The Complete Guide to Eyeglasses for Your Face Shape
Eyewear · Face Shape
The Complete Guide to Eyeglasses for Your Face Shape
The right eyeglasses balance your face rather than echo it. Angular frames suit round faces, softer curved frames suit square faces, and oval faces carry almost anything. Here is the complete guide to the best glasses for every face shape, and how to find yours.
In this article
- How do you choose eyeglasses for your face shape?
- How to find your face shape
- Round face
- Square face
- Oval face
- Heart-shaped face
- Diamond face
- Frames to try
- Frequently asked questions
How do you choose eyeglasses for your face shape?
The guiding principle is balance. The most flattering frame shape tends to contrast with your face shape rather than repeat it. A round face is balanced by angular frames, a square face is softened by rounded frames, and an oval face, already balanced, suits most shapes. Once you know your face shape, choosing frames becomes a short, confident shortlist instead of endless guessing.
How to find your face shape
Look in a mirror and notice your proportions and your jawline. A round face is soft and about as wide as it is long. A square face has a strong, angular jaw and similar width and length. An oval face is a little longer than it is wide with gentle curves. A heart-shaped face is wider at the forehead and narrows to the chin. A diamond face has narrow forehead and jaw with wide cheekbones. Our guide on how to measure your face helps you confirm it.
Round face
A round face benefits from angular frames that add definition. Rectangular, square, and geometric styles introduce clean lines that lengthen and sharpen soft features. Frames slightly wider than they are tall work especially well. Keep away from small, fully round frames, which tend to echo the face rather than balance it.
Square face
A square face has a strong jaw and angular lines, so softer frames bring balance. Round and oval shapes, and frames with gently curved edges, ease the angles and add a relaxed contrast. Frames a touch wider than the jaw help too. Very boxy, sharp-cornered frames can emphasise the angles rather than soften them.
Oval face
An oval face is naturally balanced, which means it suits the widest range of frames. You have the freedom to choose by style and mood rather than rule. Aim to keep that balance by avoiding frames that are overly large or narrow, and enjoy experimenting with shapes that express your taste.
Heart-shaped face
A heart-shaped face is wider at the forehead and narrows toward the chin, so frames that add a little visual weight lower down create balance. Light, rimless, round, and oval frames all work well, as do subtle styles that do not overload the top of the face. Very heavy or embellished upper frames can make the forehead look wider.
Diamond face
A diamond face has a narrow forehead and jaw with wide cheekbones, so frames that draw attention to the eyes and soften the cheekbones flatter most. Oval, rimless, and gently upswept styles work beautifully, as do frames with a little detail along the top. Narrow frames that echo the narrow forehead are best avoided.
| Face shape | Best eyeglass frames | Approach with care |
|---|---|---|
| Round | Rectangle, square, geometric | Small round frames |
| Square | Round, oval, softly curved | Boxy, sharp-cornered frames |
| Oval | Most shapes suit you | Overly large or narrow frames |
| Heart | Light, rimless, round, oval | Heavy or embellished tops |
| Diamond | Oval, rimless, upswept, browline | Very narrow frames |
Frames to try
Here are three in-stock frames from the Rawbare Frames range. These versatile rectangle and wayfarer shapes flatter round and oval faces particularly well, and each is lightweight with a blue light filter and 100% UV400 protection.
Key takeaways
Frequently asked questions
