By Carmen, Styling at Princess Goes Hollywood
On shoots, I'm regularly asked: "Carmen, which glasses should we choose?" And I'll be honest – the answer has less to do with the model than with the face behind them. Sunglasses can do it all: complete a look, save an outfit, turn a simple summer dress into a show-stopping appearance. Or they just don't fit at all... ;)
Why not? Because most sunglasses are bought in front of the wrong mirror. In a store, under neon lights, with the pressure to decide. Yet the logic behind it is so simple that once you understand it, you'll never buy wrong again.
The Okkia Club Collection, new to us, inspired me to create this guide. Five models, all named after Italian islands, all with that extravagant, unmistakable energy I'd describe as "Italian attitude." Here's which model suits which face type. And why.
The oval face: choose what excites you
The oval face is the face shape where I, as a stylist, have to intervene the least. The proportions are balanced, the lines flow harmoniously, and almost every glasses shape works. This is the privilege of the oval face – and at the same time its only challenge, because you really have to decide based on personal feeling.
On set, I'd reach for the Ischia here. This large, slightly oversized square shape with softly rounded corners is exactly the look you see on the streets of Milan: confident, a bit seventies, always right. Or for the Stromboli, if the day's energy needs to be a bit edgier. Wide aviator shape, strong presence, the look of a woman who knows exactly what she wants.
The round face: edges please
For a round face, my motto as a stylist is: contrast. The face brings softness and roundness – the glasses can, no: should work against that. Angular shapes create structure, visually add length to the face, and give the look that certain something.
My clear recommendation: Vulcano. This wide, angular retro shape with a flat top bar is one of my absolute favorite models in the entire collection. In black with yellow lenses, it's a pure statement. In cognac with purple lenses, it has that casual energy I love. And on a round face, it looks tailor-made.
The heart-shaped face: balance is everything
The heart-shaped face is wider at the top – broad forehead, prominent cheekbones – and narrows towards the bottom. What it needs are glasses that reverse this logic: wider at the bottom, narrower at the top. That sounds more complicated than it is.
The answer is Procida. This large, round butterfly shape does just that: it sits wider in the lower area, balances out the strong forehead, and gives the face that beautiful, cinematic quality. In black, it's as iconic as a 1960s movie poster. In tortoiseshell, it's timeless in a way that never goes out of style.
The square face: curves as a counterpoint
The square face naturally brings strength – a pronounced jawline, clear contours, a striking structure. What it doesn't need are more angles. What it needs are shapes that soften, open, and make it gentler.
Here I recommend Procida or Panarea. Both work with round, flowing shapes that provide a pleasant warmth against the angular features. Procida does this in a grand and dramatic way. Panarea is a bit more restrained but just as effective. The choice depends on how much of a statement is desired.
The long face: width is the answer
The long face needs optical width. Narrow, small lenses emphasize length and make the face even longer. What helps are large, wide models that work horizontally across the face and visually shorten it.
My choice: Ischia or Vulcano. Both are wide enough to truly broaden the face. Ischia does this with feminine, elegant energy. Vulcano with more edge and presence. Both work, both look particularly striking on a long face.
Italian attitude. Instant statement.
The five models of the Okkia Club Collection – Vulcano, Stromboli, Ischia, Procida, Panarea – share an attitude: none of them are quiet, none of them are a compromise. Striking silhouettes, strong colors, a design that instantly transforms a look. Procida, Ischia, and Panarea are additionally polarized – for those who truly take their glasses seriously as sun protection.
Discover all models in our Okkia collection. And for everything that happens under the glasses: the right summer colors can be found in my trend color guide, and the matching pieces in the Bella Italia collection and the Dolce Vita collection.
I tell everyone on set: An outfit can be perfect. But with the right sunglasses, it becomes a wow-look!
