The Importance of Fit: When Things We Like Don’t Work
I believe most of my readers love discovering new products and brands, not just for the sake of novelty, but to find something interesting and meaningful. But sometimes, you find a product you really like, but after trying it on you realize it just doesn’t work for you. And we all probably know this bittersweet feeling - when you think you’ve found what you were looking for, only to realize it’s not meant to be.
In this case it’s best to be honest with yourself and accept the fact that this one is just not meant to be, and move forward. But that’s easier said than done. I’ve experienced this too many times: finding a piece of clothing I really like, where all the details are on point and the quality is great, only to realize it just doesn’t fit me, or that the color I love simply doesn’t work with my skin tone. It’s very similar when it comes to shoes. Some models look amazing, but the last just doesn’t work for my feet. And if you want to avoid heel slipping and blisters, this becomes even more important, especially with loafers.
The same goes for watches. There are many beautiful ones out there that just don’t look good on my wrist, most often because of the size or proportions.
We already know that fit is the most important thing when it comes to clothing, because even if you have the best quality pieces, if they don’t fit you well, you won’t look good in them. And the main reason we spend so much time exploring and talking about clothes is to look good, which ends up making us feel better. Right?
But many people don’t realize that it’s the same with glasses. No matter how cool or expensive they are, if they don’t fit your face, none of that really matters. For example, I really like some of Jacques Marie Mage’s frames, but unfortunately, none of the ones I’ve been able to try so far have looked good on me. And no matter how much I liked them, it didn’t change that fact, which is why I haven’t bought a pair yet.
I should also mention that when I’m talking about glasses, I always mean prescription glasses. I’m pointing this out because I think there is an aesthetic difference between glasses with clear or lightly tinted lenses and those with dark lenses (sunglasses). Usually, if sunglasses are a bit oversized, it doesn’t look too bad, but I can’t say the same for clear or lightly tinted frames. It’s easier to notice when they don’t fit, because you can see the eyes and the entire face, and the proportions just feel off.
I’m still on my journey of discovering frames that work best for my face, and recently I got the chance to try on a couple of new frames from Banton Frameworks. So I decided to do a comparison, and then it clicked for me, that this fit perfectly with an idea for this article I’d been planning for a while: about things we like, but that don’t work for us.
I took these frames to Pitti, where I also let my friends try them on, so I can now use them for a comparison to show how different frames look on different faces, to prove that there is no one item that is perfect for everyone.
When I was looking at Banton's new collection online, I preferred the Mòr line because the frames are a bit thicker than the Linea line. But when I was finally able to try on all of the frames I selected, it turned out that the Mòr frames were a bit too much for me. Even though I have very strong, dark eyebrows, these frames stood out too much on my face. If I were looking for new sunglasses, I would probably pick the Mòr F, but if I’m choosing them as my prescription frames with a light tint, they’re just a bit too much. This is a great example of things we like but don't really work for us. If I hadn’t had the chance to try them on, I might have gotten a frame that wouldn’t fit me as well, even though I analyzed all the measurements and sizes of their frames. I still really like the Mòr F frame, but I think the Linea G and Linea E work better for me. Linea E is probably a more classic fit, but I’m leaning more toward Linea G, to be honest.
Top row, from left to right: Linea E (25), Linea G (25), Linea I (25)
Bottom row, from left to right. Mòr D, Mòr F, Mòr G
As I mentioned, I also gave the frames to my friends to try on, and below you can see how they look on them.
Top row, from left to right: Linea E (25), Linea G (25), Linea I (25)
Bottom row, from left to right. Mòr D, Mòr F, Mòr G
Mateusz said that he prefers the Linea E, as he believes they fit him the best.
Top row, from left to right: Linea E (25), Linea G (25), Linea I (25)
Bottom row, from left to right. Mòr D, Mòr F, Mòr G
Kamil also picked the Linea E for similar reasons, but said that the Linea G could work too.
Top row, from left to right: Linea E (25), Linea G (25), Linea I (25)
Bottom row, from left to right. Mòr D, Mòr F, Mòr G
Lukasz, however, prefers the Linea I and thinks that the Mor D looks good as well.
I have to agree with all of them, but I just have to add that I think the Linea E also works on Lukasz, which shows that some shapes or silhouettes are a bit more universal than others. It also shows that the more specific or unique something is, the smaller the group of people it might fit or appeal to.
At the end of the day, this shows that when it comes to clothes and accessories, you always have to try them on to make sure they fit. Unfortunately, in this very niche menswear world, many brands sell only direct-to-consumer, and some have one or a couple of shops, while most only sell online. So most of the people who are interested still won’t be able to see their products in person and try them on. Many people are discouraged because of that, and some then go and buy the closest thing they can find locally. But I don’t agree with this approach, because you will never use the item that wasn’t your first choice as much as you would use it otherwise. I will always encourage spending some extra time and money to order online. If you’re not sure about sizes, order two or three, and return what doesn’t fit. At the end of the day, this is a very minimal extra cost to make sure you get what you really want, or at least have the chance to try it on and see if it works or that it might not be meant for you. It’s also the price you pay for peace of mind.
This article also shows that it’s always worth trying different things, especially if you like something, but not quite as much as your first choice. Go ahead and try both if you have the chance, it might turn out that the item that wasn’t your first choice actually works better for you, similar to what happened with me and these sunglasses.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic.
*If you are still not familiar with Banton Frameworks, they are a small independent brand from Scotland, with just two makers crafting the frames and running all the operations. Their business model is to open their online shop only six times a year, and the next drop is coming on July 2nd. In this article, you can learn more about the brand and my experience with them.
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You can love how something looks -glasses, shoes, or a jacket, but still realize it doesn’t work for you. Fit and proportion matter more than style alone.