How to look good in glasses

The best type of sunglasses for every face shape — and how to figure out which one you are

Dennis Green and Samantha Lee

Everyone wants to look cool in sunglasses, but not everyone knows exactly how.

There's lots of confusing information out there about face shapes and sunglasses, so we've distilled it down to the 6 most common face shapes you'll see on men. Almost every guy fits one of these shapes, so figuring out which one is most like yours should be easy with the help of this graphic.

You'll be well on your way to getting a pair of shades that fit your face and that you won't be embarrassed to wear. We recommend doing it before summer escapes.

How to Look Good in Glasses (for Women)

Kalee Hewlett


Glasses offer a way for you to change your current look or enhance it. Wearing glasses will often add to your overall look, and give you one more accessory you can play with. Women can enhance their look with the right pair of glasses that fit their face shape, personality, and by styling with hair and makeup.

Method 1. Choosing Glasses for Your Face Shape

1

Choose a pair of frames based on your face shape. Once your have identified your face shape, you should look at frames that will complement your face shape. If you do not know your face shape, there are several charts you can look up online to help you determine this. You should also keep in mind certain frame styles you should avoid.^[1]

• Round: If you have a round face, you have noticeable curves on both sides of your face and less defined angles, or cheekbones. The width and length of your face are mostly equal in size.
• Oval: Individuals with oval faces have balanced features, and their chin is slightly narrower than their foreheads.
• Oblong: If you have an oblong face, your face will be longer than it is wide. You will also have a long straight cheek line, and you may have a longer nose.
• Base-down triangle: If you have a base-down triangle face, you will have a narrow forehead that widens at your cheek and chin areas.
• Base-up triangle: If you have a base-up triangular face, you have a very wide top third area of your face and a narrow or small bottom third of your face.
• Diamond: This is the rarest face shape, where you have a narrow eye line and jawline and broad cheekbones that are high and dramatic.
• Square: If you have a square face, you have a strong jaw line and a wide forehead. The width and length of your face are the same proportions.

2

Avoid round glasses for a round face. If you have a round face, you should go for eyeglasses that are square or rectangle to contrast the roundness of your face. Avoid round frames and rimless frames, as these will only highlight your round face and will not complement your face shape.^[2]

3

Opt for wide frames if you have an oval-shaped face. If you have an oval shaped face, you should look for frames that have a strong bridge and are wider than the broadest part of your face. Geometric shaped frames tend to look good against an oval shape. You should avoid glasses that are oversized and cover up more than half of your face. Big frames can throw off the natural balance and symmetry of your face.^[3]

4

Balance out an oblong face with longer frames. Make your oblong shaped face appear more balanced by choosing frames that have more depth than width. Look for frames that have decorative elements on the sides of the frames and a low bridge. Avoid round frames or small frames.^[4]

5

Choose cat-eye or wide frames for a base-down or base-up triangle face. Highlight the narrow upper third area of a base-down face with frames that have color and detailing on the top of the frames. You can also try cat-eye shaped frames. For a base-down triangular face, go for frames that are wider at the bottom to balance out the wider top area of your face. Frames in light colors and materials, as well as rimless frame styles, are also ideal for this face shape.^[5]

6

Consider cat-eye frames for a diamond-shaped face. If you have a diamond shaped face, you should look for cat-eye glasses or oval frames. These frames will play up your narrow forehead and chin and accentuate your cheekbones. Avoid boxy or narrow frames.^[6]

7

Avoid angular frames for a square face. Individuals with square shaped faces should look for eyeglasses that sit high on the bridge of their nose and have oval or round frames. You should avoid angular and boxy frames that will draw attention to your angular features, as this can make your face appear bulky or heavy.^[7]

Method 2. Matching Glasses with Facial Features

1

Play up your best facial feature. Your eyeglasses should work with your facial features, rather than against them. If you are proud of a certain facial feature, such as your blue eyes or your strong cheekbones, look for frames that show off this facial feature.^[8]

• For example, you may choose blue frames to match your blue eyes, or you may look for red frames to match your red eyebrow hair. Or, you can play with contrasting color. You could match purple frames with green eyes.

2

Choose a frame color that complements your skin tone. Your skin tone should also complement your frames, as eyewear that works with your coloring will often look better on you. Your skin tone has been proven to be more of a deciding factor for eyeglass frames than your eye color or your hair color.^[9][10]

• If you have a cool skin tone, go for frames that are silver, black, pink, purple, blue, mauve, gray, and dark tortoise. These frames will not wash out your complexion.
• If you have a warm skin tone, look for frames that are light tortoise, gold or honey, beige, olive green, and brown shades. Avoid pastels and white and black frames.

