A SQUARE FACE…
All measurements are fairly uniform and the width of your forehead, cheekbones and jaw is roughly the same.
What works: Skip sharply angled glasses, instead aim for contrast with your face shape. Round and oval-shaped lenses help balance the sharpness of a square-shaped face. Go for frames with an upward curve like a gentle cat-eye or butterfly frame to minimise the squareness of your face or frames with decoration on the top outer corner.
