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The Manual’s Guide to Fitting Sunglasses

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Fun facts: Sunglasses were first used in 12th century China and were made from flat planes of smoky quartz. It wasn’t until 1929 that sunglasses (then called sun cheaters) became a mass-market thing, starting where else, but at the Jersey Shore.

We’ve come a long, long, way since those early days—glass lenses, polarized lenses…UV-protection. These days, most medical professionals will tell you that sunglasses are a requirement for bright, sunny days, but they don’t tell you how to pick a pair that look good on your face. For that, we turned to Warby Parker founders Neil Blumenthal and David Gilboa, purveyors of quality, affordable, stylish and of course guilt-free shades, who gave us an exclusive interview on form and fit.

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1—Before you even think about the way a pair of sunglasses looks, think about size. Sunglasses shouldn’t sit on your cheeks, and they should rest comfortably on the bridge of your nose. Make sure these two boxes are checked before you get to the aesthetic component. A good test? Put a pair on and smile. If the tops of your cheeks touch the bottom of the frames, they’re too big.

2— When it comes to picking frames that work for your face, think opposites. Square frames flatter round faces (round faces just have cheek bones are the widest part of the face). If you’re not comfortable with an ultra-angular pair, try a frame with a wider, structured brow.

4¬—For those with square faces (Defined jawline and your face is nearly as long as it is wide), round lenses take the edge off strong jaws and cheekbones.

5—Aviators tend to be the most universal and look good on most people.

6—Those with oval faces (forehead is slightly wider than your chin) are the lucky ones: they can wear almost any shape.

7—Figure out whether your face is on the wider or narrower side, because this will determine how large a frame you want. Frames that are too small will make a wide face look wider (and your features might look scrunched). Frames that are too big either give you a RoboCop vibe or make your whole head look small. As with so many things, it’s all about proportion.

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Backpack capacity is best determined by the size of the person who will be wearing it, but there are variation based on personal preference and habits. A middle school student who likes to carry their all books to and from school every day will need a larger backpack than a student who rarely brings books home. Student athletes may want a gigantic bag to carry sports clothing and gear, though in that case a second bag is often an option. One factor regarding size is specific to electronics, considered separately just below. Commuters will want to consider how much weight and bulk they want to carry on a daily basis.
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Computers, Chromebooks, tablets, and other electronics are expensive. Even though most devices can take moderately rough handling, the best solution when choosing a backpack is to pick one with a padded protected area that fits the device. Most laptops will fit in a sleeve designed for the most common 15.6-inch display size, but a few are larger, so be sure to account for screen size (measured diagonally). Because many tech-focused people and some students carry more than one device, there are also backpacks with multiple protected sections. Two additional handy electronics-focused features to look for are an opening for a USB charging port and an easily-accessed zippered compartment for adapters, cables, mice, and other small accessories.
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Backpacks are constructed of a variety of materials, including nylon, polyester, canvas, cotton fabric, leather, and more. If you're choosing a backpack for a student, keep in mind the material will need to withstand rough treatment and often be put or stored in areas where they will pick up dirt.
Comfort
Backpacks often have a variety of handles and extra straps, but padded shoulder straps that don't dig in when the backpack is loaded with books can add a lot to its comfort.
Water Resistance
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