If your face is on the smaller side, and you’re looking for some Ray-Bans, we’ve got you covered. Here are the best Ray-Bans for narrow faces.
Many of us smaller faced gents know that ill-fitting sunglasses hit harder on us. Or rather, they make our faces look even slimmer than they are, similar to how ill-fitting or high-contrast clothes take height away from us shorter guys.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that narrower faces are less attractive, and that we need to look for tricks or ways to hide our face sizes. It simply means that ill-fitting sunglasses are more likely to take away from our best qualities.
Thanks to a combination of official and unofficial celebrity endorsements, a few historical misconceptions (JFK wore American Optical Saratoga, nigh identical to Wayfarers), and of course, high-quality construction, Ray-Ban is an undeniable icon.
Even on Ray-Ban’s website though, they’ll match you with sunglass models based on your face shape, but not the size. Today, we’re filling that gap with a round-up of the 10 best Ray-Bans for narrow faces.
Quick Take
Here are our top three recommendations from the list:
These hexagonal-shaped sunglasses have a sturdy and architectural handsomeness to them. The hard lines of the hexagons give it a more grounded look.
The Ray-Ban RB2180 is very popular among trendy guys. If you like a little bit of paisley or the occasional summer floral, you can definitely rock the Ray-Ban RB2180 with confidence.
Ray-Ban RB3025 is a timeless model that combines great aviator styling. It is a flattering option for men with slim faces but wide features.
Read on for more info and the complete list…
Ray-Ban Sunglasses for Slim and Small Faces
Here are our favorite ten!
RB3044 Aviator
The RB3044 Aviators are a unisex offering from Ray-Ban. We turn to aviators to get that commanding look, and it doesn’t really work if the sunglasses are too big. At 52mm, the RB3044s are perfect for men with slim faces or smaller features.
The design language takes from the iconic and timeless textbook aviator. The frames are thin and skeletal, so it doesn’t cover too much of your features. However, the gold-toned metal construction ensures it isn’t too delicate looking either.
Other efficient qualities include a small 14mm nose bridge, which looks great on faces that are short but broad, and UV coating on the military-reminiscent green lenses.
RB3025 Aviator
Comparing the RB3025 Aviators to the RB3044 can be confusing. Technically, the RB3044 was designed to be the smaller version of this, the RB3025. That being the case, the RB3044 features narrower proportions overall.
However, this RB3025 now comes in four sizes, two of which are the 51mm and 55mm. Why is this consequential? Well, the RB3025, even in the smaller sizes, has slightly broader proportions.
This isn’t immediately recognizable and might make minimal difference. But if you’re looking for that custom-perfect fit, the RB3025 is a flattering option for men with slim faces but wide features, or eyes that are far apart.
It’s also a good choice for men with small but broad faces. On top of that, they come in much more colorways than the RB3044, including a gold with distinct yellow lenses and various gradients.
RB2132 New Wayfarer
If you love the classic Wayfarer look, the RB2132 New Wayfarer in the 52mm is for you. The design language is fully lifted from the original, but sports a much smaller lens.
On top of that, this lens is also more shallow, an important proportional quality that designers tend to forget about when shrinking their classic designs. The nylon frame is also noticeably slimmer and lighter than that of the original’s.
Of course, the New Wayfarer also boasts all of the functional qualities of any Ray-Ban, including glare protection, water resistance, and smudge protection. There’s also a 55mm version of RB2132.
While that creeps into the medium-sized camps, it’s a possible option for men with narrow faces and big features or vice versa.
RB2185 Wayfarer II
The RB2185 Wayfarer II isn’t just a shrunken version of the original Wayfarer like the New Wayfarer is. The Wayfarer II is the quirky remix of the original, sporting flared frame fronts and rounded out edges on the lenses.
It’s almost like the original Wayfarer meets a Clubmaster, with a hint of Liam Gallagher-style cat-eyes (the angular style of which looks excellent on small faces).
