How to Choose the Ideal Eyeglasses Based on Your Face Shape

 

Choosing the right pair of eyeglasses can be a daunting task, especially with the seemingly endless options available. Many factors need to be considered, such as frame style, lens material, and prescription requirements. But the Good news? You are no longer confined to the limited options at your local eye clinic, a plethora of glasses is now available online, allowing you to discover the precise style you desire.

However, narrowing down your selection to a single pair can pose a challenge amidst this abundance of choices. That’s why understanding the key factors to contemplate when picking your next set of glasses is crucial.

While identifying the finest eyeglass lenses and frame shapes remains pivotal, another significant consideration revolves around your face shape. Let’s delve into everything you need to know about selecting your next eyeglasses based on the contours of your face.

How do I know my face shape?

To make the right choice, begin by identifying your facial features and categorizing your face shape:

• Shape shape

Characterized by a broad forehead, chin, and wide angular jawline.

• Round face

The forehead, cheeks, and chin share similar length and width, featuring soft cheekbones and a gentle jawline.

• Heart Shape

Exhibits a wide forehead, a narrow chin, and prominent cheekbones.

• Diamond Shape

Boasts a narrow forehead and chin, wider cheekbones, and full cheeks.

• Oval Shape

Features a narrow forehead and chin, high and wide cheekbones, and a subtly curved jawline.

• Triangular Shape

Showcases a narrow forehead, wide jawline, and chin.

Remember, your face shape is unique to you — and a few faces perfectly fit into categories like heart, circle, or square. Most faces are a blend of different shapes, combining rounded chins with tall foreheads or angular features with tapered jaws. This diversity is fantastic news because it means numerous glass styles complement all face shapes!

What are the ideal glasses for your face shape?

Achieving the perfect facial glasses involves identifying your face shape and selecting frames that complement your features. Armed with this knowledge, you can effortlessly choose glasses that consistently enhance your appearance without ever detracting from it.

The Round Face

A round face is characterized by a wide forehead, full cheeks, and a rounded chin, presenting a circular appearance with minimal strong lines or angles. When selecting glasses for a round face, opt for square and rectangular styles to introduce contrast to the natural curves of your face.

Avoid frames that accentuate roundness, and instead, focus on styles that add definition. Contrasting shapes will create the illusion of a thinner and longer face. Look for frames with bold angles, vibrant prints, patterns, colors, and eye-catching embellishments to enhance contrast. A clear or thin bridge can widen the eyes.

Recommended Features For The Glasses

•  Lenses as wide as they are tall
• Bold details
• Adjustable nose pads

Rectangular and square styles, such as wayfarer shapes, are ideal for round faces. The Ray-Ban Wayfarer, with its bold square frame, offers a standout style that complements round features.

Whether in the form of sunglasses or eyeglasses, the Ray-Ban Wayfarer is a timeless choice that accentuates your eyes and evens out facial proportions. Choose this iconic style for a fashion-forward look tailored for round faces.

The Square Face

Individuals with a square face boast a strong jawline and angular features. To achieve balance, opt for thinner frames with plenty of curves, creating contrast against the angular characteristics of your face.

Choose frames with characteristics opposite to your face shape, such as round or cat-eye glasses, to avoid exaggerating the squareness. Opt for wider-than-tall frames in neutral colors like beige, cream, or taupe to impart a slimmer and softer appearance.

Recommended Features:

• Round or swept shapes
• Thinner frames
• Neutral colors

Cat-eye glasses are unparalleled for square faces, featuring softly rounded edges and a distinctive browline that balances facial features without overpowering them. This timeless shape, with a blend of retro and modern details, ensures cat-eye frames are a perennial choice for individuals with square faces.

The Oblong Face

An oblong face is characterized by its long and slender shape, often featuring high cheekbones, a long nose, and a tall forehead. Achieving balanced proportions is key for this face shape, and selecting frames with tall rims contributes to that balance. Additionally, opt for broad rims with color-accented tops or decorative temples to add width to your oblong face.

Recommended Features:

• Tall rims
• Wide rims with colorful tops
• Decorative temples

The ideal choice for oblong faces is a tall, square frame shape with rounded bottom rims. This design seamlessly blends sharp angles with subtle curves, highlighting the features of long, slender faces. If you have a tall forehead and a slim face, consider tall square frames as your go-to shape.

The Diamond-Shaped Face

Distinguished by broad, distinctive cheekbones, parallel, narrow eye lines, and narrow jawlines, the diamond face shape stands out as the rarest of all. While it shares some features with the heart-shaped face due to its full cheeks, the diamond shape is truly a unique silhouette.

Once you’ve identified this as your face shape, focus on eyeglasses with angular, edgy elements to complement the distinct features. This approach softens the cheekbones and directs attention to your eyes. Opt for wider frames to balance your look, adding a dramatic and stylish touch. Avoid narrow eyeglass frames, as they can emphasize the narrow eye line.

Recommended Features:

• Wide rims
• Frames with angular lines
• Top-heavy, semi-rimless styles

Wide, semi-rimless, square, or rectangular frames, such as the Cubmaster style, are considered the best frame shapes for complementing the narrow eye line and full cheeks of individuals with diamond-shaped faces. If Clubmasters don’t suit your style, consider rectangular or cat-eye shapes for a flattering look.

The Oval Face

Regarded by many as the ideal shape, an oval face boasts balanced proportions with a narrow forehead, high cheekbones, and a narrow chin. Almost any pair of eyeglasses complements an oval face, but opt for frames as wide as or slightly wider than the broadest part of your face.

Detailed embellishments enhance the appeal, especially with the high cheekbones typical of an oval face. Whether it’s a retro cat-eye, square, or round frame with on-trend details or the classic and versatile rectangular silhouette for a sophisticated, professional look, the options are abundant. While your proportions are already even, exercise caution when choosing oversized frames.

Recommended Features:

• Bold shapes
• Fun colors, textures
• Balanced size

Round frames, with subtle curves that complement an elongated face shape, are considered the best glasses for individuals with oval faces. Opt for a narrower frame to maintain balance when pairing round glasses with a similarly curved face.

The Heart-Shaped Face

A heart-shaped face is characterized by high cheekbones and a jawline that tapers to a defined chin, resembling an inverted triangle. The widest part of the face is at the top, narrowing down to the bottom.

To enhance this shape, look for frames that minimize the top of your face, creating the illusion of a wider chin. Opt for styles wider than your forehead and decorative accents at the endpoints of the frame, such as cat-eye silhouettes or Ray-Ban’s Clubmaster, to divert attention from the forehead.

Frames in light colors or with detailing, like tortoise or floral patterns, soften your features. The heart-shaped face is versatile, allowing for a variety of styles of glasses.

Recommended Features:

• Frames wider than the forehead
• Details on the lower half
• Light colors

Oversized square frames that stretch wider than the forehead and come in light colors are considered the best glasses for heart-shaped faces. Big, square frames complement this unique face shape, and many renowned eyewear designers offer their creations in this style.

Photo Credit: Jessica-Felicio