How to choose glasses that fit your face

Picking out the perfect pair of glasses can be overwhelming, especially with the wide selection of colors, shapes and styles available today. Before you begin, there are a few things that you should consider:

• Scale of the frames in proportion to the size of your face
• Which colors best compliment your hair, complexion and style
• Which shapes work best to compliment your facial features

One of the trickiest factors to determine is which frame will best compliment your face. To narrow down your search, find the shape that best describes you and give some of our suggestions a try.

Oval 

The most common face shape, ovals are recognizable by their balanced proportions. With high cheekbones and a jawline that is slightly narrower than the forehead, this face shape is known to be one of the most versatile when wearing a variety of differently styled frames. 

When picking frames for this face shape, scale is key. Although an oval face can pull off almost any frame shape, it is important that the frame isn’t too big or small for your face as it can throw off the proportions. To contrast the soft curves of your oval face, try square or rectangular frames or shake things up with a fun cat-eye frame. 

Round

Round face shapes resemble a circular shape, as the length and width are almost equal. Fuller cheeks, rounder chins and a broader forehead – this face shape is all about soft curves. 

Complement the soft lines of your face by creating contrast with some square or rectangular frames. Frames with a slight upsweep at the corners will also look great, bringing focus to your cheeks and attention to your eyes. Choosing a more horizontal than vertical shape will also lengthen the face and widen the eyes. Darker colors and thicker, more angular frames look great and add an element of drama. 

Heart

Heart-shaped faces tend to have broader foreheads, higher cheekbones, slimmer jawlines and smaller chins.

This delicate face shape looks best when anchored with square or oval frames that have curved edges. The key to finding the perfect pair for you is to try to balance the various widths of your face. Ensure that the glasses extend further than your forehead to keep proportions in check. Bottom heavy frames like a deeper square frame also look great. 

Square

With more angular features, square face shapes are identifiable by symmetry and proportion.  The forehead and jawline are the same width and the cheekbones are usually very defined.

Round, oval or butterfly styled glasses will soften the defined angles and bring balance to your overall look. Choosing frames that sit high on the bridge of the nose can work to elongate the appearance of your face, making it appear slimmer. Opting for a subtler, thin, or rimless pair also creates softness and is very complementary. 

These four face shapes act as a general guideline and it may not be obvious which one you fit into right away. Pick the shape that sounds most like you and use that as a starting point in your search for the style that fits you best.  Regardless of which style you choose, be sure that your eyes are centered within the frames. 

Our friendly opticians are here to help you choose the best glasses frames possible.  Book an appointment with us and come in for a visit to try on a few different shapes and sizes – there is a great choice for everyone!