Journal · Glasses · 4 min read
How to choose frames for your face shape (and when to ignore the rules)
The face-shape rules are a decent starting point. Here is what our dispensing optician actually looks at when you try frames on.
Every guide to choosing glasses starts with face shape, and so does our frame finder. It is a useful first cut. It is not the whole story.
The rules, briefly
- Round faces look good in frames with corners: rectangles, squares, a strong browline.
- Square faces are softened by rounds, pantos and ovals.
- Heart-shaped faces, wider at the brow, suit frames that are lighter across the top or slightly wider at the bottom: rounds, pilots, cat-eyes with a gentle lift.
- Oval faces can wear almost anything, which is why most people think they have one.
What matters more than shape
Width. The frame should be about as wide as your face at the temples. Too wide and the arms splay; too narrow and it pinches.
The bridge. A frame that fits your nose sits still. Acetate frames need a bridge that matches your nose closely; metal frames with nose pads are more forgiving.
Your prescription. A strong short-sighted prescription is thicker at the edges, so a smaller, rounder lens keeps it thin. Varifocals need enough depth for the reading area. We will tell you if a frame you love will not work for your lenses, before you fall for it.
Your eyebrows. The top of the frame should follow your brows, not cut across them.
When to ignore all of it
If you put on a pair that breaks every rule and you smile, buy that pair. Glasses you like wearing are the ones you wear.
Start with the frame finder, then come in and try them. No appointment is needed to browse.
