Guide to Selecting the Right Frame
At Beyond 2020 Vision Specialists Odessa, we often see patients struggling to pick the right frame for their glasses. They spend ages figuring out which style suits them the most, so we decided to create a guide to make this decision much easier.
If you’re looking for tips on picking the right frames for your face, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll go through the common face shape types and outline which frames are typically better suited to them. In general, it’s advised to pick a frame shape that contrasts your face shape. For example, if you have a square face, don’t pick square frames. Of course, there is no right or wrong answer as it all comes down to personal preference. This is meant as a guide if you’re struggling to make a decision!
Find Your Face Shape
The first step in selecting the right frames is to find your face shape. Generally speaking, there are six main face shapes:
- Round
- Oval
- Square
- Triangle
- Diamond
- Heart
Round faces typically have a rounded or circular shape with fairly equal width and length sizes. When you look at your face, it should look almost like a perfect circle.
Oval faces are similar to round ones but with a slightly narrower forehead and a longer chin. The overall look of the face is rounded, but it is much longer and feels more stretched than a round one.
Square faces are very angular and have lots of straight lines by the jaw and going down the sides of your cheeks. Your jawline is typically very wide and sharp, but it’s also the same width as your forehead and cheekbones.
Triangle faces are characterized by high cheekbones and narrow jawlines. Your face begins with a somewhat wide forehead that tapers in towards the jaw. Your chin will almost look slightly pointy.
Or, you have triangle faces that are widest at the bottom and narrower at the top.
Diamond faces are almost the same as oval faces, but the overall appearance is sharper and more rigid or angular. You have very high cheekbones that are a tad wider than your forehead, and then you taper down to a sharp chin.
Heart faces are close to triangle faces, but the forehead region is slightly rounder. Commonly, you’ll know if you have a heart-shaped face over a triangle one if you have a v-shaped hairline.
Finding your face shape mainly comes down to measuring the following:
- Face length
- Forehead width
- Cheeks width
- Jawline length
If you measure all of these things and then compare the lengths to the descriptions above, it should become clear what face shape you have. Or, there’s a useful face shape calculator that takes your measurements and suggests which shape you’re likely to have.
Choosing Glasses Frames For Your Face Shape
When you’ve figured out the shape of your face, you can start looking at glasses that complement it. At Beyond 2020 Vision Specialists Odessa, we have a range of different frames that might be perfect for you. They are produced by top manufacturers and brands to ensure they look stylish yet remain practical.
Some of the typical frame shapes available include:
- Rectangle frames
- Square frames
- Round frames
- Oval frames
- Oversized frames
- Aviator frames
- Cat-eye frames
- Geometric frames
Already, you will notice that some of the frames line up with some face shapes. So, how do you pick the ones that look good on you? Here’s some assistance:
Frames For Round Faces
As mentioned, round faces tend to be very circular without many angles. If you pick round, oval, or aviator frames, you run the risk of accentuating the roundness.
Instead, you should opt for frames that make your face appear more angular. You want sharp rigid lines to contrast the smooth curvature of your face. As such, the following frames will suit you best:
- Square frames
- Rectangle frames
- Geometric frames
Some oversized frames can also work well if your face is quite big. You don’t want to wear them on a small face as they can completely take over and make your face look even smaller.
Frames For Oval Faces
Due to the way your face is narrow at the top/bottom and slightly wider around the cheeks, you can choose almost any frame style here. Nothing looks particularly bad, but the sharper frames still work best here. While your face shape is versatile, the difference between oval and diamond faces is that they’re less angular. So, adding a few extra angles is perfect!
Here are some suggestions:
- Rectangle frames
- Geometric frames
- Oversized frames
You’ll notice we steered clear of square frames here, and that’s mainly because they’re not wide enough. The widest part of an oval face is in the middle part, where your eyes are. So, you want wide-framed glasses to compliment this as narrow frames make your face look a bit too wide and out of proportion.
Frames For Square Faces
Square faces are the opposite of round faces in that they’re way more angular and straight. Therefore, you want the opposite glasses frames to add a touch of roundness. It can bring out some softer curves in your face and make it look more balanced without taking away your strong jawline and high cheekbones.
The main frames we recommend are:
- Round frames
- Oval frames
- Aviator frames
- Cat-eye frames
Frames For Triangle Faces
Triangle faces are quite tricky to select glasses for as it depends on which way your triangle is positioned. Those with wider jaws and narrower foreheads should opt for slightly wide-style frames to stop the top of their face from looking too narrow.
If you have an upside-down triangle face, you may prefer narrower glasses and ones that bring a bit more roundness. Either way, here are our top recommendations:
- Cat-eye frames
- Aviator frames
Frames For Diamond Faces
A diamond-shaped face is another highly angular one with lots of sharp lines. Your jaw is pointed and cheekbones very defined, meaning you want frames that soften your features somewhat.
Some of the best glasses frames for diamond faces include:
- Oval glasses
- Round glasses
- Cat-eye glasses
You could also include aviator frames or browline frames, particularly if you’re shopping for sunglasses. Pretty much any frame with curved edges works beautifully here.
Frames For Heart Faces
The heart-shaped face is another one that can be hard to pick frames for. You try lots of different ones on, but none seem to work. Looking at your face, it should be widest at the top before tapering in at the bottom – almost like an upside-down triangle, but with more softness to the edges.
So, you typically want more rigid frames with hard angular edges, such as:
- Rectangle frames
- Square frames
However, we find that round glasses also work well here as your face is at its widest towards the top. The circular classes almost fit perfectly where the heart shape begins to curve around at the top!
Top Tips For Selecting The Right Frames
Aside from knowing your face shape, we have a few other top tips to consider when choosing glasses frames:
Try multiple options – Don’t just choose one frame type and try different variations of this. Pick a few different frames and try them on before you buy. See which ones compliment your face the most.
Think about comfort – Yes, you want your glasses to look good, but the team at Beyond 2020 Vision Specialists Odessa has seen so many patients complain about their glasses. They say they rub their nose or feel uncomfortable to wear. Don’t pick frames if they don’t sit on your face properly and cause discomfort.
Consider the width – We touched upon this a few times, but the width of your glasses plays a big role in how they look on your face. As a general rule, if you have a narrow face, pick narrow frames. If your face is wide by the eye line, opt for wider ones.
Consult with a specialist – Lastly, if you need extra help deciding which frames to pick, consult with a specialist. They will help you figure out the design that best suits your face and your prescription, leaving you with the best glasses frames you could buy.
Combine these tips with the advice above and you’ll soon be able to choose glasses frames without any issues. It’ll be a relief as you no longer have frames that make you feel unconfident. The goal is to have glasses you actually want to wear, so you see the full benefits of them!
Book An Appointment At Beyond 2020 Vision Specialists Today
If you haven’t had an eye exam in the last twelve months, you’re due one today. Likewise, if you’d like help selecting your glasses, please get in touch with our team ASAP. We are located at Veterans Expressway and Suncoast Parkway (State Road 589) and serve Odessa and the surrounding areas.
Give us a call, tell us about your needs, and we can schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience.
