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Home / Clothing and Style / Accessories / How to Pick the Best Sunglasses for Your Face Shape

How to Pick the Best Sunglasses for Your Face Shape

Published on August 6, 2019 by Brock · Accessories, Popular

May contain affiliate links (what's this?)

How do you choose the best sunglasses for your face shape? If you've searched for answers but are still confused, this sunglasses guide is for you.

Best sunglasses for face shape

Sunglasses are extremely practical accessories. Not only do they protect your eyes from the sun's damaging rays, but they also prevent wrinkles (because you don't have to squint as much).

Plus, the right sunglasses just make you feel cool.

Brock wearing sunglasses
Examples of me feeling cool in my favorite sunglasses 😎😂

But the wrong ones… well, let's just say it's important to choose correctly.

Note: I used the Warby Parker home try-on program to test out a bunch of different sunglasses for this post (15 pairs, to be specific). This is a great free way to try on lots of different styles and sizes, in order to figure out what works for you. This post is NOT sponsored by Warby Parker, but it does contain affiliate links 😉

Watch this video to learn about an easier, more logical way to find the right sunglasses – that doesn't require you to figure out your face shape.

If video isn't your thing, read on for the text/picture version of the guide.

The Best Sunglasses for Your Face Shape

Finding the best sunglasses for your face doesn't have to be a daunting, mysterious process. It's actually really simple, so why does it seem so confusing?

Here's my theory – there's a lot of unhelpful advice out there. Choosing sunglasses is all about size and proportion, but most advice focuses on face shape.

Sunglasses face shape guides
So many guides with the same old info…

Every video, blog post and infographic I could find about buying sunglasses says you have to figure out what shape your face is, and then choose your shades accordingly.

But the thing is, our faces aren't shaped like triangles or circles. Most people don't fall neatly into one category (i.e. “heart shaped face” or “square shaped face”).

Triangle heart diamond shaped face
Pretty sure no one actually has a heart shaped face…

Most people are somewhere in between, which is why it doesn't make sense to try to figure out what object your face is shaped like.

That's why the face shape method for choosing sunglasses is just confusing. Let's forget about shapes and focus instead on these three things:

  1. Face width
  2. Face length
  3. Facial features

That's it. Every single face is a combination of these three factors.

You might have a short, wide face with round features. Or maybe you have a tall, narrow face with angular features.

Let's learn about each of the three factors.

Factor #1: Face Width

Many people wear sunglasses that are too wide for their face, which produces a bug like appearance. If you have a narrow face, it's best to wear narrow glasses.

Wide vs narrow sunglasses
The width of your face is the #1 most important factor when choosing the best sunglasses. Don't go too wide!

If you're wondering whether or not you have a narrow face, grab a ruler.

Measure across your face from temple to temple. Go straight across (don't hug the contours of your face if you're using a soft measuring tape).

Then use this table to figure out which size sunglasses are best for you:

Best sunglasses for narrow, medium and wide faces
Use this table to find the best sunglasses for narrow, medium and wide faces.

Sometimes you won't be able to find the overall frame width, but you can usually find the lens and bridge width.

How to measure sunglasses width
You can always find the lens width and bridge width, but sometimes the overall width isn't provided.

If that's the case, just add these up to get a sense of how wide the sunglasses are. Speaking of bridge width, pay attention to this dimension if you have eyes that are closer or farther apart than average:

Sunglasses bridge width
Do sunglasses always slip off your face? You might need a different bridge width!

Most people don't have to pay attention to bridge width, so if you're not sure if it applies to you, it's probably safe not to worry about it.

Let's move on to the second most important factor for finding the best sunglasses.

Factor #2: Face Length

Face length is the distance from the top of your forehead (your hairline) to the bottom of your chin.

If your face is about as wide as it is long, you have a short face. If, like me, your face is substantially longer than it is wide, you have a long face.

Here's a handy formula to figure it out mathematically:

Face length formula - how to measure your face
Here's a quick and easy way to figure out if you have a long face (insert joke here).

Here's how it works using my actual dimensions:

Example of how to measure your face
Here's an example using my own face measurements (I have a relatively long, narrow face).

Just like with face width, the key is to wear glasses that balance out your features.

Since I have a long face, I'll need to wear long frames, or else my face will look even longer!

Sunglasses lens height measurement
Long, narrow faces look better with taller lenses.

To find short or long sunglasses, you'll want to pay attention to the lens height:

Sunglasses lens height measurement
Lens height isn't as important as overall width, but it's worth paying attention to.

The lens it the longest (or tallest) part of a pair of sunglasses. This table will give you a sense of short vs. tall frames:

Sunglasses lens height chart
Short, medium and tall lenses

It really depends on your face, though. Taller frames won't look as tall on a long face. So you should try on as many pairs of sunglasses as you can before buying a new pair.

Factor #3: Facial Features

When people talk about round vs. square faces, they're really trying to describe the features of a face, not the overall shape (that's too simple).

Rather than thinking about your face as a distinct shape, think of it as being made up of a bunch of different lines and contours.

These lines are determined by things like bone structure and body fat percentage. Some lines are soft and curvy, while others are straight and angular.

It's a spectrum, and many faces fall somewhere in the middle:

Facial features spectrum
It's not about “oval” vs “square” faces; it's about the lines and features of your face.

If your face isn't obviously on one side of the spectrum, you don't have to worry too much about this – you'll look good in any sunglasses that are the right size.

