The eyeglasses you choose to wear are a very real part of your identity.

Because people generally recognize you by your face, the eyeglasses you choose to wear are a very real part of your identity.

Whether you want to appear sophisticated, fun-loving, youthful, conservative, or style-conscious, the right eyewear can help you shape how you are perceived. And if you choose to wear only one pair of prescription eyeglasses for everything you do, that says something about you, too!

Eyeglasses can help people see the real you, or they can help create the image you want. The key is to find the right eyeglass frames to match your personality and lifestyle.

The first step, according to eyewear styling experts, is to consider the different aspects of your life. “What do you really want your eyewear for?” asks Robert Marc, eyewear designer and president of Robert Marc Opticians, a chain of upscale optical stores in New York City. “What are the different activities you participate in? What type of work do you do?”

For different looks to suit the occasion, most people can benefit from more than one pair of eyeglasses, just as they need more than one pair of shoes. “The same pair of shoes won’t take you from a cocktail party to the volleyball court to the beach to the office,” says Marc.

Are you a fast-paced businessperson, an active outdoor enthusiast, a busy mom, a retired senior, or a student? Are you a creative person, such as an artist or writer? Or, like most people, do you have a lifestyle that encompasses several different activities, interests, and personality traits?

To narrow down your choices, consider what eyewear experts suggest in terms of styling, color, material, and size for various lifestyles.