Choosing the Right Eye Glass Frame for Your Face & Style

When it comes to choosing a pair of glasses, most people try on different styles until they find something they like. The problem with this approach is that it takes time and can be quite frustrating, especially if you have no clue what you’re looking for. A better approach is to follow some basic guidelines that can help you narrow down your choices.

Face Shapes

The human face can come in many shapes and sizes. This is one of the biggest reasons why someone else’s eye glasses might look better on them than on you. The shape of your eye glass frames should contrast with the shape of your face, while their size should be in scale. Frames should also match your best feature, such as the color of your eyes.

While there are many variations, human faces can be narrowed down to a few basic shapes. The most common facial shapes are oval, round, oblong, square, diamond, base-up triangle and base-down triangle.

Oval faces are considered ideal, due to their balanced proportions. Frames that are at least as wide as the broadest part of the face will complement its natural symmetry. Walnut-shaped frames are also suitable, provided they’re not too deep or narrow. Glasses that cover too much of the face should be avoided.

Round faces require frames that make them look longer and thinner. Narrow, angular frames can add an appearance of length to the face some and a clear bridge can widen the eyes. Look for frames that are wider, rather than deeper, such as rectangular frames.

Oblong faces are longer than they are wide, with long noses and straight cheek lines. Deep frames can make oblong faces seem shorter. Decorative temples (arms) can contribute to the illusion of more depth and a low bridge can shorten the appearance of the nose.

Square faces feature broad foreheads and prominent jawlines, with equal proportions in width and length. Narrow frames with more width than depth can help lengthen the face’s appearance. Narrow ovals can soften the face’s angles.

Diamond-shaped faces appear narrower at both the eye and jawlines, with broad cheekbones. Frames with detailed or distinctive brow lines, rimless frames, or oval shapes work best with this rare facial shape.

The base-up triangle face is wide at the top and small at the bottom. Frames that are wider at the bottom help minimize the width of the top third of the face. Rimless frames are ideal and light colors work best.

The base-down triangle is essentially the opposite, with a narrow forehead and broad chin/cheek areas. Frames that are heavily accented with color along the top can help emphasize the top part of the face. Cat-eye shapes are also suitable for base-down triangle faces.

Skin Tone

In addition to the shape of your face, your skin tone can also help determine which types of eye glass frames look best. Skin tone has more impact on the appearance of your eye glasses than hair or eye color. Your best bet is to select a shade that closely matches your skin tone.

Lifestyle

Your way of life should also come into play, when choosing eyeglass frames. Give some thought to what types of activities you will be involved in, while wearing your glasses. For example, flexible frames are ideal for individuals with active lifestyles. If you’d like to look sharp at the office, you might want to look into styles that convey a sense of business savvy.

People often look to find the right contact lens for them as well as the best frames. Reason for this is lenses often are better during physical activity and then glasses are worn the rest of thet ime.

Personality

Your eyeglasses also serve as an expression of your personality. For this reason, some people like having one set to wear on weekends and another set for work. This allows you to select a more colorful set to express your fun-loving side when it’s appropriate, while still looking professional at the office.

As you can see, you don’t need fashion expertise to pick a pair of glasses that look good on your face. These tips help break the selection process down to key aspects that matter most. Keep in mind that these are just guidelines. It’s still up to you to choose the frames you’re most comfortable with.

For help finding the right eyeglasses for you and to ensure you have an up to date prescription connect with our optometrist in Dartmouth on Baker Drive.