Many of our customers run brick-and-mortar retail locations. Some specialize only in sunglasses while others carry a variety of additional items. Either way, it is not uncommon for retail customers to want advice about sunglasses and face shape. It pays for those of us in the industry to refresh ourselves on this topic every now and again.
As you know, fashion designers and stylists consider face shape among many other criteria when coming up with new designs. Face shape is important regardless of who your wholesale supplier of bulk sunglasses might be. Your customers want to know how your products will look on their faces. Some may ask you for advice based on what to buy.
Six Basic Face Shapes
Though people rarely have perfectly shaped faces that never change for a lifetime, there are some general categories under which different face shapes are grouped. Essentially, there are six of them. Here they are:
- Oval.
- Round.
- Square.
- Oblong/Rectangular.
- Diamond.
- Heart.
Face shape is a combination of face structure (jawbone and cheeks), hairline, and chin. As such, a person’s face shape could change with a new hairstyle. Likewise, a man’s face shape could look one way clean shaven and another way with a beard or goatee. This is why it is so important to understand basic face shapes and how they apply to sunglasses.
Measuring the Face
We don’t get asked much about how to measure face shape in our capacity as a sunglasses wholesaler. But as a retailer, you might get the question from time to time. Fortunately, measuring face shape is not difficult. A consumer looking to figure out her face shape based on actual measurements would need to measure three things:
- Face Width – First is face width. This is measured by going from cheekbone to cheekbone. Using a tailor’s tape measure, one end is placed just under the eye at the top of the cheekbone. It runs across the face to the same point on the other side.
- Face Length – Measuring face length starts with placing the tape measure at the center of the hairline on the forehead. The tape measure runs down the nose all the way to the bottom of the chin.
- Jaw Line – Finally, measuring the jawline begins with placing the tape measure just below one ear at the very end of the jawbone. The tape measure is run underneath the chin to the same point on the other side.
With these three measurements in place, it is possible to sketch the shape of one’s face on a piece of paper. Looking in the mirror and comparing what is seen against the sketch reconciles the two images and should clearly point to the shape of the person’s face.
As a retailer, you might be able to separate yourself from the competition by helping customers measure their faces. Obviously, doing so would be a business decision. But helping people understand face shape could also help them make a more informed decision about their sunglasses.
Different Styles of Sunglasses for Different Face Shapes
Needless to say that there are different styles of sunglasses for different face shapes. The idea behind matching face shape with sunglasses style is to create a complementary aesthetic. Your customers don’t want sunglasses that amplify flaws or even overemphasize the shape of one’s face. They also do not want sunglasses that stick out because they contrast so much from natural shape.
Here at OE Sunglasses, we sell wholesale sunglasses for men, women, and children in a variety of shapes and styles. We have exactly what your customers need regardless of face shape.
The post A Quick Reminder About Sunglasses and Face Shapes appeared first on Wholesale Sunglasses Blog.
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