Please help me choose new specs? - YouLookFab Forum

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Please help me choose new specs?

Astrid

Veteran

I was specs shopping yesterday with a friend and I took no pictures at all, because I didn't find anything. Today I went again alone to continue my search. I had the sales assistants take the pictures, so please excuse any awkward looks. And you can see my small eyes! I normally look more balanced, because my specs make my eyes larger. It was really hot and humid outside, so I look a bit tired.

I have to say that some of these specs look totally different than in the mirror - so now I don't like them nearly as much anymore. But I thought I would show you all the pics I took.

It was really hard to find frames I liked at first glance. There were so many black and dark colored solid frames everywhere and they were simply too harsh for me. Another problem was that many frames had the "drooping effect" and many of the plastic frames where straight across at the top which I didn't want.

What do you think about the frames below? Do you like a pair best? Why? Should I keep looking and for which color or shape? I can already say that I have a clear favourite, although I'm not sure if these already are the perfect specs. There are also some I really don't like at all from the ones below. The frames in #1 and #3 are actually the same but in different colors.

Help?

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Shopping

28 replies

Latest reply was from Astrid

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I may not be much help - I like several of them. I don't care for 7 - 10 or 13. I like that you are playing with fun frames! I think 3, 5, and 11 pull into the lead for me.

Kari

Veteran

What a fun collection! In terms of flattering shape & color, #3-4 are my favorite pair of frames on your face. #5-6 is nice too, and I love the detail on the sidearm - but I'm not sure if I like the shape as much from straight on - it's a little hard to tell with your eyes closed.

Astrid

Veteran

Kari, I agree that it's unfortunate that my eyes are closed. I didn't look at the pictures straight away and then I didn't want to go back and ask the assistant to take the pic again.

Di

(website)

Veteran

I think I like #5 best.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

3 and 11 are my favorites!

PS: What lovely hair you have

PPS: I think red looks wonderful with your skin tone, I dislike the blue.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks, my hair is one of the things I really like about me!

I think we can already see a trend...

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

From this selection I like 3, the red is nice on you (e.g. 11 and 13 in terms of color) but I vote to continue the search.

And be patient - and take all the time you need. If I remember well you need new prescription, but don't hurry if at all possible.

I've realized during my own search that the more I hurry myself, the more pressured I felt and consequently even desperate. Frames are such a big thing and like with many things the right frames will not only look right, they will also *feel* right.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

You have such a lovely smile! But it makes picking harder, because when you're smiling, anything would look good!

I do like 3 and 11, but I'm not sure you are quite "there" yet. Possibly...but I think it's better to try more to be sure.

Astrid

Veteran

Mmh, I was already in all the stores in my immediate surroinding area. My problem is the price range, I don't want too cheap specs but I can't spend too much on them. I thought I would have a bigger selection here, but didn't like most of the specs in the know Berlin stores I was in. It was either too sleek and business like or too "alternative". I could wait and look in August when I'm home at my parents.

Kookaburra

I can identify - I spend ages choosing frames, going from one shop to another, taking dozens of photos and then being as undecided as ever. The other thing that happens is that I get really influences by the colours in my clothing on the day - so if I happen to be wearing red whilst trying them on, the frames with a red tone look particularly good that day. I might use YLF to help me next time - which won't be too long actually.
My vote is either for #3 - which work best with your warm-tones colouring and is nice on your face shape, not too dominating.
I also like #5 - it's a little hard to tell with your eyes closed, but I think the shape is excellent for you, really follows the contours of your face. The colour is a bit cooler - do you think they will work well with your wardrobe?
The blue frames don't do much for your colouring, and the others are don't go as well with your face shape.
Will be very interested to see what you end up choosing!

Astrid

Veteran

Yes, I can see being influenced by the color of the clothing. My pale blue shirt was fairly neutral, so I think that would be okay.

Actually, #3 isn't a warm red but a cool pink. I don't have a warm coloring, although it doesn't look that way in the pics. It's because of the camera flash and the electric lighting in the stores. The cool color of #5 is a great neutral color for me. You can't see it in the pic, but the color was also fairly similar to my eye color. It would work well with my clothing, although I see specs more as an independent accessory.

