A beginner’s guide to choosing glasses, from a stylist and eyewear designer
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BELLA DE ALMEIDA REIS
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SPECSAVERS
WORDS BY MARYEL SOUSA
Finding a pair that lasts.
When I was growing up, glasses weren’t ‘cool’ – especially mine, a lop-sided pair of bright purple, oval-framed specs that paired shockingly with my ginger hair and severe overbite. If you’re picturing something like a gender-bent Chuckie from Rugrats, you’d be correct. If only seven-year-old me could’ve glimpsed into the future and seen the models walking down the Miu Miu FW23 runway with eyewear nearly identical to mine. What was once terribly uncool became the new ‘it’ accessory within one lap of a catwalk.
According to Mimco senior stylist Davina Cox, this collection from the label sparked a new trend of ‘librarian chic’ style, with prescription reading glasses adding quirky sophistication to any look. Let’s be clear: there was never anything wrong with wearing glasses pre-Miuccia Prada. Glasses are literally a medical device. That said, since eyewear has also become a wardrobe-elevating accessory, I don’t think they’ll ever be considered ‘uncool’ again.
Those new to the world of eyewear are now blessed with some incredible options. Beginners need to look no further than the new Specsavers Mimco eyewear collection for frames that are sophisticated, modern and a little bit unexpected. But unless you’re a runway model, choosing glasses to suit your face shape is notoriously hard to get right. To help make the process easier, I asked an eyewear designer and a stylist to weigh in.
Fashion vs function
I selected my first pair of glasses because purple was my favourite colour and therefore, purple glasses were très chic. However, they didn’t fit me very well and sat wonky on my nose bridge, so I quickly swapped them out for a more practical pair the following year.
Now, I wondered which was more important when shopping for eyewear – fashion or function? Both Davina and Nelly Soleil, Head of Frames at Specsavers, agree that fit and comfort should be your top priorities when shopping for eyewear, with aesthetics taking a backseat. After all, its primary function is to help you see.
“You don’t want glasses that slip off your face or are too tight around your head – you’re never going to wear them otherwise. Choose something that fits your features (like your nose bridge, temples and ears) so they’re comfortable enough to wear all day. Once that’s covered, you can narrow down to the pair that best complements your style and personality,” Nelly says.
Davina adds that you can definitely find a comfortable pair of frames in any colour or print you like, to ensure your new glasses reflect and elevate your personal style.
Does this frame suit my face?
It took a lot of trial and error to discover that warmer colours and large, round frames best suit my face. But what if we could skip trying on tons of eyewear (why is it so embarrassing?) before finding a perfect pair? What if discovering a pair of glasses that looks amazing on you could be broken down into a science?
If you like simplicity, Davina offers an easy formula: “For a rounder face, opt for something more angular, and if you have a more angular face, opt for something more round.”
Nelly broke it down for me further, noting that oval face shapes are the easiest to style with glasses. Thanks to softer features and even proportions, those blessed with oval-shaped faces will find most frame shapes suit them. “Oval faces can opt for a retro style and play with more daring looks by choosing a striking silhouette or coloured frames,” she says.
When it comes to other face shapes, finding balance is key. “For triangular faces, balance out the varying widths of your face by choosing something with stronger brow details to accentuate the top of the face,” Nelly says, “and for heart-shaped faces, balance out your features by choosing something that has heavier detailing on the bottom of the frame – teacup-shaped frames are a good pick here.”
She agrees with Davina that round faces suit angular frames, which provide more dimension. According to Nelly, oversized square frames and geometric profiles are current trends that complement rounder faces. On the other hand, she says square faces look incredible in round, soft silhouettes that help soften stronger features. For all the square-faced beauties, Nelly recommends retro round frames, which are back and bigger than ever.
Let’s talk about sustainability
Glasses have always been around, but they haven’t been considered so ‘on trend’ as they are now, in years. With the increasing speed of micro-trend cycles, it’s comforting to know that your prescription lenses won’t go out of style anytime soon. As long as you shop smart, Davina assures me that’s not going to happen. “Ultimately, if the frames suit your face, they will withstand trends and time, so don’t buy into a shape or colour that doesn’t suit you just because it’s trendy!”
Even if you find your perfect pair of glasses, there’s a chance your prescription will change over time. The closest thing I’ve seen to this modern eyewear renaissance was the blip in time when fake, plastic glasses were everywhere. They soon went out of style and were tossed in the bin. Not super great for the environment.
Fortunately, the options for materials to make glasses these days are much more sustainable. “The Mimco eyewear range features frames that are partially crafted from a bio-based acetate called Acetate Renew, which is more environmentally friendly than traditional materials,” says Nelly – meaning you can invest in a pair with peace of mind.
The new Specsavers Mimco Eyewear range is available exclusively in-store and online. To browse the range, head here.
