Hey all!
I’ve needed glasses ever since I was a teenager - but my mother was the one choosing them. She picked relatively neutral frames, though I never liked the shape of the lens.
Now I need to buy a new set as an adult but… How exactly do people decide which frames work better for their face? Trying them at the store my mind just becomes blank, I don’t know what I should be looking for. Any tips?
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I like to bring my partner when I shop for frames; she’s the one who has to look at my face all day, and she has a good fashion sense. You might try bribing a friend to go with you, or send them photos so they can help you choose.
You can also ask an optician at the shop for their opinion.
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Bring someone with you.
Fashion is more art than science, so its hard to teach in a lemmy comment. You want frames that both complement and contrast your face, basically. An element of complement, and an element of contrast. This way they make your face look more interesting instead of less without being garish.
Someone with a small face could use huge frames in a complementary or neutral color. This is extremely common in media for geeky chars.
Someone with a huge, square face could go with huge, squarish glasses, darkly tinted to contrast against skin tone. You look like a motorcycle cop, just need a moustache now.
Someone with a long and thin face could go with short, wide glasses, turning the face into a variety of rectangles. This look is common in anime.
Anyways, lots of approaches. Key is one element of compliment, one element of contrast.
Your current glasses should have a measurement on them somewhere in the form of three numbers, eg 52-18-140. These are important but most glasses wearers I know don’t even seem to realise it.
The numbers are lens width - bridge width (the bit that goes over your nose) - arm length.
Personally rather than visit a shop and be followed around by a salesperson I prefer to do home trials, which most online retailers should provide as a service. That way you can take your time, take selfies, try on the frames with all your fave outfits, whatever. And if the site you’re buying from is any good, it should have a way to shop for frames by size.
So if your current ones fit you really well, pop those three numbers into the size filter on whatever site and that should be a good starting point! On the other hand if, say, you find your current frames pinch the top of your nose, you can easily shop for frames with a bit more width in the bridge.
Get taller frames if you’re getting progressive lenses.
Agreed. Another technical note if ordering online: only order from a company that also requests Pupillary Distance. This made a huge difference for me. You can measure this yourself. I’ve had good luck with https://www.eyebuydirect.com/
As others have said, bring someone for an outside opinion. You said that you didn’t like the frames that your mother picked so you should know what you don’t like at least and go from there.
Also check how they feel on and if you notice/see the frame when you look around. For me, the most important thing is how comfortable they are, you will get used to how you look in them.
Same with shopping for a lot of things: try on many different styles. You may not know what you like until you see it on your face.
Ask the opticians, they see good and bad selections all day. The last time I had my eyes checked I considered getting new frames but the optician said she liked the ones I had already.
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Others have beat on bringing someone with you
My only advice is to take pictures/selfies with them, and the tag. Sleep on it, and scroll through the pictures the next day.
Make sure to take a picture of the tag, finding the exact frame without it can be a PITA.
This also lets you shop around a bit