Dee

I like 5 the best! They look like a really nice shape for your face.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

My BF, and fellow ginger (his words, not mine!) votes for #1 and #3. He also says 'red power'! He made me say this - he does this in public to other redheads and embarasses me to no end . . . anyway, he likes the those frames

Scarlet

Veteran

I am having a hard time deciding. I really like 1, but I don't think it brings out the color of your eyes. I also like 11. 7 is too harsh because of the color.

Queen Mum

Veteran

Of these I like #5 best, but I'm still not sure if that is quite it. Of the others, I do like the colors, but I think perhaps you need a less squared off frame than most of these are.
I do like the colors of 3,9, and 11 on you... #9 being my first choice for color but not shape.

Astrid

Veteran

Yes, I thought I needed less square frames, too. Unfortunately it's all you get at the moment, if you don't want metal but plastic frames. If you only look at the color I think I liked #3 and #5 best. I would have loved the shape of #5 with the #3 color!

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Man, all I want are square plastic frames and I've been having trouble We should swap glasses shopping locations or something!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Astrid, I'm excited about your specs hunt!

#5 is best but still not right. It follows the line of your brow very nicely, but the bottom outside corners of the frames still droop. Specs must LIFT. I really like the colours of the specs that you chose here! Good job! Unfortunately, they are droop-y and do not lift like I like to see specs "lift" the face and cheek bones.

You have the width right from left to right though. Another good job!

If you were my client, we would still be looking for more options. Hope that makes sense.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks, Angie! Makes totally sense and I will keep on looking. I really want to do it right!

I thought that #5 was best with my eyebrows, too. It's good to hear that I got the color and width right, although I found these the easiest things to look for.

But I think I have a problem to see whether the frames are droop-y or not. I thought I did understand it, but I can't see it here. I tried to look at the difference between these specs and the specs pictured in your blog post, but I don't get it. Is there a concrete way to see if this is the case? Maybe it's also just a matter of not understanding the terms right.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You are well on your way to understanding, Astrid!

It's not a question of the specs themselves, but how they work on your face. Our faces are different - the same pair of specs can droop on one person but not droop on another person. Does that make sense?

Astrid

Veteran

I think I understand it better now. I didn't get that it was a thing that could be different on every face. So in case of #5, it would have been better if the bottom outside corners would have been higher up?
I'll go start a new attempt tomorrow, I will be taking the camera with me again.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

YES! You get it. Good luck.

Astrid

Veteran

Thank you!

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

You're well taken care of here, but I'm happy to see that almost everyone agreed with my own assessment; #5/6 was my favorite. But I think you need something a bit rounder (maybe this is what Angie is saying about the outer bottom edge?) and also I'd like to see a thinner rim, but that may just be my preference. I do love the colors of from #5 on you.

Astrid

Veteran

Yes, I liked #5 too, the color was a great neutral. Although I really could see myself go for something colorful! I don't think I want a thinner rim, I like specs that add some interest and I like it when you can see at first glance that I'm wearing specs. I always had glasses with thinner rims when I was younger and I always felt a bit boring with them.

Astrid

Veteran

I just realised I had another pair of glasses right at home with me, that had a similar shape to #5 but went higher up at the bottom outside corner! I'm talking about the sunglasses with my prescription values I got maybe 5 years ago. I know that they are black (I wouldn't choose black now), but if the shape is better I could take them with me on my search.

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Kyle

Veteran

Astrid, Angie took the words right out of my mouth. I kept wanting to see lift at the outer corners. Take a look at Angie's glasses in this post -- they clearly show the kind of effect that you are looking for. It was a big realization for me when I saw that just because I liked a particular item of clothing or style, would not mean that I would like it on me. It seems like a simple concept, but it was not...for me.

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Astrid

Veteran

Thanks for the picture! I think I understand the concept now. You're so right about the realization part. I'm getting better with accepting that some clothes just don't suit me, but for some reason it isn't so easy to think about glasses in the same way.