The Frame Game: Choosing the Best Base for Your Specs

By: Liberty Kontranowski

Just as you can purchase prescription drugs online safely and securely, getting your glasses online is a time and money-saving strategy, too. But without an actual showroom where you can physically try on frames to see which ones work best, the task of choosing the perfect glasses may seem a bit daunting.

There’s no need to panic, though. By using the fabulous tips on choosing frames for your face shape found at JustEyewear.com, you can get a great start. Here are some more tips for picking out your perfect specs.

• Consider which tasks you’ll be performing in your glasses and how long you’ll be wearing them each day.
• Determine whether you have single-vision or progressive (multiple vision) lenses. Some frame styles do not support multi-vision lenses.
• How many pairs will you be purchasing? One for work and one for play? Or one pair for every day of the week?

After these questions have been thought through, the next thing to consider is what type of material your frames should be made of.

Plastic – Plastic frames are cost-effective and come in an endless color selection, including prints and patterns. They are also available with adornments such as chains and buckles, beads, and crystals as well as the jeweled logos of your favorite designers. Most are fairly lightweight, but thicker frames can feel a little heavy on your face by the end of the day.

Metal – Metal frames—in particular, titanium—are very lightweight, strong and durable.  Some frames—those with a “memory metal” such as Flexon—can even be bent and contorted, but still return to their original position. Once available in only silvery gray, titanium frames are now offered in many colors.

For metal-allergy sufferers, some stainless steel and titanium frames are composed of very small amounts of nickel and are thus a viable choice. Both metals are readily available and reasonably priced. Frames are available with laser cutouts, split temples, and rope and twisted looks.

Nylon – Nylon is the premier material for sports and performance frames. Nylon is easily molded into the wildly popular wrap-around styles that can be found in regular eyeglasses as well as sunglasses.

Rimless – Drill-mount rimless styles are very accommodating to progressive lenses. Without much color or design, these frames are nearly invisible and are very lightweight and comfortable.

Tip: When browsing online, use advanced search features to limit by frame material, frame shape, and size.

Finally, once you’ve settled on a style and material, you’ll need to choose a color. Most frames come in three colors—sometimes six or eight—so be sure to thoroughly investigate what your options are.

When making a decision on color, start by evaluating skin tone. Stick with a frame in your own skin color base so you and your new specs don’t clash. Hair and eye color are secondary elements.

All people have a warm (yellow) or cool (blue) base to their skin. About 60 percent of Americans are said to be “cool.” Contrary to popular belief, olive skin is considered “cool”, because it is a mix of blue and yellow tones.

Cools tend to look best in black, rose-brown, blue-gray, plum, magenta, pink, jade, blue and dark tortoise, while Warms glow in camel, khaki, gold, copper, peach, orange, coral, off-white, blond tortoise, and even fire-engine red.

A few last pointers, then you’re on your way:

• Frame shape should contrast with face shape (i.e., a round face looks best with narrow frames)
• Frame size should be in scale with face size (no Harry Potter-esque frames on a petite lady)
• Eyewear should repeat your personal best feature (blue frames to complement blue eyes).

Liberty Kontranowski is a freelance writer and blogger with hundreds of articles published online and in print, covering everything from tips to purchasing prescriptions online to sexual health to parenting, beauty, fashion, entertainment and more. Liberty is the newest member of the Viamedic.com team providing the highest quality articles.

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