Daleen Slabbert consults to the optometric industry. Her services include: new practice set-up, implementing practice systems, implementing financial check points, staff training, implementing marketing strategies, human resources management, motivating staff, etc. She has amassed an incredible library of information and has vast experience in the running of high performance optometric practices. Daleen offers an on-site service, where she will be at the fore front of implementation of her systems. She has also developed an outstanding online course for optometric staff.


With so many frames in all shapes, sizes and colours to choose from, picking the perfect frame for you can be difficult. The Optical Assistant will guide you in the right direction, but the ultimate choice is yours! These simple guidelines can assist you to narrow it down.

Colour

The Colour should match your skin tone. More important than hair colour and more decisive than eye colour, skin tone sets the tone for high fashion frames. Select a shade that compliments your skin tone.

Lifestyle

What is your lifestyle? There are frames for every way of life! Think about the activities you will do while wearing your glasses. If you’re active, find a frame that can twist and bend without breaking. If you want to make a fashion or professional statement, accessorise your outfits with a variety of colour and fashion.

Personality

Your personality – serious or fun? The frames you wear can say a lot about your personality. You can have a pair of glasses that showcase your fun-loving side on the weekends and a pair that emphasises your get-down-to-business attitude during the week. Choose your favourite colour in a style that expresses your personality, or choose a small collection of frames to easily alter your appearance to suit your mood.

Face Shape

The key to finding the right frame shape is to remember that opposites attract. Select frames that contrast from your facial contours and bring symmetry and balance to your prominent features.


THE ROUND FACE

A round face is usually short and fairly wide. Cheeks may be full, leading to a soft, rounded chin.
Frame shapes to try:

  • The illusion of a slimmer face can often be created if round styles are avoided.
  • Choose frames that are distinctive, angular, and almost square, with designs that accentuate the upper part of the face.
  • Select frames with high temples and up-swept “cat’s eye” styles.
  • Because of the fullness of the round face, try to create an illusion of slenderness by wearing frames slightly wider than the widest point of the facial outline.


THE HEART SHAPE FACE

This face features a small, neat chin and mouth, leading up to a broader forehead.

Frame shapes to try:
Choose angular frames with strong vertical lines. Avoid upswept shapes that mirror the angle of the jaw and in doing so, accentuating it.
The forehead or upper part of the face appears much wider and broader than the lower part of the face. The lower part of the face is smaller and the chin is sometimes pointed.

  • The top of the frame should complement the brow shape.
  • Avoid accentuating the lower jaw-line; never wear upswept frames.
  • The correct frame should be fuller at the bottom, perhaps slightly down swept to the outer jaw line.


TRIANGLE SHAPE

This face features a small forehead with a wide jawline.
Frame shapes to try:

Choose frames that have an angular shape with strong vertical lines on top and an upswept shape at the bottom. Avoid frame shapes that mirror the angle of the jaw and in doing so, drawing attention to it. The lower part of the face is wide and the jawline is square.

  • The top of the frame should complement the brow shape.
  • Avoid accentuating the lower jaw.
  • The correct frame should be full, perhaps slightly upswept to the outer cheekbone.


THE OVAL FACE

This shape is the so-called “standard of beauty” and is therefore perhaps the easiest to suit.
Frame shapes to try:

Almost any style is suitable: round, oval or angular, although as with all frames, attention should be paid to the fit of the bridge and the size of the frame.

  • Select frames that are as wide as the widest point of the facial contour.
  • The top shape should complement the shape of the brow.
  • Avoid any oversized shapes that over- accentuates the shape of the lower jaw.


THE SQUARE FACE

The square face is angular and well defined but can be quite short and wide.
Frame shapes to try:

  • The square-shaped face tends to have strong lines, heaviness and fullness in the lower part of the contour. Spectacle frames should avoid accentuating the lower face.
  • Suited to frames which are slightly upswept and slightly wider than the widest part of the jaw line.
  • Avoid square or angular frames.
  • Suitable for darker oval or round frames.
  • Avoid light coloured square frames.
  • Suitable for rimless and semi-rimless eyewear.


THE LONG/OBLONG FACE

The oblong face is characterized by high cheekbones, a deep forehead and a strongly defined jaw line.
Frame shapes to try:

  • Try to achieve an effect of shortening the length of the face by choosing a ‘deeper’ frame – covering more of the face.
  • To create the illusion of more width in the face, select frames that have top to bottom depth and contrasting temples.
  • The top of the frame should complement the brow shape.
  • The bottom of the frame can be rimless to not accentuate the length of the face.


THE DIAMOND FACE

The diamond face is characterized by high cheekbones, a narrow deep forehead and a small neat chin and mouth. The goal of frame selection is to soften the cheekbones.
Frame shapes to try:

  • Choose angular frames with strong vertical lines.
  • To create the illusion of more width in the face, select frames with strong vertical lines on both the top and the bottom of the frame.
  • The top of the frame should complement the brow shape.
  • The bottom of the frame should be square to counter the lines of the narrow chin.
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