New glasses stay on your face every day, so they’re worth getting right. The best frames start with your face shape, then let fit and colour take it from there.
Book time with an optician at the dispensary to try frames in person, or pair the search with your next eye exam so your prescription and your new glasses come together at once.
Start With Your Face Shape
Your face shape won’t dictate exactly which frames to buy, but it’s a solid jumping-off point. Pull your hair back, look in a mirror or snap a selfie in good light, and check the width of your forehead, cheeks, and jaw against the length of your face. Most people land close to 1 of 6 common shapes.
Measure a few spots to get a clearer read:
- Forehead width
- Cheekbone width
- Jawline width
- Overall face length
Match yourself to whichever shape fits best. You likely won’t line up perfectly with one category, and that’s fine. A soft tape measure works, or you can eyeball the proportions in your selfie.
Frame Styles That Suit Each Face Shape
Once you know your shape, you can spot frames that balance your features. Here’s a quick pairing guide.
Oval Faces
Oval faces have the most flexibility of the bunch. Try frames roughly as wide as your face for a balanced look, then experiment further since oval faces suit a wide range of shapes.
Square Faces
A square face carries a strong jaw and a broad forehead. Round or oval frames soften those angles.
Heart Faces
Heart-shaped faces run wider at the top and narrow near the chin. Look for frames with a wider top edge or a rounded bottom to even things out.
Triangle Faces
Triangle faces carry more width at the jaw and less across the forehead. Browline or cat-eye frames add detail up top and draw the eye upward.
Diamond Faces
Diamond faces narrow at the forehead and jaw, with wider cheekbones in between. A balanced browline or a rounded frame can soften the middle of your face.
Fit Changes How Your Glasses Feel
A great-looking frame still needs to fit right, or you’ll spend your day pushing it back up your nose. Comfortable frames stay put without pinching your temples or sliding down.
Ask about a low-bridge fit if your nose bridge sits low. It keeps your glasses level instead of resting on your cheeks.
Fit also lines your eyes up with the centre of each lens. When your frames sit correctly, you look through the optical centre, right where the lens is built for clear vision.
Let Your Personal Style Set the Tone
Face shape gets you in the right neighbourhood, but personal style closes the deal. Describe your everyday look in a few words: classic, playful, bold, relaxed. That short description narrows the shelf fast.
Colour plays into the mood as much as shape does. Bright frames make a statement. Muted tones blend into your day without much fuss. Pick whichever matches how much attention you want your glasses to get.
Match Your Frame Colours to Your Undertones
Check the underside of your wrist in natural light. Greenish veins usually point to warm undertones, and bluish veins point to cool ones.
Warm undertones tend to pair well with:
- Gold
- Brown
- Honey
- Warm red
- Olive green
Cool undertones often shine in:
- Silver
- Black
- Cool blue
- Pink
Use that palette as a starting point before you try anything on. Your skin, hair, and eye colour can echo or contrast your frames to make your features stand out even more.
Let an Optician Help You Narrow It Down
Reading about frames only gets you so far. Trying them on tells the real story. An optician can hand you shapes and colours you might not have picked yourself and offer an honest second opinion.
They’ll also ask about your daily routine, your screen time, and your budget before pointing you toward frames that fit your life. Ask about digital eye strain relief if you’re staring at a monitor most of the day, and look into transition lenses if your eyes tire out by afternoon.
Once you settle on a shape, the optician pairs it with lenses suited to how you actually see and live. Every frame gets matched to your vision, not just your face.
Ready to Find Frames That Feel Like You?
Trying on frames should feel more like an easy afternoon than a chore. Bring a coffee, bring a friend for a second opinion, and give yourself permission to try on a few shapes you’d normally skip past on the rack.
Book an appointment with Willoughby Doctors of Optometry, and let the team walk you through shape, fit, and colour together. We’ll pull frames based on what you tell us about your style, then fine-tune from there once you start trying pairs on.
