Glasses never looked so good. If you wear them regularly and your finances allow, you'll want to get several pair. Switch styles to suit your mood, the occasion or activity.
Begin with a basic pair of glasses for conservative business wear or if you can afford only one pair. Basic doesn't mean boring. It means simple in style, neutral in color and without ornamentation so they go well with your entire wardrobe and are appropriate for the many occasions in your life.
Simple gold frames and real or imitation tortoise shell glasses in brown, gray-brown or gray and with clear or very pale tinted lenses are recommended for basic. Gold lends itself to dressy occasions somewhat more easily.
Colored plastic glasses are generally poor choices for basic. Decorated, cut-out or designer glasses are out. Choose nothing "cutesy" if you want to be taken seriously in business or leadership situations.
Softly angular frames make you appear considerably more assertive. They are recommended for women in business and are particularly effective for shorter, smaller women. They also place you behind a psychologically protective barrier that prevents most people from advancing closer than invited.
If you are in a more creative business, you can be more creative and fashion-conscious in your selection of eyewear. Rimless, beveled-edge or tinted lenses are appropriate options. Even then, avoid darker tinted lenses on the job. The shading creates a barrier between you and others and may decrease your effectiveness.
It's wise to have an extra pair of basic glasses as a hedge against loss or breakage. Take them along when you travel and always carry a copy of your lens prescription.
Casual glasses for casual and sportive occasions may be selected in larger styles with heavier frames. If you wear them less often, you have the option of buying fun and trendy styles in brighter colors. Consider gold, silver, bronze or copper frames. Consider leather or plastic frames in brown and earth-tone hues.
Elegant glasses for women on dress-up or glamour occasions aren't essential but are nice to have. They offer a change of mood and more feminine feeling. Consider simple gold or silver frames, rhinestone rims and rimless beveled-edge lenses in smaller sizes and elegant shapes.
Sunglasses are needed for outdoor wear winter or summer — whenever there's reflected sun and glare. Sunlight reflected off wet roads and chrome can be blinding. Bright light can contribute to eye fatigue and headache. Squinting contributes to fine line wrinkles around and between the eyes. Your best defense is a good pair of sunglasses.
Prescription sunglasses should be more basic in style and color to coordinate with more of your clothes and occasions. Nonprescription sunglasses can be more frivolous.
Two pair of sunglasses, one tinted blue or gray and another in amber allow you to change your glasses as you change your clothes and cosmetics. Think twice about mirrored lenses. They are gaudy, garish and offend many an observer on business, social or casual occasions.
Sportsglasses with sturdy, protective frames and shatterproof lenses are needed for active sports such as baseball, racquetball and tennis. Tinted sportsglasses or goggles offer needed protection from sunlight and the reflected glare of water, snow or ice — essential for the sports enthusiast.
Safety glasses make sense if you work with hazardous materials or equipment. Prescription and nonprescription varieties are available.
Judith Rasband is director of the Conselle Institute of Image Management and author of numerous publications on dress and image. Contact her at 801-224-1207 or judith@conselle.com. For related image information, visit www.conselle.com and www.LDSImageIntegrity.info.