Best glasses frame for your face shape

The classic rule for choosing glasses is simple: contrast your face shape. Angular faces are softened by round frames; round faces are sharpened by rectangular ones. Here’s how to find your face shape and the frames that flatter it.

How to find your face shape

1. Pull your hair back and stand straight in front of a mirror.
2. Trace the outline of your face on the mirror with a washable marker or soap, or take a straight-on selfie.
3. Compare the width of your forehead, cheekbones and jaw, and the length of your face.

• Round: about as wide as it is long, soft jaw, full cheeks.
• Square: strong, angular jaw; forehead, cheeks and jaw about the same width.
• Oval: longer than wide, gently rounded jaw, balanced proportions.
• Heart: wider forehead and cheekbones, narrow chin.
• Long (oblong): noticeably longer than wide, with a straight cheek line.

Best frames for each face shape

Round face

Go for square, rectangle or geometric frames. Straight lines and angles add definition and make the face look slimmer. Avoid small round frames, which exaggerate roundness.

Square face

Choose round, oval or aviator frames to soften a strong jaw. Thinner rims and rounded bottoms work well. Avoid boxy, very angular frames.

Oval face

Lucky you: most shapes work. Try bold, oversized or wayfarer styles; just keep the frame about as wide as the widest part of your face.

Heart face

Pick bottom-heavy, round, oval or rimless frames that balance a wider forehead. Light colours and thin rims at the top help. Avoid heavy browline frames.

Long face

Choose deeper frames with some height, bold temples or a strong bridge to break up the length. Oversized and square frames work well. Avoid narrow, small frames.

Getting the size right

• Your eyes should sit roughly in the centre of each lens.
• The frame shouldn’t be much wider than your face at the temples.
• Your eyebrows should sit just above, or follow, the top of the frame.
• Check the three numbers on the inside of the arm (lens width, bridge, arm length) on a pair that fits you, and match them.

Colour and skin tone

For warm skin tones, tortoiseshell, gold, honey and brown frames look natural. For cool skin tones, black, silver, grey and clear frames work well. When in doubt, a classic black or tortoiseshell suits almost everyone.

Think about your lenses too

If you have a high power, smaller and rounder frames keep lenses thinner and lighter at the edges. Full-rim frames hide lens thickness best. For progressive lenses, choose a frame with enough lens height (around 30 mm or more) so all three zones fit.

Love your current frame?

You don’t always need a new one. If your frame still fits and you love the look, put new lenses in it with free doorstep lens replacement. Or shop eyeglasses to find your new shape.