Finding Your Audrey Hepburn Sunglasses for Summer
Bustling bright yellow taxis flooded the New York City streets. Audrey Hepburn, who played Holly Golightly in the notable film Breakfast at Tiffany’s slid her Oliver Goldsmith Manhattan sunglasses down the bridge of her nose. The scene in the film that showcased the frames and little black dress was duped as her most iconic fashion look. As seen with Hepburn, the perfect pair of sunglasses can make or break your look. Knowing the different styles, your face shape, and your go-to color palette will guide you in finding your perfect sunglasses and your iconic Hepburn-esque look for the summer.
Finding Your Audrey Hepburn Sunglasses for Summer
STYLE GUIDE
Looking at the sunglasses display at the shops can be simply overwhelming. To get down to basics, there are four main types of frames. The aviator, wayfarer, round, and cat-eye. Read on for an explanation of each type.
Aviator
Giving them the name, aviator frames were originally developed in 1936 for pilots to protect their eyes while flying. The frames replaced the outdated flight goggles for a lighter, thinner, and more elegant feel. Stars such as Johnny Depp and Tom Cruise wore Randolph aviator sunglasses on the daily and in feature films.
Wayfarer
Fashion trends are ever-changing. That being said, wayfarer frames have kept up throughout the past decades and are still amongst the most recognizable on the market. The frames are quite large and square-shaped with a broad upper rim that goes out to a point. Throughout the 1950s, the frames became a staple for Hollywood stars such as Marilyn Monroe and James Dean.
Round
Round frames have been around since the creation of glasses in the thirteenth century. Every once in a while, the frames strike back and become popular again. In the 1960s during the hippie movement, John Lennon brought the vintage frames back making the look wildly famous.
Cat-Eye
Cat-eye frames are the epitome of vintage fashion. The creator and designer, Altina Schinasi, created the frames after she graduated from art school in New York. The feline-inspired style took off in the 1950s as the stars Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Rihanna, and Gigi Hadid took to wearing the glamorous shape.
FACE SHAPE
Evaluating your face shape can help guide you to choosing the right set of frames to exemplify your look. There are five main categories of face shapes such as the square, round, heart, triangular, and oval.
When analyzing your face shape, it is important to remember that nobody has a perfect shape. Nobody is a perfect heart, circle, square, or any other defined category. In fact, most faces are a combination of a few different shapes. To find your face shape, assess your jawline in the mirror and determine if it leans toward the more angular or round side.
Once you have found your face shape, you can find which frames will bring a natural balance to your face. A good rule of thumb is to find a pair of sunglasses that are the opposite of your face shape. For example, square face shapes go best with round frames, triangular shapes go best with cat-eye frames, and so on.
COLOR PALETTE
Determining whether you should opt for bright bold colors or earthy neutrals can be arduous. Color is a powerful communication tool that can be used to influence mood. Determining the color of your frames can quickly change the onset perspective of you from others.
For example, red frames capture that you are confident and not afraid to stand out. Pink frames capture caring and nurturing tendencies. Green frames portray that you make others feel happy and warm. Yellow frames convey that you are bright and cheerful. Blue frames portray that you are calm, quiet, yet evoke trust, loyalty, and confidence.
Analyzing your hair color can also suggest what colors you should opt for when picking sunglass frames. Black hair looks best with any metallic sunglasses such as grey, black, or gold. Blonde hair looks best with soft shades of blue, pink, and red. Brunettes look best with black, blue, and pink frames. Redheads and auburn hair look best with tortoiseshell or brown frames. If you are still stuck, black frames complement every hair color.
LISTEN TO YOUR INTUITION
Remember, these are just guidelines to help you determine how to balance and complement your features, not unbreakable rules. Use the above guide as a basic framework to find your sunglasses for the summer, but tune into your intuition and pick frames that make you feel magnificent inside and out. Your personal iconic Audrey Hepburn-esque sunglasses look is yours for the making!
Words by Lauren Geiser
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