How to Choose the Best Sunglasses Frames for Your Face Shape

Faces are comprised of a combination of shapes and angles, and most will not fit precisely into a basic shape category. Therefore, when using this guide, pick the shape your features most strongly resemble. If you do not know your face shape, look into a mirror (with hair pulled back if necessary) and outline your face with a bar of soap, light lipstick or eye pencil. Is the shape you drew more square, oval, long (oblong), diamond, heart (triangle) or round? Another good method of determining one's face shape is to ask a friend.

A square face is characterized by a strong jaw line, wide forehead and wide cheekbones. Glasses with rounded edges will soften angles; so choose round, oval or cat-eye styles. Rimless designs will also soften and narrow these features.
Example: Jessica Simpson

The oval face is balanced in shape and can thus typically work with any sunglasses type, however one must still keep proportion in mind. In other words, smaller frames look best with smaller faces and larger frames are suited for larger faces. Square-shaped frames with softly rounded edges work particularly well for oval faces.
Example: Beyonce Knowles

The oblong-shaped face is longer than it is wide. Oversize round or square frames will help shorten and soften a long face by adding width and dimension. Frames that are shorter in height and long in width will also have this effect. Temples that feature decorative elements or a contrasting coloring are appropriate.
Example: Sarah Jessica Parker

A diamond-shaped face is narrow at the jaw line and forehead, but features prominent cheekbones. This shape is best suited for upswept designs such as cat-eye or butterfly. Also appropriate are oval and rimless designs. Oval frames maintain balance, while rimless styles highlight cheekbones.
Example: Jennifer Lopez

A heart-shaped or triangle-shaped face is characterized by a wide forehead and narrow jaw. Cat-eye designs, which feature wide angles at the top of the frames, will balance the jaw line. Generally, shapes which are wider on the top than the bottom work well as they minimize the forehead's width and help balance features' proportions. Frames with rimless bottoms or a straight top line will have this effect, such as aviators. Butterfly frames are also suitable.
Example: Reese Witherspoon

For a round face, choose frames with lengths equal to or slightly wider than the broadest part of the face, as these styles aid in making the face appear longer and thinner. Rectangular or square shapes will offset roundness as well. Avoid adding extra width to a round face with round, wraparound or frameless designs.
Example: Christina Ricci