Your Eyeglasses Need Not Be Boring. A Frame That Suits Your Face Can Make All The Difference

Eyeglasses may be a necessity for you, but they need not be boring. Pick a frame that best suits your face and adds to your look. With so many options to choose from—wayfarer, round, cat-eye and aviator—zeroing in on the frame that is right for you can be a daunting task. Here’s help on how to get it right.

Know your face shape

The first step is to know your face shape. Broadly, there are five types of face shapes—square, round, heart, diamond and oval. To determine yours, pull your hair away from your face, tucking it behind your ears (like you would for a passport photograph) and look directly into a mirror. Take a close look at the contours and the overall shape of your face and your head to see which category you fit in.

While there’s no thumb rule here and you can experiment with whichever style you fancy, picking one that suits you well will highlight your features.

For a square face: If you have a well-defined jaw, angular features and a broad forehead, then you fit this category.  Stick to round or oval-shaped glasses with thinner frames that will give your face a softer look.

For a round face: A round face has fuller cheeks, a less pronounced chin and a forehead that widens at the top. The trick is to make the face appear thinner and angular. Go for angular narrow frames; frames in rectangular, square or even the currently popular hexagonal shapes are good choices as they help make the face appear longer and thinner.

For an oval face: Considered the ideal shape because of its balanced proportions, oval faces have narrow foreheads, high cheekbones, and narrow chins. If you have this face type, then choosing glasses will be a breeze for you because almost every eyewear style should suit you. Just make sure you don’t go overboard with over-sized glasses as they can spoil your look. Whether you choose a geometric style, such as a square or a rectangular frame, or go for a retro cat-eye look, make sure that your frames are broad.

For a heart face: With a wide top third and a narrow bottom third, a heart-shaped face is also referred to as an inverted triangle. It’s best to pick glasses that are deeper and wider at the bottom—think aviator style—that can draw the attention away from the wide forehead. Rimless and thin frames can also work for you.

For a diamond face: You have a diamond-shaped face if it is wider in the middle and narrow on the top and bottom. Much like an oval face, a diamond face is versatile and therefore choosing glasses can be easier. A classic and elegant choice is a clubmaster. If you are going for a cat-eye style, pick frames that are shorter and wider. Oval or round frames will also flatter your face, adding some softness to it.

Tip: Whichever frame style you choose, make sure you invest in quality lenses. Look for anti-glare, scratch-proof lenses that are durable and safe.