How she sees it - sunglasses by Aanya

The summer-time statement piece

From Audrey Hepburn to Lady Gaga, sunglasses are a key summer staple for any woman. They can transform an outfit, frame the face and make your girlfriend or wife (or whoever the lucky lady is!) feel like superstar.

Usually an investment piece, shades are something your girlfriend or wife can wear again and again which is why they make the perfect gift for her.

When choosing the ideal shades for you other half, it’s important to consider 3 things:

1. Face shape
2. Complexion
3. UV, UV and UV* – boring but still very important!

While this might seem a little overwhelming right now I assure you that with my insider know-how you’ll be king of the specs in no time (not the sexiest moniker I’m afraid but handy nonetheless!)

Oh and be sure to check out my ‘Manglossary’ below! All images are courtesy of Channel 4.

Oval face shape

If she has a balanced forehead and jaw with high cheekbones (think Julia Roberts and Beyonce) then you’re in luck! An oval shaped face will suit any kind of frame. However, a slightly angular edged frame will play up to her pretty features.These eco-friendly vintage-style Stella McCartney shades are just the ticket, a great retro fashionable frame she can wear with anything!

They come in two neutral shades; black and a tan brown which are both suitable for most skin tones. I’d suggest the black frame if she has cool undertones* to her skin and the tan brown if her skin has a warmer undertone*.

Square face shape

If her pretty face has a broad forehead and strong jaw,  you’re looking to soften the angles of her face and lengthen it and I have the perfect frames for you! (Cameron Diaz, Minnie Driver and Sandra Bullock are celebs with a square face shape, clearly your lady is in good company!)

Think of you driving down the French Riviera together in a sporty convertible, the sun is shining the wind blowing in her hair…then these are THE sunglasses she’ll be wearing!

Round face shape

She has a lovely baby face with full cheeks and a rounded chin – think Drew Barrymore and Renee Zellweger. With this face shapes angled frames work best, especially smaller petite frames as opposed to the big oversized glasses style we’ve been seeing the past few years.

The cat-eye frame is perfect for a round face and bang on trend for this summer! (And no she won’t end up looking like cat-woman…unless that’s the look you’re going for!!)

Heart-shaped face

If your sweetheart has a wider forehead and cheekbones narrowing down to a smaller chin (the lovely Kate Moss is an ideal example of this) then an aviator style frame is the way to go. While you might think of ‘Top Gun’ when you see these, I assure you no frame will better suit your lovely lady.

Available in lots of colours, you can’t go wrong with these classic shades – just remember to check out my ‘Manglossary’ below before purchasing!

Rectangular/oblong face shape

If she has a narrow chin and cheeks and an elongated face then bigger is better! Oversized or wrap-around glasses will create the illusion of a wider face.

These Anglomania Accessories frames draw attention to the corners of the frame with the detailing on the side. What’s more they’re oversized as well – perfect for the lady who likes some glamour in her life!

Now it’s your turn

I hope the wisdom and knowledge I have shared with you has made you wiser to the wonderful world of sunglasses and given you the confidence to purchase the perfect frames for her! Don’t forget to check back in case you’ve got any questions, or leave us a comment below, we’ll be sure to respond.

Manglossary:

Cool undertones – refers to her complexion and natural colouring. A way to decipher whether she’s cool or not (you see what I did there?!) is to keep in mind her natural hair colour: strawberry-blonde, brown and black hair with a bluish tinge tends to have cool undertones to their skin. Black, pink, baby blue coloured frames will suit your lovely lady.

Warm undertones – if her skin has a warm yellow/golden glow to it then she’s likely to be warm skinned. People with warm undertones tend to have golden-brown, black and red hair so a gold-rimmed frame, tan, copper and red will be perfect for her.

UV – It’s important to always consider function as well as style! Keep an eye out for the CE mark which authenticate that the glasses conform to European standards for UV protection.