The Complete Guide to Finding the Right Pair of Sunglasses to Fit Your Face Shape

Picking the right sunglasses is challenging. Here's a 10-Minute Guide to the Perfect Fit...

These celebrities have four different and distinct face shapes. Read on to quickly figure out which celebrity face shape you have.  

Picking the Right Sunglasses is Challenging

And, I know, you’re buying them online without the benefit of trying them on. But don’t worry, 10 minutes with the chart below and you will soon be wearing the perfect pair of sunglasses no matter the shape of your face.

A great pair of sunglasses instantly elevates your look — regardless of what you're wearing -- even if it's just jeans and a t-shirt.
The trick, of course, is knowing what the right pair is for you.

No worries. All you need to do is remember two things when looking for shades:

1. You want to find a pair that complements your face shape. The general rule is the that shape of your sunglasses should be opposite of your face shape.

2. You want to invest in pair with a classic shape so that you can wear them for many years.

One Weird Rule to Select the Perfect Sunglass Shape

There’s one primary rule when shopping for sunglasses or any frames: select a shape that contrasts the shape of your face. (IE, a round face should NOT wear round frames. Think Kim Jong Il and his round sunglasses. It’s not a good look).

The frames should be something different than your natural face shape – this approach creates some balance. A perfect example is a round face with rectangular glasses. The angular frames create definition and provides a counterpoint to the roundness. A round frame would accentuate and make the round shape of your face even more obvious. Another example is the heart shape face that will look best with square or Aviator style frames because they add width to your narrow cheeks. Sunglasses are an important aspect of your style, and we want you to look as good as possible in your new sunglasses.

How to Figure Out Your Face Shape?

No, you can’t just ask your girlfriend. But you can borrow her mirror and a marker.

Four Easy Steps in Less than Two Minutes

1. Pull your hair back – if you have that much left.

2. Find a dry erase marker.

3. On the mirror, draw the outline of your face. Simple right?

4. Now compare your terrible drawing to the charts below:

Circular Face

A soft, circular shape where the height and width are almost equal. Think Leonardo DiCaprio or Selena Gomez. Oversized, rectangular and angular frames will set off the roundness of your face and complement your look well. Cat Eye or square or Retro Square frames will be perfect.

If your face is round(ish) then choose one of these complementary lens shapes.

Sunglass Styles for a Round Face

• Aviators: These classic frames have a curved shape that follows the contours of your face. They can add some contrast to your angular jawline and highlight your eyes. Aviators come in various sizes and colors, so you can find one that matches your personality and outfit.
• Retro Square frames: We call them Wanderers. These iconic frames have a trapezoidal shape that can suit a round face by adding some width to your forehead and narrowing down your chin. They can also give you a casual and laid-back vibe.
• Cat-eye: These retro frames have an upward sweep at the outer corners that can accentuate your cheekbones and lift up your face. They can also add some drama and flair to your look. Cat-eye sunglasses are ideal for oval faces with angular features, as they can soften them and create a more feminine appearance.

Heart Shaped Face

Defined by a broader forehead and a narrower jawline and chin. Your face is slightly longer than it is wide at the cheeks by about an inch. Think Bradley Cooper or Ashley Olsen. Any frames that are wider on the top than the bottom will work well. Retro Square and Cat Eye style frames will be perfect.   

If your face is heart-shaped then choose one of these complementary lens shapes.

Sunglass Styles for a Heart Shaped Face

• Oval and circular frames: These frames have a curved shape that can contrast with the angular features of a heart shaped face. They can also soften the appearance of a wide forehead and a narrow chin. You can opt for a pair of oversized frames, or choose a smaller size for a more subtle look.
• Rectangular frames: These frames have a straight shape that can balance out the proportions of a heart shaped face. They can also add some width to your lower face and create more symmetry. 
• Rimless and semi-rimless frames: These frames have minimal or no borders around the lenses, which can create an illusion of more space on your face. They can also highlight your eyes and cheekbones without drawing attention to your forehead. 
• Cat-eye: These feminine frames have an upward sweep at the outer corners that can lift up your face and accentuate your cheekbones. They can also add some drama and glamour to your style. You can find cat-eye sunglasses in various shapes and sizes, from subtle to exaggerated, depending on your preference.

Oval or Oblong Face

Balanced features, and a chin just slightly narrower than your forehead. Tom Cruise or Taylor Swift, both have a clearly oval face shape. This well-balanced face style can pull of pretty much any type of frame, just make sure they aren’t too big or too small. Fit is more important than shape for the oval crowd. Retro Square, aviators or oversized sunglasses will look great.  

If your face is oblong then choose one of these complementary lens shapes.

Sunglass Styles for an Oval or Oblong Face

• Aviators: These classic frames have a curved shape that follows the contours of your face. They can add some contrast to your angular jawline and highlight your eyes. Aviators come in various sizes and colors, so you can find one that matches your personality and outfit.
• Cat-eye: These retro frames have an upward sweep at the outer corners that can accentuate your cheekbones and lift up your face. They can also add some drama and flair to your look. Cat-eye sunglasses are ideal for oval faces with angular features, as they can soften them and create a more feminine appearance.
• Round: These circular frames have a vintage vibe that can give you a quirky and fun look. They can also balance out your long face shape by adding some width and roundness to it. Round sunglasses are great for oval faces with narrow chins, as they can fill out this area and create more harmony.

Square Face

Clear and strong lines with well-defined angles in the forehead cheeks and jawline. Brad Pitt or Jennifer Anniston are good examples. You have a distinctive and chiseled face with bold features. The point here is too soften the squares; try round or rimless shades to complement your square face shape. Round, Aviator or Half Frame style glasses will be just right.

If your face is square(ish) then choose one of these complementary lens shapes.

Sunglass Styles for a Strong Square Face

• Round or oval frames: These frames have a curved shape that can contrast nicely with the sharp angles of a square face. They can also soften the appearance of a strong jawline and add some balance to your features. 

• Aviators: These classic frames have a teardrop shape that can complement a square face by creating some curves and elongating your face. They can also add some edge and coolness to your look. You can go for a traditional pair of aviators with dark lenses, or experiment with different colors and sizes for more variety.

• Browline: These retro frames have a thick upper part that draws attention to your browline and eyes. They can also create some contrast between your forehead and chin, which can make your face look more proportional. 

• Cat-eye: These feminine frames have an upward sweep at the outer corners that can lift up your face and accentuate your cheekbones. They can also add some drama and glamour to your style. 

• Wanderers: These iconic frames have a trapezoidal shape that can suit a square face by adding some width to your forehead and narrowing down your chin. They can also give you a casual and laid-back vibe.

CONCLUSION

There is a pair of Sunglasses for You. (Or in this case for your client and their customers.) Just remember to contrast & complement NOT match your natural face shape and whatever you choose, you're going to look great!
If in doubt or if you are buying for a very diverse group, stick to the most classic frame shape of them all. Rhymes with Shwayfarer, sometimes called "Retro Square" frames, but we call them Wanderers. 

Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash

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