Choosing Eyeglasses That Suit
Your Personality and Lifestyle

By Erinn Morgan, with updates by Liz Segre

Unlike a new pair of shoes, eyeglasses are instantly noticeable: they're out there in front, on your face, ready to be noticed, every day. If you don't think your eyewear can make a huge difference in other people's perception of you, take a look at Clark Kent/Superman. A simple pair of nerdy eyeglasses so completely changes the appearance of Clark Kent that nobody sees Superman just behind the frames.

Who Are You?

If it works for a superhero, it can work for you. The key to creating the image you want is in selecting just the right pair of eyeglasses to match your personality and lifestyle. The first step, according to eyewear styling experts, is to determine the different aspects of your lifestyle.

"What do you really want your eyewear for?" asks Robert Marc, eyewear designer and president of Robert Marc Opticians, a chain of six upscale stores in New York City. "What are the different activities you participate in? What type of work do you do? These are the types of questions that are good to ask yourself."

If you're an older boomer or retired senior, try a modern style to keep your eyeglasses from aging you unnecessarily.

Most people can benefit from more than one pair of eyeglasses. "The same pair of shoes won't take you from a cocktail party to the volleyball court to the beach to the office," says Marc. "If your life is one look or activity it makes it easier and you may only need one pair. But if it is broken up into two or three parts you need two or three pairs."

You can start the process by defining your lifestyle and what you might need to complement it. "It's good to ask yourself, 'How do I use my glasses? What do I do for a living? What are my interests?'" says Richard Morgenthal, owner of New York City eyewear boutique Morgenthal-Frederics.

Are you a fast-paced businessperson, an active person participating in a number of sports, a busy mom, a retired senior, a student or a creative person such as an artist or writer? Each of these people may desire different types — or several pairs — of eyeglasses to suit his or her needs. Here is what the eyewear experts suggest in terms of styling, color, material and size for varying lifestyles.

Eyeglasses for the Conservative Businessperson

If you fall into this category, it is best to stay with recognizable shapes such as ovals, rectangles and almonds. For the more classic person, these easy, non-complicated frame styles are much better than shapes that are new and unusual. Thin plastics and metals are also recommended.

"Titanium and stainless steel are also good," says Morgenthal, "as are rimless and three-piece mountings." In terms of color, silver, gunmetal, brown and black are recommended for men because these are easy, conservative tones to wear. Brown, golden tones, silver, burgundy and coffee are good for women. See examples.

Creative Person

Modern shapes, such as geometrics in thicker and larger plastics, are a good choice for you, but metal materials can also be creative in appearance.

Today's more fashionable larger-sized eyeglasses are also an option as are more unusual colors such as blue, green and purple and combinations such as the currently popular multi-colored laminations. Morgenthal also recommends lasered details and finishes for this group, as they are unusual and very modern. See examples.

Baby Boomer or Senior

Choosing a modern look keeps you from aging yourself unnecessarily with your eyeglasses.

"Everyone wants to look young and modern," says Marc. He recommends an eyeglass frame shape that is uplifting for the face such as an upswept rectangle for men and a soft cat-eye for women.

Certain colors can also make you appear younger. Marc suggests gunmetal, deep browns and burgundy for men and lighter, shinier hues for women. "Shine adds life to the face for women," he says. He also says it is best to stay away from silver, black and dark, dull colors. See examples.

Page 2 of 2: Eyeglasses for the student, busy parent or active and athletic person; also, falling into more than one category

[Page updated August 2006]