Sunsational Shades

It’s the summer of O. Jackie O, that is. The woman responsible for putting oversized sunglasses on the fashion map. Her signature face-hiding square frames conveyed a sense of chic few sunglasses have achieved since that time. Small wonder, then, that many eyewear makers have returned to this classic look for the summer of ’09.

Not to fret if your face is too small or narrow to sport such styles. There are scaled-down “Jackie O” versions for you, too. But while we’re on the subject of the best frames for the shape of your face, here are a few guidelines:

Oval

You can get away with anything – rectangular, square, round or triangular frames.

Square

Look for gently curved frames to soften the angles of the face. The lenses can reach below the cheekbones.

Round

Angular aviators or geometrically shaped frames will balance face fullness.

Long

Divide the face horizontally. Look for deep, but not too wide from side to side. A frame that extends beyond the sides of your face will make the narrowness more apparent.

Illustrations by Rex

What About Color?

A-ha! Now that your hair has turned to silver/pewter/ice, color comes to the rescue this year. Yes, you can go for silver, gray or pewter frames, but don’t pass up the opportunity to add a little color to your face. I’d avoid black, tortoise (unless it’s a grayed tortoise), and white altogether. Yes, white is entering its second season as a “hot” frame color, but why bother? Your face is framed in white already. Instead, think of your frames as eye makeup. Eye candy, really. Pick a flattering shade for the frame – or lens. A clear frame with a colored lens gives you the same kind of impact.

With some of these frames well into triple digits, I was happy to find the best bet of them all. The Steve Madden pale aqua frame shown below in Cool Blues. It’s got it all. The Big Look, the slightly translucent coloration (like the best sheer makeup), and the cool aqua color – pretty with every single shade of gray. Price $34. That’s my pick. What’s yours?