I need new glasses.
August 4, 2011 9:12 PM Subscribe
What kind of eyeglass frames would best suit my face? Any suggestions for color/style/shape/frame size would be much appreciated.
I'm going to have cataract surgery tomorrow and will need a new glasses prescription as a result. These will mainly be worn for reading, but I'd rather find a pair that looks good on me so I won't mind wearing them all the time.
I have glasses already, but it seems that every time I get a new pair, I wear them for a few days then realize that I don't like them or they're not flattering. I've had glasses with thick black rims (overpowering), square-ish rims (too wide), colored rims..
recent photo
What frames would suit my facial shape/features? I wouldn't mind colored rims, if they would go with a lot of clothing.
I'm going to have cataract surgery tomorrow and will need a new glasses prescription as a result. These will mainly be worn for reading, but I'd rather find a pair that looks good on me so I won't mind wearing them all the time.
I have glasses already, but it seems that every time I get a new pair, I wear them for a few days then realize that I don't like them or they're not flattering. I've had glasses with thick black rims (overpowering), square-ish rims (too wide), colored rims..
recent photo
What frames would suit my facial shape/features? I wouldn't mind colored rims, if they would go with a lot of clothing.
I can't make any frame recommendations, but I bought my last pair of glasses from Warby Parker and really like them. You can browse online and choose up to five frames for them to send to your home. Try 'em out for a few days, ask your friends, see what you think. Choose the one you like best and place your order. Free shipping both ways for your free try-out frames. I did that and wound up with my favorite pair of glasses ever.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 9:40 PM on August 4, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Pater Aletheias at 9:40 PM on August 4, 2011 [2 favorites]
2nding Warby Parker frames. I think you might look good in Webb or Finn. As Pater Aletheias notes, you can order sample frames to see how they look on you, then send them back if they don't work. At $95 per pair, you're also getting off pretty cheap.
posted by Gilbert at 10:55 PM on August 4, 2011
posted by Gilbert at 10:55 PM on August 4, 2011
I can't see sanka's link, but my experience is that everything at the eye doctor's is a half-rim very thin frame. I love that look myself; it's very subtle. If you're trying to wear your glasses as a fashion statement then you may want something more like Gilbert's suggestions but I love the way that the thin half-rim glasses go with everything.
I got my last few pairs of glasses from Zenni Optical (you can't try them on, but for $7, you can get several and see which you like better) and their website lets you upload a picture; I don't know how well it works since I just used one of their defaults but you can probably 'try on' a pair and get at least a rough idea of how it'll look on your face.
posted by Lady Li at 12:55 AM on August 5, 2011
I got my last few pairs of glasses from Zenni Optical (you can't try them on, but for $7, you can get several and see which you like better) and their website lets you upload a picture; I don't know how well it works since I just used one of their defaults but you can probably 'try on' a pair and get at least a rough idea of how it'll look on your face.
posted by Lady Li at 12:55 AM on August 5, 2011
I also found thick black rims overpowering and square rims too wide. I settled with rounder, pale pink half-rimmed frames from Zenni for $15 (shipping included). I'm content with them but plan on dropping $30-$50 in search of the perfect ones. If I end up not liking what I order, I'll stick them around the house or car to use as backups.
Upload this exact picture to Zenni Optical's frame fit, select PD 64 or around there, then have a blast. You'll need your real PD to actually order from them, though.
posted by plaintiff6r at 1:42 AM on August 5, 2011
Upload this exact picture to Zenni Optical's frame fit, select PD 64 or around there, then have a blast. You'll need your real PD to actually order from them, though.
posted by plaintiff6r at 1:42 AM on August 5, 2011
I also had a good experience with the Zenni Optical frame fit system, although I'd suggest getting someone to measure your actual PD before using it -- I think they use that to scale your photo so the frames are in scale to your image. I'm sure the system isn't perfect, but it probably isn't that much worse than squinting at myself in the mirror the way I do when I buy glasses in person, and some very similar-looking frames looked very different from one another on me.