3

Balance your eyebrows with your frames. Give your face more dimension by making sure your eyebrows fit with the look of your frames. If you have thick, bold frames in a bright color, you may want to keep your eyebrows simple and neutral so they do not compete with your glasses. You may do very light eyebrow maintenance, like plucking stray hairs, and brushing your eyebrows out to keep them simple and clean.^[11]

• If you have plain frames or rimless frames, you may want to play up your eyebrows and draw more attention to your eyes. Use an eyebrow pencil to lightly fill in your eyebrows, following the natural arch of your eyebrows.

Method 3. Wearing Glasses That Fit Your Lifestyle

1

Wear glasses that match your wardrobe style. Consider how you would classify your style. Are you preppy, edgy, vintage, or athletic? Cat-eye frames would work well for a vintage style, but they might look out of place with an athletic wardrobe.

• If you wear a lot of a certain color, like purple, consider wearing glasses that match that color.
• For example, you may want to choose semi-round frames if you have a preppy style.

2

Enhance your professional image with the right frames. Conservative frames are often the best choice if you are working in a serious business environment. Oval, rectangle, and almond frames work well for a professional style. Some common colors for this style are gold, silver, brown, gray, and burgundy for women.^[12]

• Avoid frames in bright colors or unusual shapes unless you work in a creative and/or casual environment.

3

Sport comfortable glasses for an active lifestyle. If you live a very active lifestyle, consider glasses that accommodate your needs. For example, choose glasses that have polarized lenses, or polycarbonate lenses that resist shattering. You can also choose wraparound glasses to help the glasses stay in place.^[13]

4

Wear functional glasses if you’re a parent. Functional does not have to mean unstylish. Ovals, soft cat-eyes, and upswept rectangle frames are functional, simple, and stylish. You can add a personal touch by choosing frames with metal accents or simple patterns. Basic colors like black, silver, and gray are good choices, but you can add an edge to your style by choosing glasses in uncommon colors like plum and soft green.^[14]

5

Choose glasses that display your love for fashion. Don’t be afraid to experiment with unique and colorful styles if you want to show that you are creative and fashion savvy. Consider modern frames that are made of metal and feature a geometric design. Or, large frames in bright colors or patterns (like a flower pattern) are great for showing off a quirky style.^[15]

• Fashion trends change often, and this includes glasses. Look up current fashion trends if you want to stand on-trend with your glasses.

Method 4. Styling with Hair and Makeup

1

Show off your glasses with an updo. If you want to highlight your new bold frames, as well as your facial features, try putting your hair in an updo like a high bun, or a sleek chignon at the nape of your neck. Combining an updo with interesting eye makeup and a bold lip color will ensure your face does not get lost among your hair or your frames.^[16]

• If you have bangs, a high bun can help to show off the lower half of your face, and your bangs will act as a great frame for your eyeglasses.

2

Keep your hair long and natural for an easy going look. If you have longer hair, past shoulder length, you can try curling the ends of your hair, and pinning back one side or both sides of your hair for a relaxed, casual look. This look is easy to do if you're strapped for time in the morning, and it will help show off your frames.^[17]

3

Choose a frame for your haircut. Make sure to take your glasses with you to show your stylist the next time you get a haircut. Your hair cut may look good without glasses, but look different when you get home and put glasses on. A pair of square frames would work well with long, straight hair. If you have bangs, try a pair of light frames. In general, wear light frames with a bold haircut and bold frames with a simple haircut.^[18]

4

Wear the right frames for your hair color. Try to match the color of your frames with the basic tone of your hair. For brown or black hair, wear a dark or metallic frame. If you have blonde hair, try a pair of frames with light rims or no rims at all. Redheads can make just about any color of frames work, except white or yellow.^[19]

5

Play with eye shadow and eyeliner. Just because your eyelids are behind a pair of glasses doesn’t mean you should leave them bare. Makeup can enhance the style of your glasses. Show off your eyes by applying a cat-eye with eyeliner, or using eye shadow in a light color. Light eye shadow will highlight your eyes, but darker and bolder eye shadow may make your eyes appear too dark.^[20]

• You can also wear eye shadow that complements the color of your glasses. For example, choose a violet eye shadow if you wear yellow frames.

6

Wear lipstick to enhance your frames. For black, square frames try cherry red lipstick. If you wear glasses with caramel frames, try a red-orange lip color. Bold lipstick, however, looks great with any glasses. Colors such as coral, wine, and fuchsia can be worn all year long. ^[21]