How To Chooses Glasses Frames That Won’t Age You

The older we get, the more likely it is that we’ll need to wear glasses at least some of the time. But with some smart tips and the right attitude, your new glasses can be a secret fashion weapon.

“Wearing them can be a great way to help give a natural lift to the face, giving the illusion of lifting it, enhancing the eyes and showcasing the personality,” said personal wardrobe stylist Sandra Veum. “Even if eyes get puffy with age, glasses can be a great way to slightly camouflage the puffiness. It’s one of my favorite accessories for adding pizzazz to an outfit, and I recommend for my clients to own a few pairs of different styles.”

If you’re ready to have a little fun and be bolder in your look, glasses are a perfect place to start. “As we age, we become clearer about who we are, and less worried about what other people think,” said optometrist and eyewear stylist Eva Dave. “It’s the ideal time to experiment with different colors and styles and have fun with your eyewear choices.”

If you’re wondering how to find the right shape, style and color for your face, our experts had lots of great advice.

Tip 1: Don’t outsource the decision.

“It’s a common mistake to let someone else, such as a daughter or a close friend, make eyewear decisions for you,” Dave said. “Choosing glasses because they look good on an influencer or a friend also can lead to choices that aren’t well-suited to your own personal style or wardrobe needs.”

“Professional eyewear consultants are trained to know which frames will work best for you,” said fashion, style and travel expert Nikki Steele. “For example, some lenses need more space to work better in a larger frame, or maybe some frames are too heavy for certain bridges of noses.”

One big way a professional will help is with the kind of close observations your friends might not be able to offer. “They’ll help you avoid glasses that are too wide for the face or ones that sit too low, hitting your cheekbones when you smile,” Veum said. You can play a part in perfecting your fit, too: “Make sure that when you’re trying on frames, you test the shape by smiling, tilting your head down and turning side to side,” she said.

Tip 2: Consider these styles to flatter the face.

“As gravity pulls our faces downward, look for frames that draw attention upward,” Dave advised. “A soft cat-eye can help elevate your gaze, define your cheekbones and add a little pizzazz. Frames with details on the upper outer edges also help shift focus upward rather than downward.”

If you have dark under-eye circles, select a frame with a rim that closely follows the circle. “This will appear to magically eliminate them,” she said. “Or choose a frame with a lighter color, like white or cream, on the inside, as this will reflect a brighter tone in your under-eye area.”

Tip 3: Don’t try to make yourself (and your glasses) disappear.

“The biggest mistake I see older people make when choosing glasses is they tend to go less bold,” Steele said. “I believe everyone deserves to be seen and heard, so please pick the bold choice instead.”

“One of the most common mistakes I see older people make when choosing glasses is to select a pair that no one will notice,” said optician and personal stylist Daniel Scott. “This leads them to choose rimless or semi-rimless styles, which can completely wash them out and age them even further. You’ll look far younger and more vibrant in eyewear by simply embracing it and owning the fact you are someone who wears glasses.”

Tip 4: But don’t allow frames to overpower your face.

You’ve probably got at least one friend who decided to approach over-60s glasses with gusto, and is now sporting glasses frames the size of dinner plates. Fashion stylist Catherine Bibeau warned against wearing glasses with frames that are too heavy. In addition to being out of proportion, she cautioned that they can be unstable on the nose. Even worse? “Having oversized brand logos that detract from your face’s charm,” she said.

Tip 5: Unless you’re a true “winter,” reconsider black frames.

“I can confidently say, as an expert in color analysis, that it is actually only winter seasons that truly suit black frames really well,” Scott said. As people age and their pigmentation fades along with their hair color, black can suddenly look very stark against the skin tone of an older person.”

His advice was echoed by Dave, who said: “Frames that are too dark for your coloring can cast shadows on your face and enhance dark circles.”

Tip #6: Consider anti-aging lenses.

These lenses are designed to block several kinds of light wavelengths, which can accelerate aging of the eyes and the skin around them. “What’s clever and ground-breaking is that as well as absorbing UV light and blue light, they also absorb infrared too, preventing key signs of aging developing around the eyes, such as wrinkles and dark circles,” Scott said. “And they preserve the health of the eyes themselves.”

You can also jazz up your lenses with a colored tint. “Fashion tints are now a huge trend in celebrity eyewear style,” Scott said. “You can actually completely transform how a piece of eyewear looks by putting a fashion tint in the lens, adjusting the coating color or introducing a photochromic option.”

“Wear eyewear that makes you feel amazing.”

Finally, if you’re thinking, “they’re just glasses,” remember that they’re an important part of your overall look. “Your style of eyeglasses is one of the most important ways to showcase your style and personality,” Veum said.

As long as you’re happy with them, that’s all that matters. “I always remind my clients that approximately one-third of people will love your style, one-third will hate it and one-third won’t care either way,” Dave said. “So you might as well embrace your individuality and wear eyewear that makes you feel amazing. Ultimately, when you wear frames that make you feel youthful and fabulous, that confidence is reflected in every area of your life.”