Sunglasses do more than protect your eyes from UV rays, or provide comfort on sunny days or improve visibility from sun glares. Sunglasses finish off an outfit and give you the ability to create a style statement of your own. This is why finding the right pair of shades can be extremely rewarding. 

If you’re like most people, you’ve tried on a pair of sunglasses that you loved, but it just didn’t look right on you. There’s a reason for this. The shape of your face plays an essential role in the sunglass styles that look best on you. Once you understand the shape of your face, the sunglass shapes will help you to find that perfectly suited pair of sunglasses that you feel beyond confident wearing. 

Let’s look at how to identify the shape of your face so that you can find the frames that complement your face shape. You’ll then be able to find the best sunglasses for long faces, understand how to find sunglasses for a small face, and find the perfect eyewear for long face or sunglasses for narrow faces.

Does face shape matter for sunglasses?

Yes, face shape matters. It makes a huge difference in how the sunglasses look on you. And in order to find the best pair of sunglasses, you must first determine the shape of your face. The right shape frame should complement the kind of face you have. It's all about equal and opposite shapes to create balance, counterpoint, and counterbalance. 

You’ve heard the saying before, “opposites attract.” And this is especially true when it comes to sunglasses. For those with a round face, you’ll want to choose strong angles because that balances the soft lines. Where if you have more of a square face you’ll want to choose round shapes.  

While frame shape is important, it is also important that you are choosing the right size and fit for your pair of shades. These are equally as important as it can make or break the look. 

How to measure your face

When it comes to perfectly matching sunglasses to your face you’ll want to measure your face. This is the best way of determining the shape of your face.  There are six main face shapes and simply measuring 4 parts of your face will help you to determine which of the six you have. 

Here are the 4 parts you’ll need to measure: 

1. Face Length: To measure your face length you’ll start from the top of your hairline to the lowest part of your chin. This will give you the measurement of the overall length of your face. 
2. Forehead Width: Measure the distance across the center of your forehead from hairline to hairline. Keep the measuring tape flat and be sure that you do not bend the measuring tape against the curve. 
3. Cheekbone Width: You’ll need to feel for the highest point of your cheekbone. Once you find it you’ll want to measure from one cheekbone across your face to the other. Be sure to keep the measuring tape flat vs. curving it against your skin. 
4. Jawline Width: To measure your jawline you’ll need to hold the measuring tape just below your ear and bring it down to the center of your chin. You’ll then multiply that number by two. You will need to bend the tape so it sits against your skin. 

How to determine your face shape

Using the measurements above you’ll be better able to determine the shape of your face. 

Round

This is likely the easiest face shape to determine. With a round face shape, you’ll likely have a rounded hairline and jawline. And when it comes to measurements round face shapes have equal face width and length measurements.

Square

With a square face shape you’ll find that your forehead, cheekbones, and jawline are the same width. Your jawline and forehead will be wider and more pronounced. And when it comes to the measurements they will be equal just like a round face shape only the structure of your face will have more angles rather than curves.  The best square face sunglasses are aviators, butterflies, or round. Basically, any frame style that favors oval or circular curves.

Oval 

The oval face shape is a combination of both square and round. Usually, the forehead width is smaller than the cheekbone width, and your face will be longer rather than wide. The jawline and chin are more rounded rather than angular lines like with a square face. 

The best shape sunglasses for oval face are just about any.

Diamond 

Diamond face shapes will be more angular versions of the oval shape. Generally, the cheekbones are high and strong, and the distance between them is slightly wider than the forehead length. You’ll find that the chin is narrow and pointed, and the hairline comes to more of a point.

Rectangle

Rectangular faces have a longer face length than the width of your face. The forehead, cheekbones, and jaw look to be the same width apart. Older people often have a rectangular shape due to the skin from their cheeks and jowls settling into the lower half of their face. 

Heart

Just like the round face, a heart-shaped face is easy to spot. The biggest indication of a heart-shaped face is a widow's peak hairline. The forehead will be wider than the jawline, the cheekbones that are wider than the forehead, and the chin has a narrow strong point. The best sunglasses for a heart shaped face are rounders sunglasses, rectangular, oval, and aviator shaped sunglasses.

How to select sunglasses according to face shape

You should know that not everyone will fit into a single face shape category. Many people have a mix of different face shapes. You can have both an oval and diamond shape or your face shape can change over time.  

And of course, the following suggestions are not hard rules; they are simply guidelines for finding the pair that will flatter your shape face. 

Sunglasses for round face shape

By implementing the rule of choosing a frame that is the opposite shape to the shape of your face, you’ll want to choose sunglasses that are square or angular. While not many have a perfectly round head you still want to create some definition and for men the more defined the better. 

To make your cheeks seem slimmer, you should choose a style that has a strong brow line and is slightly wider than your head. 

Wayfarers, square frames, and Clubmasters are all great options.

Sunglasses for heart face shape

Heart shaped faces are probably the most difficult to frame.  The narrow chin is contrasted by a wider forehead. When choosing a frame it’s important that you don’t add extra weight to the top half of your face, which is why finding a frame is more difficult. 

Round frames and Clubmasters are your best option because they add some curve appeal to counteract the pointed chin. 

Sunglasses for square face shape

Keeping with the theme that the shape of your sunglasses should be opposite to the shape of your face. With a square-shaped face, you’ll want to create balance and soften the harsh features with round frames. Aviators and Clubmaster styles are the best square shape face sunglasses to choose.

Sunglasses for oblong face shape

If you have an oval face shape you are lucky. Because your head is longer than it is wide and your jaw is rounded you can wear just about any shaped frame that you like. But the best sunglass shape for oblong face is large wayfarer sunglasses and oversized rectangular lenses to complement your face. If you’re wondering should glasses cover your eyebrows, the answer here is yes.

Sunglasses for diamond face shape

A diamond shaped face has a chin that is pointed with a jawline that measures smaller than your cheekbones. And because your cheeks are the widest part of your face the size of your sunglasses is most important. You’ll want to go to wider sizes or wrap-around styles. 

At ShadyVEU we have the best sunglasses for square face, the best sunglasses for small frame face, and tons of sunglasses for narrow faces. Our line of essential frames is extensive. So if you are searching for glasses for big nose man or a petite woman we have something for you.