In an age where online shopping has become the norm, it can be difficult to purchase items, such as glasses, without trying them on. This article aims to arm you with some things to consider when finding the right glasses (or sunglasses) for your face. If, by the end, you feel you need more help, you can fill out this questionnaire to get a personal frame recommendation.

The main things we will be considering in this article are face shape, colour, material and fit.

Face Shape

So this is one that people dwell on a lot. It can be helpful when considering which frame shape you’re after, and frame shape is important. The main frame shapes are round, square, oval, round, cat-eye, aviator, brow-line (or clubmaster) and rectangle. Keep these in mind as your face shape may influence which frame shapes you consider.

Firstly, you need to establish what your face shape is. This can be difficult, and, in my humble opinion, it doesn’t matter too much. But for the purpose of completeness, we’ll get into it.

The main face shapes are oval, square, diamond, round, heart and rectangular (not shown in image).

Oval

Oval shaped faces are longer than they are wide. If you have an oval face, you are considered God’s favourite as pretty much all frame shapes will suit you. Use this to be as adventurous as you’re comfortable with.

Square

If you have a square-shaped face, you don’t have much curvature to your face. You have angles to your face and jaw and your face is as long as it is wide. For this reason, round or oval frames look great on you. They give your face some curves without detracting from your naturally angular features.

Diamond

Those with diamond faces tend to have higher cheekbones and pointed chins. Cat-eye frames draw attention to your high cheekbones, as do brow-line shapes. You could also go for slightly rounded frames.

Round

Round faces are similar to square faces, but they appear to be softer with more curves and less angles. For round-faced individuals, more angular shapes (rectangular/square) provide a nice contrast and often compliment the roundness of your face. Ideally, you want to stay away from round frames but if round frames are your favourite, try and go for a soft round frame, not an extremely round, Harry Potter style.

Heart

Heart-shaped faces tend to display a pointed chin and wider forehead. You may also have a widow’s peak but this isn’t always the case. If you find yourself to have a heart-shaped face, you want frames that are a little wider than your forehead (as this tends to be the widest part of your face). Cat-eye frames work quite well, as do brow-line frames. Frames that are rounder on the bottom tend to work well for you too.

Rectangle

If you have a rectangular face, you have the angular features of a square face, but your face is longer than it is wide (much like an oval shaped face). Because of this, you want to go for rounder shapes that compliment your angular features.

If you’re still reading, welcome. Now I can get into the factors I feel are the most important when considering new glasses (or sunglasses).

Colour

This is an important factor when considering which glasses to choose. Do you want a frame that stands out, or do you want something neutral and quiet? Black frames tend to stand out more and give a bolder appearance, while creams and browns tend to work as nudes (depending on your skin tone) allowing the frames to blend with your skin.

It is also wise to consider the combination of colour and frames shape. A bold frame shape, such as a cat-eye, can be made to seem more subtle when in a nude or neutral colour. While a more simple shape, such as a square, in a bright colour results in a more interesting frame.

Metallic colours, such as titanium and gold, are also worth considering. Generally, those with warmer undertones should opt for gold frames while those with cooler undertones are more likely to suit a titanium, or silver, frame.

Material

Frames are generally made of acetate (plastic), metal, wood or a combination. Acetate frames can be made to be brightly coloured and tend to be quite comfortable (depending on the fit, which we will come onto shortly). Metal frames are often easy to adjust and offer a more subtle look. Wooden frames provide a rustic look and are rarer than other frame materials.

Choosing a frame material is really a matter of preference. What have you worn before? What is comfortable? What have you seen, and liked, on other people? These are some things to consider when looking at frame materials.

Top to bottom: plastic frame, metal frame, wooden frame.

Fit

I believe, this is one of the most important things to consider when wearing glasses. The fit determines if your frames will be comfortable and if they look good! Yes, the shape of the frame, the colour and the material are all important, but the fit matters.

This can be a difficult one to assess when choosing glasses online, but it often helps if you have a pair of glasses in the house already (they don’t even need to be yours!). Frames sold online should have details of their measurements. These usually include the lens size, bridge size and temple length. When shopping online, you can compare the measurements on your current frame to the potential frame to give you an idea of what the fit will be like.

An example of frames that are too big and frames that are too small.

When frames fit too big, they can look ridiculous. Also, they no longer become practical as they slip and fall off the face, often at the most inappropriate times. For sunglasses, the oversized look is a longstanding trend, but oversized doesn’t always equal ‘too big’.

When frames are too small, they can leave marks on the sides of your head and they also just look silly. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve seen people on TV and thought ‘just update your frames, wow’. Not only do small frames look dumb, but they can also cause headaches as they press on your head. It’s not a good look.

Well-fitting frames should be comfortable. You shouldn’t always be aware that you’re wearing them. They also look great!

Please consider more than just your face shape when choosing your next pair of glasses. And if it all seems too much, you can get a personalised frame recommendation by filling out my short questionnaire. I’ll send you some recommendations based on your answers and do all the work for you!