Women's Eyeglass Frames:
How to Get the Right Look for You

Need new eyeglasses? Going to an optical shop and picking out the right frame can be pretty confusing. Here are some tips:

Before you go to the optical store, think about what to tell the optician:

• Do you want a frame that's delicate or bold, retro or modern, conservative or "out there"?
   
• Are there any current fashion trends you really like? (See the section called "Current Frame Trends" below.)
   
• Are you going to wear this frame all the time, mainly at work, or just when you go out on the town?
   
• Do you want a designer label?
   
• What colors are you are drawn to, what are your hair and skin colors, and what are the main colors in your wardrobe? What is your face shape? (For tips, please read the article on face shape and color analysis.)
   
• What do you like or not like about your current eyeglasses?

According to studies by Vision Council of America, most women are more interested in the way eyeglasses look, while most men are more interested in comfort and fit. But let's face it: if the frame doesn't fit well or isn't comfortable, you won't want to wear it, and you won't get your money's worth. This is where the optician can be very helpful. For example:

• If a frame looks great, but it slides off your nose. The optician can fix this during the final fitting, by adjusting the temple length or the way the temple tips wrap around your ears.
   
• If the front is too wide and doesn't fit your face. The optician could order the frame in another size, or if it doesn't come in another size, could find you a frame that's very similar but a different brand. Some manufacturers have released petite collections with frames that fit smaller faces.
   
• If the nose pads aren't comfortable. Often the optician can screw in replacement pads or can find a similar style of frame with better pads.

Durability is another factor that men seem more interested in than women are, but really, you don't want to buy a frame that falls apart after a few months. The best expert on durability is the optician, because he or she is the one who sees which frames that customers are bringing back for repair, and which ones elicit few or no complaints.

It used to be easy to tell the difference between a poorly made frame and a well-constructed one. But now even cheap frames may be so well finished that you might not know if the material is easy to scratch or bend out of shape, or the hardware will give way long before it should. Ask the optician!

We women don't hesitate to buy more than one pair of shoes, so why do many of us balk at buying more than one pair of eyeglasses? Consider this:

• You can find great deals on eyewear. Look in the newspaper, or check with your eyecare practitioner. Optical stores have sales all the time, including "two-for-one" or "buy-one-get-one-half-off." Often you can buy new eyeglasses for less than the price of new shoes or a purse.
   
• Unless they're bottom-of-the-barrel, eyeglass frames usually last a long time. If you're like most eyeglass wearers, your prescription isn't going to change every year, and you'll likely hold onto those frames for a long while. Do you wear the same shoes or earrings every single day for years? Probably not, so why would you want to wear the same frame every day?
   
• Eyewear isn't just a medical device, it's also a fashion accessory. Some ladies think gold frames go with everything, and that might be true for them. But is it true for you? You might be more interested in a coppery metal frame for when you're wearing jeans, a blonde tortoise plastic frame for the office, and a pretty rhinestone-studded silver frame for an evening out. It's fun to consider the options.
   

If you really are on a tight budget, then by all means choose one frame that you'll be happy wearing with any outfit and in any situation. Opticians excel at helping their customers find such frames. But it doesn't mean you have to choose a plain, thin metal if what you really like is a colorful, chunky plastic. Remember, this frame is going to be on your face every single day, and you have to like how it looks on you. Otherwise, you might as well wear contact lenses.

If you want to know which eyeglass frames are the must-have look of the season, look for these trends, as identified by Vision Council of America. Also see the current eyeglass frame trends for men.

Career Chic. Simple elegance in neutral colors describes this season's business apparel for women, and the same goes for career-minded eyeglass frames. Taupe, gray, black and tinted whites are favored, with subtle designer logos and ladylike touches. Shown is a frame by California Accessories.

Indie Spirit. If you like the ethnic floral and animal print dresses this year, you'll also like the new colorful eyewear in blues, yellows, greens, oranges and pinks. Interesting frame shapes abound, such as butterfly and cat-eye, with flowery details and natural materials such as wood. Shown is a frame by Lafont.

Modern Pinup. Romance goes retro, with pretty little accents and filigree. The eyewear colors are metallic, pink and purple, to match the floral prints in 1940s-style dresses and skirts. Shown is a frame by Geoffrey Beene.

Want more? See our section called What's New in Eyeglass Frames. Whatever your style may be, you'll find the right frame — or frame wardrobe — for your personality and lifestyle. [See also: Spring and Summer 2008 Trends in Sunglasses]