How to choose the best glasses for your face shape

Have you recently been told you need glasses? Or are you looking for a new pair of frames?

We’ve put together a quick guide to choosing the right specs for your face. It’s not an exact science, but if you follow a few simple rules, you might just find your ultimate specs.

Know your face shape

While every face is unique, there are some basic shape categories that all faces can more or less fit into.

If you work out your face shape, you can then narrow your search to recommended styles for that shape. There will still be plenty of variety in terms of size, colour and design, so you can project your individual style and personality through your frames.

“As a general rule when choosing glasses, opposites attract,” says Yvy Nguyen, frame portfolio manager at Specsavers.

“If you have a rounder face, you should choose a rectangle frame to balance out your features. Similarly, if you have a square, chiselled features, it’s best to go for a round frame.”

Take a look at the common face shapes below, with tips on how to pair your glasses with them.

Square

Are people always complimenting your beautiful, strong jawline? Chances are you have a square face.

Features: Square faces are generally proportional in width and length, just like—you guessed it— a square. The defining features are a broad forehead, prominent, horizontal jawline, and a square chin.

Style guide: Look for frames that complement your strong features, balance out your jawline, draw attention to your eyes, and elongate your face.

“Soften angular features with more rounded and oval frames,” says Yvy. “A frame such as these will provide soft lines to those with more angular face structures.”

You could also consider picking a strong colour to draw attention to your brow line.

First try: Aviator frames.

Avoid: Avoid square and angular frames, as they will work against your wonderful, strong features. Also steer clear of too much detail on the outer edges and arms.

Celebrities with your face shape: Sandra Bullock, David Beckham, Jennifer Aniston.

Round

Having a round face means you’ve got curves in all the right places. Congratulations!

Features: Just like their square-shaped counterparts, round faces are generally quite short, and proportional in width and length. But that’s where the similarity ends. People with circular faces tend to have wide foreheads, full cheeks and rounded chins.

Style guide: If this is you, your aim is to find frames that narrow and lengthen your face, and hopefully widen your eyes.

“Slightly angular frames will create a narrowing effect and sharpen softer features,” says Yvy. “These frames will provide some contrast to those with rounder features, and the pop of colour will provide a stylistic angle as well.“

First try: Cat’s eye frames.

Avoid: Steer away from oval and round frames, and those with rounded edges and corners.

Celebrities with your face shape: Leonardo DiCaprio, Aziz Ansari, Kirsten Dunst, Jennifer Lawrence.

Oval

If you’re blessed with an oval face, your proportions are balanced, which means you have plenty of choices in styles that will suit your features.

Features: Oval faces feature high cheekbones (lucky you!) and a gently curving jawline that is narrower than your forehead. The face is elongated and evenly proportioned, with its length approximately 1.5 times its width.

Style guide: The best thing about having an oval face is that almost all styles of glasses will suit you. Start with quite wide frames, as wide as or wider than the broadest part of your face, in square and rectangular styles.

“Try a bold and oversized shape or experiment with different colours and materials,” says Yvy.

Walnut frames are also popular with oval faces, but be adventurous, because you can.

First try: Rectangular frames.

Avoid: There aren’t a lot of rules for oval faces, but watch out you don’t select frames that are too small or too large, as they will throw off the natural symmetry of your face.

Celebrities with your face shape: Rihanna, Julia Roberts, Blake Lively, Chris Hemsworth.

Triangle

Having a triangle-shaped face means you’re rocking a unique and striking look. Embrace it!

Features: Triangular faces typically have a narrower forehead and a broader jawline, giving a distinctive shape that tapers towards the top. This shape is all about the dramatic angles and strong jawline.

Style guide: If this is you, your goal is to find frames that balance the proportions of your face, adding width to your forehead and softening the jawline.

“Frames with more heavily accented colours and details on the top half will balance out the more angular features of triangle face shapes,” says Yvy.

First try: Aviator or cat’s-eye frames.

Avoid: Stay away from narrow frames that accentuate the width of your jawline and heavy-bottomed frames that add unnecessary weight to your lower face.

Celebrities with your face shape: Harry Styles, Timothée Chalamet, Tyra Banks.

Heart

How lovely it must be to have a heart-shaped face. Some of the most beautiful people in the world have heart-shaped faces, so you’ve lucked out there.

Features: If this is you, the dimensions of your face form an inverted triangle. You have a broad forehead that tapers down to a small, defined chin, and high cheekbones that could cut glass.

Style guide: The trick for hearts is to find shapes that balance the varying widths of our face, and draw attention to the eyes and cheekbones. Look for frames as wide as your face, but no wider. Cat’s eye glasses are great for heart-shaped faces, as are those in which the arms are set in the middle of the lens, rather than the top.

First try: Clubmaster frames.

Avoid: Try to avoid heavy rims, as they will emphasize the length of your forehead. And definitely say no to oversized glasses as they will disrupt your proportions and draw attention to the chin.

Celebrities with your face shape: Scarlett Johansson, Ryan Gosling, Chloë Grace Moretz, Reese Witherspoon.

Ready to find your new glasses?

Medibank’s Members’ Choice Advantage provider Specsavers has a virtual try-on tool to help you find the perfect pair of specs. Try it out here.