posted by pie ninja at 3:35 AM on August 5, 2011
posted by pie ninja at 3:35 AM on August 5, 2011
When you go to buy your glasses take a digital camera that has a decent-sized display screen (or an iPhone). As well as looking at yourself in the mirror, get a friend (or the salesperson) to take your picture, so you can see exactly how you'll look. It'll be surprisingly different from the mirror image and will give you a better impression of how the specs will look.
posted by essexjan at 3:37 AM on August 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by essexjan at 3:37 AM on August 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
It took me years to find out, as a wide-faced person, that what I needed was the opposite shape - square frames to balance out my chubby cheeks. You have a heart-shaped face so you could probably carry off round ones well, but try something other than black - I find tortoiseshell is really nice on fairer colouring. Or how about a cat-eye type style? I adore these but they sadly don't suit me :(
posted by mippy at 5:06 AM on August 5, 2011
posted by mippy at 5:06 AM on August 5, 2011
I saw this site a long time ago and thought it was interesting, and now I'm glad I bookmarked it. It lets you upload a photo of your face and place different frames on it.
posted by davcoo at 6:23 AM on August 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by davcoo at 6:23 AM on August 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
Go with frames that are no darker than your hair: in other words, it's best not to do something like a pale blond with heavy black frames.
posted by easily confused at 2:58 PM on August 5, 2011
posted by easily confused at 2:58 PM on August 5, 2011
>>I'd suggest getting someone to measure your actual PD before using it -- I think they use that to scale your photo so the frames are in scale to your image.
I don't think the system is that sophisticated. I had better results choosing whatever PD made the glasses look normal on my face. My real PD made all glasses look gigantic, but it turns out I have a normal-sized head and frame fit was pretty accurate.
posted by plaintiff6r at 3:50 PM on August 5, 2011
I don't think the system is that sophisticated. I had better results choosing whatever PD made the glasses look normal on my face. My real PD made all glasses look gigantic, but it turns out I have a normal-sized head and frame fit was pretty accurate.
posted by plaintiff6r at 3:50 PM on August 5, 2011
You have an oval face, so a lot of frame shapes will suit you.
The main points optometrists have given me over the 10 years or so I've been buying glasses:
- Buy frames that are in proportion to your face, ie not wider than your face and not dramatically narrower
- Look for a frame shape that has a top line that roughly follows your eyebrow line
- Buy frames that balance your face shape, ie they don't over-emphasis proportions, they correct them. Which, translated, means if you have a long face don't buy skinny little oval frames and if you have a square face don't buy big square frames and so on.
Other than that, pick something that fits in with your style. Since you have to wear them all the time they should go with everything. The easy way out (which I usually take to be honest!) is wire frames, but I also had a pair that were clear plastic at the front and white plastic at the side that I LOVED. Also, titanium ones are great because they're so light you can forget you're wearing them.
posted by misscait at 6:37 AM on August 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
The main points optometrists have given me over the 10 years or so I've been buying glasses:
- Buy frames that are in proportion to your face, ie not wider than your face and not dramatically narrower
- Look for a frame shape that has a top line that roughly follows your eyebrow line
- Buy frames that balance your face shape, ie they don't over-emphasis proportions, they correct them. Which, translated, means if you have a long face don't buy skinny little oval frames and if you have a square face don't buy big square frames and so on.
Other than that, pick something that fits in with your style. Since you have to wear them all the time they should go with everything. The easy way out (which I usually take to be honest!) is wire frames, but I also had a pair that were clear plastic at the front and white plastic at the side that I LOVED. Also, titanium ones are great because they're so light you can forget you're wearing them.
posted by misscait at 6:37 AM on August 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
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But frankly, go to Lenscrafters. They are awesome at picking flattering and up to date styles. And they give big discounts for various things including their coupons and AAA membership.
posted by bearwife at 9:31 PM on August 4, 2011