Choosing a new pair of glasses is an opportunity to showcase your style and personality. With so many options available, it helps to know what works well with your features. Your face shape is a great starting point to narrow down the choices, but before you start shopping, it’s a great idea to ensure your prescription is current with a comprehensive eye examination to find frames you’ll love to wear.
The process can feel a little overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. The key is to select frames that contrast with the general shape of your face to create a balanced and complementary look. This simple guideline can help you explore different styles with confidence.
Find Your Face Shape
The first step in your search is to figure out your face shape, and it’s simpler than it sounds. You can look in a mirror and trace the outline of your face with something that’s easy to clean off, like a dry-erase marker. Then, step back and look at the shape you drew.
Common Face Shapes
Most faces can be categorized into a few common shapes. Look for the one that most closely resembles your outline. These shapes include:
- Round
- Square
- Oval
- Diamond
- Heart
- Triangle
Frames for Different Face Shapes
Once you know your shape, you can find frames that create a pleasing contrast. The goal is to balance your features. This approach helps highlight your best attributes, whether you’re choosing everyday glasses or a pair of prescription sunglasses.
Frames for a Round Face
If you have a round face, look for frames with strong, angular lines. Rectangular or square frames can add definition. These shapes can help your face appear longer and thinner.
Frames for a Square Face
Round or oval frames can soften the angles of a square face. The curves provide a nice contrast to a strong jawline. This can create a softer, more balanced appearance.
Frames for an Oval Face
An oval face is naturally balanced, so many frame shapes work well. You have the freedom to experiment with different styles. Just check that the frames are not wider than the broadest part of your face.
Frames for a Diamond Face
For a diamond-shaped face, frames with distinctive brow lines are a great choice. Cat-eye or semi-rimless styles draw attention upward. Oval frames can also complement your cheekbones.
Frames for a Heart Face
If you have a heart-shaped face, choose frames that are wider at the bottom. This adds balance to a narrower chin. Light-coloured or rimless styles can also work to draw attention downward.
More Than Just Shape: Colour and Style
Beyond the shape of your face, consider the colours you enjoy and the style that reflects your personality. Your glasses are a daily accessory, and they should make you feel good.
Choose Colours That Complement You
Consider your skin tone, eye colour, and hair colour when choosing a frame colour. Cool skin tones often pair well with colours like blue, silver, and grey. Warm skin tones can be complemented by shades of gold, brown, and olive green.
Let Your Personality Shine
Your glasses are a form of self-expression. From protective gear to fashion statements, eyewear has a rich history of showcasing personality. A bold, colourful frame can show a creative side, while a classic, neutral frame can suit a more professional setting. The most important thing is to choose what makes you feel like yourself.
Get the Right Fit and Measurements
Comfort is just as important as style when it comes to eyewear. An ill-fitting pair of glasses can be distracting, cause headaches, and even contribute to symptoms of digital eye strain. A proper fit makes all the difference in how your glasses feel and function throughout the day.
Key Parts of a Proper Fit
An optical professional checks several points to get the right fit. They look at how the frames sit on your face. Some key areas include:
- Bridge: The frames should not pinch your nose or slide down.
- Eyes: Your eyes should be near the centre of the lens for clear vision.
- Width: The frames should not be wider than your face at the temples.
- Temples: The arms should rest comfortably over your ears without pressure.
Why Frame Size Matters for Your Prescription
Selecting the right frame isn’t just about face shape or style; the size of the frame must match your prescription to ensure clear, comfortable vision. This is where an optician’s expertise makes a big difference. Certain prescriptions require specific frame dimensions for your lenses to perform properly and look their best.
Progressive Lenses Need the Right Depth
If you wear progressive lenses, the frame must have enough vertical depth for all parts of the lens to function: the distance, intermediate, and reading zones.
- Too little depth, and the reading portion gets cut off, making it difficult to use your near vision.
- Too much depth can push the reading portion too low, forcing you to strain or tilt your head unnaturally.
An experienced optician measures how the frame sits on your face to ensure the lens design aligns perfectly with your eyes.
High Prescriptions Benefit from Smaller Frames
If you have a higher prescription, especially in single-vision lenses, a smaller frame can greatly improve both comfort and appearance. Larger frames can make higher prescriptions look thicker at the edges, which may cause:
- A “bottle-bottom” effect
- Added lens weight
- Increased distortion in your peripheral vision
Smaller frames help minimize thickness, keep the lenses lighter, and enhance overall aesthetics.
Why This Matters
Online tools can’t account for these precise measurements. Only an in-person optical fitting ensures your frame size supports your prescription, looks flattering, and aligns correctly for clear vision. This is a key advantage of working directly with an optician rather than choosing frames online based on appearance alone.
The Value of Professional Eye Care
While shopping online seems convenient, it cannot replace a professional fitting. Receiving help from an optical team means your glasses not only look good but also provide you with clear vision and comfort. This is a core part of quality eye care.
Why See an Optometrist for Your Glasses?
An optometrist and their staff take precise measurements that are needed for your lenses. They can also help you select frames that suit your face and your prescription. For specific vision needs, such as those related to strabismus or amblyopia, professional guidance is key.
A proper fitting helps check that your lenses are correctly aligned, which highlights the importance of a comprehensive eye exam vs. a sight test that only checks your prescription.
Virtual Try-Ons vs. An In-Person Fitting
Virtual try-on tools can be a fun way to explore different styles. However, they can’t tell you how a frame will actually feel on your face or if a frame is suited to your prescription. An in-person fitting lets you check the weight, comfort, and true colour of the frames, which makes for a much better selection process.
See Your Style Come to Life
Finding the right glasses is a personal journey, and our team at Beyond 20/20 Optometry is here to help. We can guide you through the process of selecting frames that fit your look, lifestyle, and vision needs. We invite you to book an appointment and explore our collection.
