With eyeglass frames, it’s possible to either cover or highlight your facial features. At its best, the right kind of frames can work as a face lift. In addition to the shape and size of your face, your skin tone and hair color also affect the selection of frames.
In this article, you find general instructions on how to select the correct frames for you. It should be kept in mind, however, that each one of us has own preferences when it comes to frames: the same frames can seem too massive for another and too light for the other. In the end, the beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.
I think it’s important that the frames suit the overall look and that the customer feels at home wearing them.
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Square face
If you have square shaped face, you should select round frames to soften the shapes. The upper part of the frames should be quite high to draw attention away from wide and strong jaw line. You should avoid too square and strong shapes, as they highlight the square shape of the face. The color of the lenses shouldn’t focus on the bottom part of the frames.
Round face
If you have a round face, you should select rectangular or sharp-lined frames and avoid round shapes. Also, strong colors and thick ear pieces could suit you.
Triangular or heart-shaped face
If you have wide forehead and thinner cheek and chin line, you should select frames that have a wider bottom part than the upper part. In general, you look good in light or pilot frames. Be careful with too big frames, or frames with too strong color and nose piece. Also cat eye –shaped frames draw attention to forehead, so consider avoiding those.
Diamond –shaped face
If you have narrow forehead and chin and wider middle part, you have diamond –shaped face. You should select light and narrow frames. Also be careful not to highlight the middle part of the face. The frames could be narrower than the face and maybe slightly curved, so that they would neutralize the shape of the face. Frameless glasses could be one option, but avoid too wide frames. Also if there is a lot of decoration in the frames, it draws attention to the middle part of the face.
Pear-shaped face
If you have pear-shaped face, select frames that highlight the upper part of your face, for instance, angular and heavy frames. This way, the bottom part of the face doesn’t look too big.
Long face
If your face is long, select large enough frames that cover as big portion as possible from the middle part of the face. This way they shorten the face. Strong colors and/or thick frames often suit long face. Avoid too narrow frames and frames that are higher than wide.
Oval-shaped face
Oval-shaped face is ideal as almost all frames look good as long as the size is correct. Avoid only too high frames.
Covering facial features
You can also cover some facial features with eyeglass frames.
Long nose
You can make a long nose look shorter by selecting frames that have a low nose piece or frame with double nose piece.
Small nose
If you have a small nose, select light-colored frames with a high nose piece. This highlights the nose and makes is look longer in relation to other parts of your face.
Big nose
If you have a big nose, select strong frames as lighter frames highlight the nose.
Wide nose
You can make a wide nose look narrower by selecting dark nose piece that follows the shape of the nose.
Eyes close to each other
By selecting a narrow, transparent nose piece, you create an illusion that your eyes are further away from each other.
Eyes far away from each other
By selecting a dark, wide nose piece, you create an illusion that your eyes are closer to each other.
The size of the frames
The frames should always be the right size to the person wearing them. I can give three tips to select the right size:
- The frames must not be wider than the face in the temple area.
- The upper part of the frame should not go higher than the eyebrows.
- When you smile, the frames should not contact the cheeks.
Please note that the advice and tips given in this blog are based on Finnish regulations and laws. Therefore, you need to verify the regulations and laws in your country from your own optician, optometrist or eye specialist.