Emma Forbes & Gemma Sheppard join forces in fashion with Vision Express
Wearing glasses doesn't have to impeed upon your style choices, they're there to enhance them.
Celebrity fashion stylist Gemma Sheppard and presenter Emma Forbes have teamed up with Vision Express to provide fashion inspiration to glasses wearers across the UK, as part of the duo’s ‘Saluting Style’ venture paying homage to fashion trends, from high street to high end.
Here's their guide to choosing glasses to suit your style...
Gemma: Forget geek chic, glasses are without doubt a symbol of grown-up sophistication. Many women are under the impression that by wearing glasses, their quotient of beauty is reduced.
However Emma and I are big believers that glasses can enhance your look.
Consider your glasses as a fashion accessory and, like anything else in your wardrobe, they should help you look sensuous and glamorous.
Emma: I was so lucky that on one of my first visits to Vision Express, I met Tom Davies the glasses designer. He gave me some fabulous advice on choosing frames, advice I hadn't thought about.
Eyebrows are hugely important – as in to the shape of the glasses that you choose, and also how they fit over your nose. I think the 'key' is to try on more than you think. I need glasses for so many different occasions from work, to glam events and actually it's quite lovely having glasses to suit different styles of dressing.
For instance I have a Cartier pair for the evening that have embellishment in gold on the sides that give a little 'glam' to a black tie look and are also small enough to fit in my evening bag. For day wear I love the 'preppy chic' look so for this look I have opted for a heavier frame.
Emma & Gemma’s top tips for wearing glasses with style are:
1. Plan ahead. Think of your different 'looks' eg office by day, casual at the weekend, evening glam. [Then consider buying a pair for each situation –perhaps we should soften this] Then consider this when buying your frames. Don’t buy a pair and a spare that are exactly the same – make sure you think about the occasions when your glasses can accessorise your look.
2. It might seem extravagant to buy multiple pairs, but consider how long these are going to last you and that glasses, even with the same outfit, give you a completely different look.
3. When choosing an evening pair, arrive at the opticians wearing your usual eye make-up – it's much easier to see how glasses flatter your eyes for going out if you are wearing the make-up that's appropriate…It really helps.
4. Think outside the box! Retro, fun, geeky, grunge, babydoll, hippy, XXL, girly, minimalist... there are endless ways to rock a great pair of specs. Glasses can often add that little stylish something to your look that you didn't know was missing.
5. Be picky! Take your time and pick out all sorts of different types of styles, and shapes. Sometimes the ones that you thought would least suit – end up being the best! Plus take advice from the staff, we know that Vision Express train all their staff on how to style glasses.
6. As you're settling towards the styles you like make sure they are comfortable and sit on your face properly – so annoying to have to keep adjusting lenses!
7. Consider what jewellery you tend to wear and for your going-out pair, match the frames to that.
8. When you're working some super cool glasses there's no need to go all out with smoky-eye or double eyeliner make-up styles. Instead, focus on your lips. This is the perfect excuse to put on a bright lipstick – because it's your lips that everyone can see!
9. Realise that your glasses are as much a part of your outfit as your handbag or shoes. They 'complete' the look. They also add the edge, style and chic that will make you stand out from the crowd.
10. To help further check out our pinterest board: pinterest.com/emmaforbesoffic/saluting-fashion-frames/
National retailer Vision Express joined forces with Emma and Gemma to bring fashion and style off the catwalk and into branches of their high street stores. Fashion shows will take place during May in a selected number of stores nationwide.
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