Choosing the Right Eyeglasses for Your Face Shape
Have you ever tried on a pair of trendy eyeglasses only to discover the frames don't look quite so stylish on your face? No matter how attractive the frames, they probably weren't the right choice for the shape of your face. Selecting frames that complement your face shape makes frame shopping less stressful.
What Shape Is Your Face?
Before you browse the frame selection at your eye doctor's office, determine which of these shapes best describes your face:
- Square. If your chin is as wide as your forehead and cheeks, you have a square face.
- Rectangular. Although your cheeks, jaw, and forehead are the same width, your face is longer than it is wide if you have a rectangular face.
- Heart. A wider forehead and high cheekbones combined with a narrow chin creates a heart shape.
- Triangle. Triangular faces taper from the forehead to the chin, forming a triangle shape.
- Round. Round faces are perfectly symmetrical with full cheeks and a rounded jaw. These faces are equal in length and width.
- Oval. Oval faces also have rounded features, although the length exceeds the width.
Selecting Frames for Your Face Shape
Not sure which frames are best for your face. Take a look at our recommendations:
- Square or Rectangular Face. Try on oval or rounded frames. The frames work well with the angles of your face and provide a softening effect.
- Heart Face. Look for frames that balance your narrow chin and wider forehead, like cat eye, aviator, oval or semi-rimless styles.
- Triangle Face. Follow WebMD's advice and choose glasses with stronger upper lines that emphasize your forehead. Aviator, cat-eye and semi-rimless glasses are good choices.
- Round Face. Counteract the roundness of your face with rectangular, square or geometric shapes to create contrast.
- Oval Face. Nearly every style looks good if you have an oval face. In fact, you may have trouble choosing between square, rectangular, rounded, rimless and cat's eye frames.
Things to Remember
When choosing frames, keep these things in mind:
- Select Frames You Love. Feel free to forget the guidelines if a pair of glasses you love doesn't follow the rules. After all, life can be more fun if you break a few rules. The ideal frames fit your personality and personal sense of style.
- Be Flexible. Try on a variety of frames, even if you don't think a particular style would look good on you. You may be surprised to discover a style you overlooked in the past brings out your best features.
- Add a Little Color - Or Not. Consider red, blue, or other colorful frames, or look for a pair that offers more subtle touches of color. Don't want anything to distract from your face? Clear or rimless frames are an excellent option.
- Consider Material Choices. Do you prefer plastic or metal frames? Although plastic frames are lightweight and available in many shapes, they can break more easily than metal frames, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
- Make Comfort a Priority. The eyeglasses may look great, but how do they feel? If the frames hurt your ears, pinch your nose, or slide down your face, they're not the best choice, no matter how amazing you look wearing them.
- Think About Your Prescription. The stronger your prescription, the thicker your lenses. Your lenses may protrude past your frames unless you pay a little extra for thinner high-index lenses. Do you have a prescription for bifocals, trifocals, or progressive lenses? The frames you choose must be long enough from top to bottom to accommodate multiple focal points.
Need help selecting frames? Our staff can help you choose eyeglasses that feel as good as they look. Stop by our office to try on frames, or call us if you need to make an appointment for an eye exam and new prescription.
Sources:
American Academy of Ophthalmology: How to Choose the Glasses Frame Material That's Right for You
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/glasses-contacts/eyeglass-frame-materials
WebMD: How to Pick the Right Glasses for Your Face Shape, 8/17/2022
https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/how-to-pick-the-right-glasses-for-your-face-shape
CNET.com: How to Pick the Best Glasses for Your Face Shape and Skin Color, 9/19/2024
American Academy of Ophthalmology: Eyeglasses: How to Choose Glasses for Vision Correction, 6/14/2023