If you wear glasses, you already realised that they are your most important accessory. Choose the wrong frames and you can look ineffective, unattractive and even sinister, but the right glasses focus all our attention on you and your eyes. Some women like to have several pairs so they can achieve casual, business, and evening looks. Other women find that one well-chosen pair is sufficient.

Selecting glasses can be a little daunting. Ophthalmologists are not always well-informed in style and consequently are not particularly helpful when it comes to suggesting frame styles, colour or treatments that can enhance your face. Fortunately, you can easily learn the basics about selecting glasses as an accessory that enhances not detracts.

Fashions come and go, so if you are opting for one pair of eyeglasses choose a good neutral colour that will compliment you and the type of clothes you wear. Mid-tone neutrals, such as smoky grey, tortoiseshell, medium navy and olive are best for workaday eye frames. If your budget runs to a second pair, choose something more fun for weekends, which expresses both your seasonal colours and your style personality. A touch of crystal will create just enough sparkle for eveningwear.

In selecting glasses, choose frames that complement or contrast with the shape of your face - but do not repeat it. For example, round glasses on a round face would be uninteresting. Square glasses on a square, full face would be even worse, making the face appear wider and the jaw line severe.

Select frames that are in proportion with your face. If petite, you need more delicate styles; if you choose large frames you will look dwarfed. The large faced woman needs frames that are more substantial; delicate ones would look too lightweight. Balance is the key.

Frames should be:
no wider than the face;
in line with the eyebrows at the top;
no lower than the highest point of the nostril contour.

If you have poor vision, this should not prevent you from wearing eye make-up. Today there are glasses and aids to help you to do it with ease. Magnifying mirrors are widely available to help any woman, no matter what the degree of myopia (near-sightedness) or hypermetropia (far-sightedness).

Makeup Tips For Far-Sighted Women

If you are far-sighted you will have lenses that magnify the eyes. Hence, you need to take particular care in applying eye make-up so that it doesn't look too exaggerated:

Use neutral, natural tones. Bright, colorful makeup shades will look brash and detract from the color of your eyes.
Use minimal eyeliner; on the outer third of the top and lower lid only. Avoid black altogether.
Apply two thin coats of mascara rather than one thick, which could look clumpy.

Makeup Tips For Shortsighted Women

Shortsighted women often have to wear lenses that make their eyes appear smaller. If this is your problem, you can minimize the effect in the following ways:

Avoid very pale or pearlier eye shadows. Use deep, natural shades to enhance the intensity of the eyes.
Use a kohl pencil to line the eyes, to create definition and depth. Do not line the eyes completely as it makes them appear smaller, exacerbating your problem. Line only the outer half of the upper lids, and the outer third of the lower lid, to widen and deepen the eyes.
Strengthen the definition of your eyebrows. If they are very light, brush in with a soft neutral shadow - similar to your own brow color. Finish by brushing brows upwards with clear mascara.

Eyeglasses Shape Suggestions


Rectangular or round frames of eyeglasses are best for narrow faces; the aviator style is also good.
Choose eyeglasses with softened edges not angular ones are best suitable for square or rectangular faces. Square faces should avoid large frames - they look best if no lower than the top of the cheek.
Square or rectangular styles of eyeglasses give definition to round faces.
Choose darker, stronger bridges of eyeglasses which have the effect of bringing the eyes together. That’s essential when you have wide-set eyes.
Choose a low or dark bridge to shorten the nose if you have a long one. Short noses benefit from high or clear bridge which makes the most of a small nose.
If your eyes are close-set choose clear or narrow bridges which lighten the area and won't make the eyes seem even closer together.