Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
Don't let your eyeglasses get you down. Trade in your ho-hum frames for a pair with flair! Before you spend your paycheck on new frames, listen up. Your face shape dictates the style of eyeglass frame you choose. Just because your best friend can work an edgy, angular frame, don't assume you can pull off the same look. Luckily, there's a frame out there for every face shape -- you just have to learn the secret to finding frames that rock for you.
1.
If you don't know your face shape, try this trick from the Eye Doctor Guide website: Stand in front of your vanity mirror, brush your hair back and secure it with a headband. With a wipeable marker (like you would use on a whiteboard), outline your face shape on the mirror surface. Pick one of these shapes that most closely correspond to the shape you've drawn on the mirror.
2.
Your prominent jaw line and wide forehead suggest a square face shape. Select curved, narrow lens styles to minimize the angles and add length to your face. Look for frames slightly wider than your face. Frames with curved lines will instantly soften your jaw line. "Round and oval frames are the perfect choice to counteract the harsh lines of a square face," according to Sandi McCoy, a Denver-based ABO Certified Optician.
3.
Your perfectly curved facial outline indicates a round shape. O Magazine recommends creating a sense of bone structure and elongating your face with narrow, angular lenses. Opt for a transparent bridge (nose piece) to make the eyes appear wide-set. Rectangular lenses and high temples work best to create the illusion of length.
4.
You have been blessed with the ideal symmetry of an oval-shaped face. Your chin and forehead narrow slightly and high cheekbones complete the package. McCoy says the main thing you need to worry about is maintaining that perfect balance. She says, "Pick frames that meet or slightly exceed the width of the widest part of your face. Other than that, any style will work for you!"
5.
You have a face that is decidedly longer than wide, but don't worry. Break up the length by selecting a frame with lenses that feature more depth than width, suggests the Vision Council's website, Eyecessorize. Round or bottom-heavy shapes with horizontal lines visually shorten your face. Temples with ornamentation or made from a contrasting material will make your face look wider.
6.
Your triangular face is readily identifiable by a narrow forehead, wide cheeks and chin. Select frames that add width to the upper portion of your face. "Find a pair of eyeglasses that have heavier detail on top," advises McCoy, "and ask to try on frames with bottoms that angle inward." Aviators or wide frames with rimless bottoms draw the eye upward and soften the jaw line.
7.
Your diamond-shaped face features a narrow chin and forehead with a wide and typically high cheekbone area. The All About Vision website says in order to emphasize your eyes and soften your cheekbones, stick with frames that have prominent brow lines or top-heavy frames. Square lenses and aviators give the appearance of a wider forehead and jaw. Ovals, rimless and retro cat eyes add a sense of balance to your rare face shape.
