In the spring and summer you can’t live without one accessory: sunglasses. They are practical, protect your eyes from UV light and they really finish your outfit. From Cat-eye to Wayfarer and aviator, you choose the sunglasses you love and that suit your face shape. But how do you know if the sunglasses you’ve fallen in love with actually fit? That’s why we tell you how sunglasses are supposed to fit and what you can keep in mind.

The correct size sunglasses

Just like you don’t buy your clothes too big or too small, you must choose your correct size when you purchase a new pair of sunglasses. Perhaps you don’t know this, but many sunglasses list the measurements on the inside of the frame. In general this is listed on the left arm, but it can also be shown on both arms. We explain what the sizes mean and how to find your right size.

Type and colour number sunglasses

If numbers are only listed on the left arm, the size starts with a code for the type followed by the colour number. Usually the type and colour number don’t have anything to do with buying the correct size. Unless you’ve found a type that you’re smitten with, then knowing the codes is a great help if you want to order a new pair of sunnies.

Lens width sunglasses

The next that’s listed on the frame of your sunglasses is the lens width. This is the widest part of the lens when you measure this horizontally. There’s also something that’s called lens height, but this is hardly ever listed on sunglasses. The lens width is shown in millimetres and only concern 1 lens. That implies that the number that’s shown doesn’t reflect the width of the full glasses. Do you want to know the whole width excluding the frame? Then double the lens width (glasses is plural :) ) and add the millimetres of the nose bridge. Sunglasses fit well when the width of the glasses is similar to the width of your face. A slight amount of slack is nothing to worry about, but make sure that your glasses are never 150 mm wider or smaller than your face.

There is an easy trick to find out which width suits you best. All you need is a bank card or a credit card. The measurements of these cards are equal to the standard lens measurements. To discover your correct size, just hold the card vertically under your eye. Is the size of the cards equal to your eye-width? Then you need the standard lens width size, often shown in medium or 56. If the card is wider than your eye-width, then you’re better off with a small lens width like a size 54. If your eye-width is wider than the card, then choose a wide lens of at least 58mm. 

Nose bridge sunglasses

The lens width is followed by the nose bridge. The nose bridge is the distance between the two glasses. The smaller your nose or the closer your eyes are together, the smaller the nose bridge. If you have a small nose, we recommend a nose bridge of 14 to 16 mm. For a regular nose, 17 to 20 mm will do. Broad noses need at least 20 mm. By choosing the correct width, you can be sure that the glasses will stay on your nose. If your nose is relatively flat on the upper, like a turned-up nose, it’s clever to choose glasses with nasal wings.

Aviator sunglasses

The penultimate code that is listed on the frame of your sunglasses is the length of the arms. The length of the arm is the distance between the hinge of the glasses to the back of your ear, the arm’s curve included. Depending on the distance between your eye and ear, you can find your correct size. The arm sizes range from 140 mm to 150 mm. 

Lens filter sunglasses

The code on the inside of your frame is finished with the strength of the lens filter. The higher the number, the stronger the filter of the lens. This means that a higher filter reduces the amount of light that passes through your sunglasses. Depending on what you are going to use the sunglasses for, you choose the lens filter in which 0 gives the least protection and 4 the most.

  • Lens filter 0 : Suitable for overcast days, dawn and dusk
  • Lens filter 1 : Suitable for cloudy days
  • Lens filter 2 : Suitable for summer days in the British climate
  • Lens filter 3 : Suitable in snow, mountains and at the sea in southern Europe
  • Lens filter 4 : Suitable on high mountains and glaciers. Don’t wear this while driving!

One-size sunglasses

What if you fall in love with a pair of gorgeous sunspecs, but no measurements are listed on the inside of the arms? Then you found yourself a pair of one-size sunglasses! Often this is indicated with a ‘one-size’ code. Unfortunately, in this case ‘one-size’ doesn’t mean ‘one size fits all’. When we talk about sunglasses, ‘one size fits all’ is completely irrelevant. You have to measure your ‘one-size sunnies’ to find out the real measurements.

That’s easy to do when you already have a pair laying around, but how do you unravel the measurements when you order a pair on the internet? To find out if the glasses will fit, you can pay attention to the frame. Do you have a small face and are you thinking about purchasing a pair of sunglasses with a wide frame? We hate to tell you this, but it’s likely the sunglasses won’t fit. Always keep a critical eye on the frame and your face when finding out if the sunspecs will suit you. 

Trying on sunglasses; how should they fit?

You have to keep 3 things in mind when you purchase your latest addition. First, you look at what you love. Second, look at what suits you and last, but not least, you look at the measurements. Once your sunglasses are on your doorstep, you can try them on. No matter how perfect the measurements are on paper, the sunglasses may not actually fit. That’s why it keeping a critical eye is essential when you try them on. Do they tightly fit your face? This is how sunglasses are supposed to fit.

How should sunglasses fit the nose?

The nose bridge of sunglasses rests on your nose and your nose supports the sunnies. Therefore, it is essential that the nose bridge tightly fits your nose. Is there some spacing between the nose bridge and your nose? Then these sunglasses are not the right pair for you. The sunglasses rely on your ears and eventually, these are going to hurt. It can be quite tricky to find the perfect sunglasses if you have a pretty flat nose. But no worries, you’ll find a pair! Just make sure that the sunglasses have a nose bridge that fits well.

How should sunglasses fit behind the ears?

The length of the arms has everything to do with how the glasses fit behind your ears. If the glasses fit well, the curve of the arm sits on the top part of your ear. If the curve sits on another part of your ear, the glasses don’t fit. If the sunglasses have a tight fit, they’ll hurt your ears. If the glasses fit too loose, they’ll not stay on your head and you risk losing them. Also, the sunglasses don’t fit if the arms sit way behind your ears. To know if the glasses fit, just do some headbanging. It may look a bit funny, but you’ll immediately know if the glasses fit properly.

How should sunglasses fit on the cheeks?

When you try on your sunglasses, pay attention to how they fit your cheeks. Sunglasses are not supposed to hit the bottom of your cheeks. Is there some space between your cheeks and the glasses? Congratulations! They fit! Are you not sure if there’s enough space? Smile. Are you smiling and do the glasses stay in place without going up or touching your cheeks? Then they fit perfectly.

How should sunglasses fit the eyebrows?

Are sunglasses supposed to fit under or above your eyebrows? That’s a matter of preference, but we advise you to choose a pair that fits just below your eyebrows. Your eyebrows are a big part of your facial expression. Covering your brows will make you lose your facial expression, and that’s not something we aim for, right :)?

The height of the sunglasses plus the fact if the glasses sit under or above your eyebrows is related to the height of the lens. Unfortunately this is rarely listed on sunglasses. Trying them on and looking at the type is the only way to find out if the sunglasses fit. For instance, if you have small eyes, large sunglasses will not make you look your best. 


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