Because people generally recognize you by your face, the eyeglasses you 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 glasses for everything you do, that says something about you, too!

What do your eyeglasses say about you?

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. For example, what type of work do you do? And when you're not at work, what type of leisure or other activities do you enjoy?

Are you an executive, business owner or public relations professional? Perhaps you're an active outdoor enthusiast, a busy mom, a retired senior or a student? Or maybe you are a creative person, such as an artist or writer.

Or, like most people, do you have a lifestyle that encompasses a number of different activities, interests and personality traits?

Everyone can benefit from more than one pair of eyeglasses, just as we all need more than one pair of shoes. Generally, wearing tennis shoes with formal wear is a bad look. Wearing the wrong type of glasses can be a similar mistake.

Eyeglasses for serious business

To help instill trust and confidence among a wide variety of your business clients and colleagues, it's usually best to stay with conservative frame shapes and colors. Consider these choices to enhance your professional image:

•          Classic shapes such as ovals, rectangles and almonds
•          Traditional colors of gold, silver, brown, gray and black
•          In plastic frames, no bright colors or unusual shapes

Titanium or stainless steel frame materials are good choices, as are rimless frame styles.

For colors, silver, gunmetal, brown and black generally are good choices because they match well with a variety of business suits. Golden tones, tortoise patterns and espresso are good choices for business wear for women and men alike.