But if you do have obviously round or straight features, you'll want to certain types of glasses.

It's all about balance. People with overtly round features will look better in frames with straight features. This will help achieve more perceived symmetry, which is attractive.

For example, I have relatively round features, and I look best in angular frames.

Round vs straight features

Jet Li is an example of a man who looks much better in rectangular frames than round frames:

Jet Li sunglasses
Notice how the sunglasses to the right have a short lens height – perfect for his short face.

Cee Lo Green is another example of a someone with very round features, which is why he looks great in sunglasses that have hard angles.

Cee Lo Green sunglasses
Source: NBC News

On the other end of the spectrum, you have guys like Daniel Radcliffe, who have square jaw lines and sharp features.

They look great in round frames:

Daniel Radcliffe round frames
The same concepts apply to regular glasses, by the way!

It's not that Radcliffe can't pull off more angular frames. It's that he can pull off circular frames in a way that people with softer features cannot.

Wayfarers work for almost everyone…

One classic sunglasses style has withstood the test of time for good reason – the Wayfarer.

Best Sunglasses shape for most faces
The classic Wayfarer shape (a rounded square) works for most faces.

These frames have the perfect mix of round and angular features, and they look good on many different types of faces.

The one problem many people have with Wayfarers is the size. They're often too wide for people with narrow faces.

But you can find narrower Wayfarer style sunglasses, such as the Warby Parker Beckett (discontinued, unfortunately).

Aviators are also a safe bet…

Though not quite as universally flattering as Wayfarers, the aviator shape looks good on many different types of faces.

How to dress well

Just make sure your aviators aren't too wide, as this style tends to run large.

My advice? Try on LOTS of sunglasses

Now that you know how to pick sunglasses for your face, you need to try on a bunch of different pairs. I recommend using the Warby Parker Home Try-On program.

But there are plenty of brands offering free home try ons these days, including:

  • Liingo Eyewear
  • Felix + Iris
  • Fetch Eyewear
  • Target Optical

Make sure to measure the width of your face and try on frames that are the right width for you. That way you can maximize your home try on experiences.

Test drive a few different shapes to get a better sense of the concepts you learned from this guide.


I hope this guide helps you understand which sunglasses are the best choice for your face “shape” (even though it's just about shape).

Questions? Thoughts? Leave a comment below!

Accessories, Popular Filed Under:sunglasses 9 comments

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About Brock

Founding editor of The Modest Man, Brock is an aspiring minimalist who enjoys working out, spending time with his wife and family, traveling and creating great content. You can follow Brock on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

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Comments

  1. Rollo says

    June 28, 2016 at 10:45 am

    I just discovered Warby Parker and got my first pair last week. They weren’t sunglasses though. They are fabulous and for about 75% less than what I would have paid.

    I don’t know if I would get the WP sunglasses though as you are risking your eyes to overexposure to the sun, unlike regular glasses. I trust them for glasses but not sunglasses. I have Maui Jims, which cost a bundle but have proven to be worth it.

    Excellent info in this post Brock. Those charts most people post are not very helpful and you covered all the important stuff in detail.

    Reply
    • Brock says

      June 28, 2016 at 12:21 pm

      Nice! I’m no expert, but I think their sunglasses lenses are pretty high quality when it comes to protection. I’ve been wearing their shades for a couple of years now without problems.

      But I’m really not qualified to weigh in on polarization, UV protection levels, etc.

      Reply
    • Brock says

      June 28, 2016 at 12:22 pm

      Forgot to ask – which pair did you choose?

      Reply
      • Rollo says

        June 28, 2016 at 3:07 pm

        I got the Ingles. I have pretty sharp features so they work for me.

        Reply
  2. DL Renollet says

    June 28, 2016 at 2:44 pm

    Thanks Brock. Some fine guidance. A year or so ago, I made some choices really just based on “feel” and some bit of intuition and flipping of coins. As i tend towards (but at not married to) the icons, the classic, i picked up Ray Ban – New Wayfearer and RB – Clubmasters for shades. For day to day glasses, some tortoise Jack Purcells which look similar to Daniel Radcliffe’s glasses. I’m due for an eye exam and so will be visiting this all again soon. Thanks again for making this topic clearer.

    Reply
  3. Jose says

    June 28, 2016 at 8:36 pm

    is it safe to assume that aviators look good on every face?

    Reply
    • Brock says

      June 28, 2016 at 8:44 pm

      Not really… but if I had to pick one shape that looked good on most people, it would be the square frame (i.e., Wayfarers).

      Reply
      • Rand says

        November 23, 2016 at 4:01 pm

        I know Aviators definitely do NOT look good on me. I think it’s my bridge/nose size. A skinny bridge doesn’t look good with Aviators.

        Reply
  4. STEVEN says

    November 3, 2016 at 4:57 pm

    What a great article. Much better at explaining than Warby Parker website or employees or stylists. It’s much more than narrow /medium/wide. Love to send you photos & get your advice. You should also add a section on frame & lens color since Warby offers a variety there too (ie blacks vs Brown vs blue). Ironically I just ordered Beckett but having second thoughts & wondering if I should go with a taller lens (They don’t provide lens height). Yours look like the cognac Beckett 16. I wasn’t sure about color. The optical frames țhey told me looks best had a bit wider lens & I’m not sure about those either

    Reply

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