Glasses sit right in the middle of your face, so it makes sense to want a pair that suits you. Face shape is one of the easiest places to start when you’re browsing frames and lenses, and our opticians use it all the time to help people build a shortlist.
To choose glasses for your face shape, pick frames that contrast your natural lines, like angular frames for soft curves and rounded frames for strong angles, then make sure they fit comfortably and match your style. Before you shop, book a comprehensive eye exam so your new lenses match your current prescription.
How to Figure Out Your Face Shape
Pull your hair back and stand in front of a mirror in good light, or take a straight-on selfie. Notice where your face looks widest and where it narrows. For a closer look, grab a soft measuring tape and check these 4 areas:
- Your forehead, across its widest point
- Your cheekbones, from one outer edge to the other
- Your jawline, measured side to side
- Your face length, from your hairline to your chin
Few faces fit one shape exactly. Look for your closest match and go from there.
Online Tools and Virtual Try-On Apps
Some eyewear websites and apps can estimate your face shape from a photo, and virtual try-ons let you preview frames without leaving the couch. They’re handy for ideas. Still, try your favorites on in person, since a screen can’t tell you how a frame feels on your nose.
Glasses for Each Face Shape
Once you know your shape, use these guidelines to start sorting through your options.
Round Faces
A round face has soft curves, and its width and length are about the same. Rectangle, square, cat-eye, and browline frames can add definition with their straight lines and corners.
Try frames that are a touch wider than your face, too. They can make your face look a little longer.
Oval Faces
An oval face is widest at the cheekbones and narrows gently at the forehead and chin. Lucky you: most frame styles suit this shape, so you’ve got plenty of room to play.
Look for frames about as wide as the widest part of your face. Very narrow frames can make an oval face look longer than it is.
Square Faces
A square face has a broad forehead and a strong, angular jaw. Round, oval, wire, and semi-rimless frames can soften those features with gentle curves.
Thin frames in lighter colors can also keep your look from feeling heavy.
Heart Faces
A heart-shaped face is wide at the forehead and tapers to a narrow chin. Oval, round, aviator, and semi-rimless frames make great picks.
Frames with curved bottom edges can balance a pointed chin. You may want to skip thick, decorative browlines, which add width to the top of your face.
Triangle Faces
A triangle face has a broad jawline and a narrower forehead. Browline, cat-eye, and rectangle frames add detail at the top of the frame, drawing eyes upward. Browline and cat-eye frames are good places to start.
Diamond Faces
A diamond face is widest at the cheekbones, with a narrower forehead and chin. Browline, cat-eye, oval, and semi-rimless frames can all suit you.
Keep the details simple and avoid frames wider than your cheekbones so the glasses don’t compete with your features.
Signs Your Glasses Fit Well
A flattering frame can still feel wrong if it pinches your nose or slides down every time you laugh. So once you’ve found a shape you like, check the size.
Well-fitting glasses feel like a natural part of your day, not something you keep pushing back into place. Watch for these signs of a good fit:
- Your frames stay put when you look down at your phone
- The nose pads rest comfortably without pinching
- The arms sit evenly over your ears
- Your eyes sit close to the center of each lens
- The frames are about as wide as your face
If your glasses slide down your nose during dinner or leave red marks behind your ears, stop by and our opticians can adjust them for you.
Let Your Style Lead the Way
No single frame shape suits everyone, and face shape tips are simply guidelines. Color plays a big part too. Bright hues like cherry red or cobalt blue feel fun, while muted tones like tortoiseshell or soft gray feel classic.
Shop with an open mind. If a pair makes you smile in the mirror, try it on, whatever the “rules” say.
Find Frames That Suit You
Your face shape gives you a starting point, and our opticians can help with the rest. We can check how a frame sits on your face and suggest styles you might not have picked up on your own.
Bring your current glasses to your visit, so we can see what you’re currently working with. Book an appointment with the team at The Vision Place and start looking for your next favorite pair!