Sunglasses Shopping Made Easy: Tips to Find the Perfect Sunglasses for Your Face Shape
With so many styles out there, buying sunglasses can be an overwhelming task, but it doesn’t have to be. Knowing just a few things about your face shape and styles that are most flattering for that shape means you won’t spend your time or money on sunglasses that you won’t be happy with. Once you’ve narrowed down the options, you can spend your time focusing on finding the design elements that best reflect your personal style.
Keep reading to identify your own face shape and find sure-fire tips for picking your most flattering sunglasses.
Round
A round face shape is characterized by full cheeks and a subtle chin.
To contrast with round features, angular sunglasses compliment round face shapes. A sharp cut from temple to cheek (like with a pair of Wayfarers) and a width equal to or a little wider than that broadest part of the face both help to create the illusion of a thinner face.
Oval
Oval face shapes mirror the shape of an egg.
People with this face shape have a great deal of freedom and can pretty much work with any style of sunglasses. One good choice is square frames that are especially flattering on oval shapes. One style that it may be best to stay away from is hugely over-sized sunglasses that can overwhelm delicate features.
Diamond
Diamond face shapes generally have wide or high cheekbones and a narrow forehead and chin.
To soften the contours of this shape, some good choices are oval or rimless sunglasses. Another good option is sunglasses with softly curved square frames. A good rule of thumb for diamond shapes is to keep the width equal to the width of the cheekbones.
Triangle (also known as Heart-Shaped)
The combination of a wide forehead and a narrow jaw is indicative of a triangle face shape.
To avoid any extra width on the upper half of the face, choose wire or wraparound sunglasses. Other good choices are frames with a straight top line or cat eye frames (like Wayfarers). With strong features typical of triangle face shape like a strong chin, bold styles (that can overwhelm more delicate or subtle features) can be especially flattering.
Square
Sharp angles on the jaw and hairline (and often a broad forehead) are characteristic of a square face shape.
Like with a triangle face shape, choose wire or wraparound sunglasses to avoid the illusion of additional width on the face. Aviator sunglasses are good choice when they do not extend past the width of the face. To balance the angular lines on a square face, choose frames with round or oval shapes.
Oblong
An oblong face is one where the vertical measurement is greater than the horizontal measurement.
Large sunglasses in round, square or wraparound shapes offset the length of an oblong face. Large arms and detail on the temples can also add width. With a large forehead, choose sunglasses where the top of the frames hits above the eyebrow to give the illusion of a smaller forehead.
By now you should feel confident that by looking for a few key elements on any pair of sunglasses, you’ll be able to select a pair that you’ll love to wear day after day. Now go shopping!