A lot of people choose thin metal-rimmed glasses, believing that they are “near invisible”, in the hopes that others won’t notice them. Glasses will either look sterile and functional, or they will look like a fashion accessory. With the exception of aviator-type frames, most metal-rimmed glasses look like the former. The face is your body’s focal point; therefore, your image is profoundly impacted by your eyeglasses.
Two things to take into consideration when choosing glasses as a fashion accessory are your eye color and your hair color. Frames can be chosen to enhance either or both. Certain colors for eyeglass frames can make green eyes look greener and brown hair look browner.
Generally, people never think of enhancing their hair color when they are choosing eyeglass frames. Occasionally, a person with silver hair will purposely select silver frames, but beyond this, not much thought is given to this connection. People with grey hair actually tend to wear gold-rimmed glasses, which is similar to wearing silver necklace with a gold bracelet.
There are several colors that may, unsuspectingly, drain color from the eyes. Individuals with blue eyes often select frames in some shade of blue, thinking that they will intensify the color of the eyes. Most often, however, the glasses compete with the eye color and make them appear less vivid. For technical reasons, wearing frames in a contrasting color will result in the eye color being intensified. Blue-eyed people, for example, should wear glasses in the red family, such as burgundy or rust, to enhance your eye color.
Choosing Glasses to Enhance Eye Color
Green Eyes: Colors from the yellow or purple families will intensify green eyes. Bright yellow glasses could go over the top, however. Green frames can sometimes accentuate green eyes, but usually not as effectively as purple ones. Recommendations: Mauve, orchid, lavender, periwinkle, purple, violet, red-violet, eggplant, jade green, racing green, emerald green.
Blue Eyes: Pick any color in the red or orange family, as these complementary colors will enhance your blue eye color. Blue frames are a possibility, but make a comparison with red frames to make certain the blue ones do not compete with the eyes for attention. Recommendations: True red, watermelon red, cherry red, fuchsia, magenta, burgundy, coral, apricot, brick, rust, Chinese red. Tones of blue that are compatible with your wardrobe could also be tested.
Brown Eyes: Purples and greens usually make brown eyes look their loveliest. However, you have a wide variety of colors from which to choose. You can wear black frames, horn-rimmed frames or even translucent frames. In general, to make the eyes look darker, choose eyeglass frames in a pale color. Dark purples and greens always look elegant with brown eyes. Recommendations: Plum, purple, violet, lavender, racing green, jade green, horn, emerald.
Grey Eyes: In order to make the eyes appear their palest, choose eyeglass frames in a dark color. These cool, mysterious eyes are the most beautiful when they appear to be quite pale. Recommendations: Black, charcoal black, deep burgundy, midnight blue, deep purple.
Hazel Eyes: Hazel eyes, like chameleons, tend to change color. They sometimes appear green or yellow, or even varying shades of brown. In general, to make the eyes look greener, try purples, violets or greens. To bring out brown tones, try horn-rimmed glasses. To bring out the yellow or gold tones, use deep shades of purple or violet. Recommendations: Violets, red-violets, purples, plum, horn, greens, blue-greens.
Choosing Glasses to Enhance Hair Color
Blonde Hair: Eyeglass frames in a dark color will lighten blonde hair. You can try wearing dark purples for green or hazel eyes, deep burgundy for blue eyes, or dark horn for brown eyes. Recommendations: Black or a dark color that will also enhance the eye color (see preceding portion of this chapter) at the same time.
Red Hair: Choosing eyeglass frames in shades of blue, green or blue green can complement red hair. Make sure the frames harmonize with your wardrobe, as well. Purples are also quite dramatic with red hair. Recommendations: Royal blue, Chinese blue, cobalt, turquoise, emerald, jade, bottle green, lavender, violet, purple.
Black Hair: Choose colors from the red-family to accent the natural blue undertones of true black hair. To make the hair appear darker, choose frames in a pale color, including pewter and various shades of white. Recommendations: Burgundy, black, red, fuchsia, white, greens, purples, blues.
Brown Hair: Shades of brown can range from mousy brown to deep chestnut. To make the hair appear darker, choose frames in a pale color that enhances your eyes (see above). To make the hair appear lighter, choose dark colors that enhance the eye color. Red tones will be enhance by blues or greens.
Grey Hair: Endless shades of “grey hair” exist, from partially grey to silver grey. The moment hair becomes noticeably grey, it is important to avoid brown or yellow frames. This includes gold, horn and mock tortoise shell, since these colors will dull the grey tones in the hair. Silver frames call attention to grey hair, particularly when the hair is only partially grey. Silver-grey hair will look more platinum and less grey with dark colors such as black, navy or midnight blue. Light colored frames can make previously dark hair, which is lighter due to greying, look darker.