At this time of year sunglasses tend to be the accessory that get the most wear – for some of us they barely leave our heads all season. Not only are they practical and important for protecting our eyes but they’re also a great way to add style to any outfit.

But with a plethora of shapes and sizes to choose from, where do you even start finding the perfect pair for you? Here are my 4 top tips for choosing your most stylish pair of sunglasses this summer.

First of all…

Identify Your Face Shape

The first thing you need to do is identify your face shape…

Round 

The width and length of your face are roughly the same, with a rounded jawline and hairline and some fullness in the cheeks, like Michelle Williams for example.

Square 

You will have an angular jawline, and the width and length of the face are roughly the same, like Kiera Knightley.

Oval 

You will have a balanced face shape with a chin and forehead both slightly narrower than the cheekbones. Beyonce is a good example.

Inverted Triangle 

Your forehead will be significantly wider than your chin, like Scarlett Johansson.

Rectangle 

Your cheekbones, forehead and jaw will all be inline and your face will be longer than it is wide, think Meryl Streep.

If you would like more help on how to identify your face shape, here’s a short video I made about it recently:

Opposites Attract

The key thing to remember when selecting your sunglasses is that in order to balance the shape of your face you generally need to choose the opposite style of frames. 

So, if you have a square face you are better choosing sunglasses with a more rounded style of frame as this will soften and complement your features. On the other hand, if you have a round face shape then a more angular frame will work best for you as it will offer some definition and balance.

The exception to this rule is for those with an inverted triangle or heart shaped face – you actually need to mimic your face shape with your frames.

Key Styles

Here’s a round-up of the most common glasses styles and who can wear them…

Wayfarers – the classic Ray-ban style, Wayfarers have been a staple sunglasses style for decades. This style will work for you if you have a round face shape.

Round – another classic sunglasses shape, from big bug glasses to the smaller-styles, round glasses tend to come in a wide variety of sizes. They will work best for you if you have more angular features so those with a square face shape will look great in these.

If you have a rectangle face shape a more oval style will work for you with wider arms that break up the length of the face. Do remember to keep your proportions in balance too; the larger the face, the larger the sunglasses should be.

Aviators – from the days of Top Gun to now, Aviators will never go out of fashion and will work beautifully for you if you have a inverted triangle face shape as they follow a similar shape. Be aware of the weight of your frames with this style. If you’re petite or have delicate features then avoid heavier frames as these will overpower your face.

Cats Eyes – add an instant touch of Hollywood glamour with the timeless Cats Eye style of sunglasses. The upward angle of this style works beautifully to balance a round face shape and if you opt for a frame that has a softer curve (rather than anything too angular) then they will also work well to add width to a rectangle face shape.

If you have an oval face shape then you can wear whatever you like, so mix it up and have some fun! Your only considerations are the size and colour of your sunglasses to ensure they harmonise with your features.

Your Scale

This has already been mentioned but it’s an important factor and worth remembering. Your overall scale, particularly that of your features is really important. If you are petite, don’t overwhelm yourself with huge sunglasses, and similarly, if you are larger in scale, avoid really small sunglasses as they won’t provide balance.

Consider Your Colouring

Whatever your face shape, do think about the colour you choose for your sunglasses and use your colour palette to guide you. As your glasses are worn on your face it is vital they’re in a shade that complements your colouring characteristics.

As a rule of thumb, warmer colourings are more suited to tortoiseshells, bronzes and golds, and cooler colourings will really suit blacks, silvers and greys. If you’re unsure of your colouring, rose gold is great on everyone.

Your Style

Last, but certainly not least, think about your style. It’s really important when choosing any item of clothing or accessory to choose something you love and that is 100% you. Don’t follow the crowd and choose something just because it’s the latest trend or it’s what everyone else is wearing. You have to feel comfortable in order to feel confident and good about yourself. Even if it means ignoring all of the above advice, be authentically you and you can’t go wrong.

Life is too short to live by a list of rules!