We know that looking at a wall of glasses can overwhelm. We reframe it this way: it’s an opportunity to redefine your personal style or hone it. You can narrow down your search using your face as a guide. We never impose strict style rules, but this is one method to selecting frames. We also think that working with your face shape and features can make your glasses frame selection look more custom on you – like it was made for you!
The takeaway is that we don’t want you losing sight of your style and personality. This guide is meant to work with you, not against you. It can even help people see and appreciate unique features they’ve never noticed! We also find that when customers buy multiple pairs, they choose one frame based on their face shape, and then choose the other in a completely different way. We want shopping to be fun and exciting. And most importantly: we want you to pick frames that you know you’ll wear no matter what.
So how do you pick a winning pair?
What is my face shape?
Familiarizing yourself with your face shape can help you find the perfect style. When looking in the mirror, we recommend focusing on three key facial features/areas: the widest part (full cheeks, jaw, forehead), the jawline (round, square, tapered/pointy) and the length of the face (short, long or somewhere in the middle).
The next key step is examining the proportions of your face. What is the sum of their parts? For example: If your face is longer than it is wide, then you’re an oval. If that doesn’t help, you can always take a selfie and trace the shape over it.
Here’s our face shape guide:
Round: The forehead, jawline, and cheeks are the same width, and the edges of the face are softer.
Oval: The proportions of the face are even throughout, with occasional narrowing at the chin and forehead.
Square: The face is as wide as it is long. The sides are straight, and the jawline is slightly angled.
Diamond: This face shape is pointed at the chin, has higher-set cheekbones and a narrower hairline.
Heart Shape Face: The shape occurs when the chin is narrower than the forehead.
Triangle Face Shapes: The inverse of the heart shape. The triangle shape has a broader jaw and narrow forehead.
No one has a perfectly round or square face, but you want to identify the wider and narrower parts of the face. That way, the frame will be comfortable. If the frame fits, you’ll wear it!
Choosing the right glasses for every face shape
Now that you’ve established your face shape, it’s time to play! This is the part where you get to try on different styles and figuring out what’s working – just because the frame works for your face shape, doesn’t mean it matches your personal style or other features! It’s helpful to take selfies and photos in the mirror, to really see how the frames are working with the look you’re going for.
Round: Perhaps the most common face shape. The best glasses for round faces will be angular frames, which complement the softer edges of the face. Good frame styles: rectangle, square, geometric and cat-eye frames. If you have fuller cheeks, then you can especially go bold with a thick acetate frame!
Oval: The proportions of the face are even throughout, so this oval face shape can pull of any frame style. If you have high cheekbones, be sure to fit the frame to that part of the face. The perfect glasses for oval faces are any style.
Square: For the square shape, we want to work with the sharper lines of the face by adding a softer shape, which is why the best glasses for square faces are round, oval, wire and cat-eye frame shape.
Diamond: We want to draw attention to the center of face, and we can do that with frames that have bolder brow lines. When choosing glasses, opt for semi-rimless, cat-eye, or oval frames.
Heart: To achieve natural balance out the wider part of the face – the forehead – you want a frame that’s slightly wider or accented at the bottom. When choosing frames, try rectangular, angular, aviator, or rounder styles.
The right fit for you
A reminder that great style doesn’t follow rules. Consider how the frame works for you in every way: with your hair, mood, lookbook, skin tone and sense of style. The perfect frame is in the eye of the wearer! And that’s what we care about the most: that you’ll love your frames enough to wear them! If you ever want a second opinion, bring a close friend or even ask our opticians and stylists. We’re always here to help you look and feel your best.
Remember that the first step to buying glasses is updating your prescription.