The Wayfarer II is definitely trendier, but it also looks lighter on the face, so it isn’t super flashy. It comes in a 52mm, a 55mm, and several fun colors including red, blue, and various tortoise shell variations.
RB3016 Clubmaster
For you vintage lovers out there, the 49mm RB3016 Clubmaster has that Cary Grant North by Northwest look with a contemporary twist. It features a “broken” browline, that is the nose bridge isn’t as thick as the top frames around the lenses. The bottom frames are a much thinner wire.
This half-heavy aesthetic allows men with smaller faces to wear bold frames without them taking up so much real estate. There’s also plenty of fun colorways.
The all-black looks classic and authoritative, while the black frame/gold wire adds a touch of elegance without being too flashy. If you want to go full vintage, the Havana brown looks 100% Grant-approved.
RB3447 Round Metal
The contrast between the circular lenses of teashade sunglasses and slim faces make them a natural partnership. The RB3447 Round Metal features a vintage look reminiscent of that John Lennon style.
These days, it has too much crossover appeal to be considered counter-cultural, but it definitely has an arty, downtown vibe to it. The thin wire frame and circular lenses make them a whisper of a sunglass, complementing all of your best features. It comes in a 50mm or a 47mm.
Even if you aren’t an artist or a musician, those who collect Ray-Bans might want at least one pair of tea shades in their repertoire, and the RB3347 is made for smaller faces.
RB3362 Cockpit
For us men with slimmer faces, the RB3362 Cockpit is our version of oversized casual sunglasses, the kind you wear to brunch after a late night out. The lens height is only 42.6mm, but the width is 56mm.
Your face is covered as much as possible without the lenses cascading on each side of your nose like curtains. Regardless, the Cockpit offers excellent attention to detail.
The lenses are true aviator styles, sans the dramatic curves of a true teardrop shape, and the minimalist frame boasts a subtle double bridge for a touch of class.
RB3136 Caravan
Add one more aviator to the list with the Ray-Ban RB3136. Unlike the others though, this guy sports the classic square lens look, which is great for people with oval face shapes, even if they’re thinner.
The Caravans are smaller than the Cockpits, but at 55mm, they do push into the medium category just a bit. However, the flat bottom and shallow lens give them a smaller look and wear. They also ensure that the sunglasses stay firmly on your face, even when you’re laughing.
RB3548N Hexagonal
If you like the idea of the Metal Round, but need more structure, go for Ray-Ban’s RB3548N Hexagonal shades. You’ve got the artful thin metal frames and the expressive lenses that aren’t perfectly opaque, but the hard lines of the hexagons give it a more grounded look.
The best part about the RB3548N is that it comes in three narrow face-friendly sizes: 48mm, 51mm, and 54mm. Whether you go for the violet-shaded wisteria variation, the icy blue colorway, or the neutral black, the hexagonal shape has a sturdy and architectural handsomeness to it.
Ray Ban RB2180
The Ray-Ban RB2180 started out as women’s sunglasses, and it’s still categorized as so on Ray-Ban’s official site. However, it’s been so popular among trendy guys that most sellers categorize it as unisex.
It’s cursive-like shape is definitely fanciful, but I wouldn’t call it campy, especially if you go for the black colorway. It’s a fun, playful, and expressive style and comes as a 49mm and a 51mm.
If you’re the kind of guy who likes a little bit of paisley or the occasional summer floral, you can definitely rock the Ray Ban RB2180 with confidence.
Which Pair Will You Choose?
Fortunately, even among the smaller Ray-Ban options, there’s a diversity of shapes and frame styles. After all, heart-shaped faces look best in different lens shapes than square faces do.
That aside, I know you sunglasses lovers tend to try and buy a multitude of styles. It’s good to know that Ray-Ban makes it accessible for those of us with narrower faces.
Questions? Comments? Leave them below!
Did you try the Mr. Burbanks? Strongly considering those.