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Finding Frames To Suit Your Face
Finding the best glasses for your face can be a difficult task and with thousands of frames to choose from at PRETAVOIR, we want to make this as easy for you as possible.
With each fashion week, or even just week- week, there are new must-have frame shapes: micro sunglasses, oversized angular glasses or crazy colorful visors. How do you find the glasses that best suit your style, but also fit your face?
If you already have glasses that you like and feel suit you, then an easy option for your next pair is finding a frame size and shape that is similar. However, if you want to try something totally new or you are buying your first pair then read ahead…
What shape is my face?
Not sure what shape your face is? Not a problem...
Compare both the length of your face to the width of your face and take note of your forehead, cheekbones and jawline.
If your face is as wide as it is long, you most likely have a round or square face. Then, compare your forehead and jawline, if your forehead and jawline are about the same width then you have a square face. But, if your cheekbones are the widest part of your face, then you have a round face.
On the other hand, if your face is longer than wider, you may be someone with an oval or heart shaped face. If your face gently tapers inward then you have an oval shaped face and if your chin ends at a point, then you have a heart-shaped face.
If you need any help deciding the shape for your face then our customer service team is here to help via live chat, by email or by phone, so just get in touch and we will do our best to advise you!
However, if you now know your face shape - your next step will be finding what frame compliments your facial structure...
Glasses Shapes To Suit a Round Face
With softer, rounded, more curved facial features, having a rounded face means you probably have a wider forehead, fuller cheeks and a soft chin.
To complement your face shape, look for angular frames that provide contrast like square, rectangular or cat eye frames. As always fit is important - but for round faces especially, it is best to avoid oversized and too-tight frames.
Glasses Shapes To Suit a Square Face
If you’ve identified you’ve got a square-shaped face, then your features are more defined and your glasses should frame and celebrate these features.
Square faces all have characteristics like a strong jawline, squared chin and an overall proportioned face in terms of width and length
Look for eyewear with soft contours and lighter lines to compliment your features, like rounded or cat eye frames. Semi-rimless and rimless glasses can also be a great option as along with the curved silhouette of your glasses frame your new eyewear will provide great contrast to the angularity of your face. Typically, avoid rectangular and square styles that may intensify these sharper features.
Glasses Shapes To Suit an Oval Face
With an oval-shaped face, you will have a more symmetrical face with even proportions from the top to the bottom of your face. Oval faces have balanced proportions, a curving jawline and a chinthat is slightly narrower than their forehead. They also have higher-set cheekbones.
Oval face shapes are very lucky as they suit almost every frame shape. You can try anything from rounded frames to bold, geometric more rectangular faces but consider proportion. Smaller faces should try and stick to smaller frames - unless you’re going for that oversized look of course - maybe try some half-rim frames or micro-frames. If your face is slightly larger, then try some strong aviators or large square sunglasses!
Glasses Shapes To Suit a Heart-Shaped Face
Heart shaped faces have a variety of facial features at slightly different widths. Normally wider at the forehead, drawing in sharply at the chin with high cheekbones.
For your heart shaped face, we’d recommend looking for glasses that are wider than the widest part of your face - typically the forehead. Playing with proportions, find a frame shape that balances the widths of your face and sits comfortably on your cheekbones such as aviator frames
What size of frame should I order
Now that you got your face shape down and you have identified frame shapes that work for your facial structure, it is time to shop for your eyewear.
Again, if you already have glasses that you like, then your job here is quite straight-forward… You can look for glasses that have similar or the same dimensions to your current pair. In most cases you can find your frame size on the inside leg of your eyewear - all measurements are in millimetres. Use this information to shop for the same lens, bridge and temple size.
You’ll find the information in our ‘Frame Details’ section in the right hand side of the new
product you’re viewing.
Frame Width:
Your frames should fit comfortably on the outside of your cheekbones; not wider than your face.
If your glasses feel loose and move around while you’re wearing them then they are too big, and if they feel really tight to the point where they are pinching your face, then they are too narrow.
An average lens width is between 46mm and 49mm, a petite, more tailored frame, will be 45mm and under. And if you’re looking for a bigger, or perhaps an oversized fit, then these designs will come under the 50+ mm category. Using a ruler or measuring tape you can estimate where our glasses frames will sit on your face.
Frame Temples:
Lengths commonly run from around 135mm to 140mm and usually don’t require too much adjustment.
If necessary your Optician will be able to adjust in a few minutes. Your temple should rest comfortably on your ears, and your frames should not slide around on your face.
Nose Bridges:
Normally nose bridges measure between 16 mm and 21 mm. You will notice while browsing that not all bridges look the same - for example you may see adjustable nose pads (quite often seen on metal frames), saddle bridges (pridomentaly a design feature of plastic/acetate glasses) or keyhole bridges.
You should pay attention to how different bridges sit on your nose and how much support you may need in order to provide a secure and comfortable fit. Again, our fully-trained staff are available to discuss how a frame may fit and what may work best for you.
Positioning on Face:
Framing the face is an important aspect to shopping for new eyewear, but correctly sitting across your eyes is essential.
Your eyes should sit in the middle of the lens horizontally and vertically, perhaps slightly above the middle depending on the frame design. Avoid having your eyes sitting too high on the lens.
