Face shape

Which style will suit your face shape?

There's some great advantages to being able to buy sunglasses online - it's quick, convenient and you always have access to the latest styles and offers! However we appreciate that there is a major downside - you can't try the sunglasses on before you buy. To make the decision even easier we have provided you with this straightforward guide to what styles will suit you best, based on your face shape. We hope that this will assist you in your choice of sunglasses!

There are 7 basic types of face shape and we have styles which will suit them all . The better matched your sunglasses to your face shape, the more they will flatter your best features and the better you will look!

If you are not sure of your face shape, use one of the methods below to determine your classification:

• The simplest way is to use a photograph and draw a line in pen all the way around your face - try not pick out all the detail, it should be just a smooth line. From this you should immediately see the shape of your face. If not look at the pictures below - the one that it most closely matches gives your face shape.

• If you do not have a spare photo, try this. Stand in front of a mirror and look at your reflection (you may want to use a washable pen for the next part as it will be easiest to remove, or you could use a crayon or lipstick!). Draw a line on the glass around your whole face, making sure that you are accurate in following the jaw line. Remember that we are trying to get a general outline of your face so don't make it too detailed. By looking at this outline you will see your face shape, and you can compare it to the pictures below to determine your classification.

The 7 face shapes

Oval

Description
• Balanced proportions
• Chin is slightly narrower than
the forehead
• High cheek bones

Look for ...
• Frames should be as wide as the broadest part of the face
• Frames should be the same proportion as the face
• More frames suit this shape than any other!

Style Check
Men:
X-Loop LA-4157

Women:
Black Flys' LA-1832

Round

Christina Ricci Style Sunglasses

Description
• Few angles
• Full face
• Width and length in same proportions

Look for ...
• Slightly angular (slight cat eye shape), will narrow and lengthen the face
• Avoid round or very square styles which exaggerate roundness
• Frames should be wider than they are deep
• High frames work well

Style Check
Men:
Dragon LA-9030PZ

Women:
Versace LA-3760

Diamond

Description
• Small forehead
• Wide temple area
• Face narrows to a small chin

Look for ...
• Frames that are heavy on top will widen the appearance of the forehead and jaw
• Square, oval and rimless frames are great choices.
• Frames also shaped with a straight top and curved bottoms are great for you.

Style Check
Men:
Komodo LA-12004PZ

Women:
Gucci LA-1375

Triangle
(base down)

Description
• The jaw is the largest part of the face.

Look for ...
• Frames should add width to the forehead while softening and narrowing the appearance of the jaw, chin and cheeks
• Square, aviators, or semi-rimless styles work well
• Up swept cat eye styles would work well.

Style Check
Men:
Matrix Neo Reloaded

Women:
Black Flys' LA-1826

Heart

Michelle Trachtenberg Style Sunglasses

Description
• Wide forehead
• High cheek bones
• Face narrows to the chin.

Look for ...
• Light colours and rimless styles are effective
• Frames with round tops and square bottoms will work well and aviator or butterfly styles
• Avoid heavy, thick frames.

Style Check
Men:
Hilfiger LA-9045PZ

Women:
Gucci LA-1370

Oblong

Description
• Face shape is longer than it is wide
• Face is narrow and jaw and cheek bones the same width

Look for ...
• Frames should have top to bottom depth ie cover a lot of the mid section of the face
• To soften the face, try round, deep or low triangle shapes
• Decorative or contrasting frame arms can also achieve the widening

Style Check
Men:
Nautica LA-16003

Women:
Vogue LA-5317

Square

Lawrence Fishburne style Sunglasses

Description
• Strong jaw line
• Broad forehead
• Wide chin and cheekbones
• Width and length are same proportions

Look for ...
• Gently curved narrow styles will minimize square ness and add length
• Frames should be more horizontal that vertical

Style Check
Men:
Arnette LA-9055PZ

Women:
Dior LA-5040

Other considerations

The size and shape of your nose can also affect which style might accentuate your best features.

• If you have a large nose, large oversized frames are recommended for balance. Small frames will accentuate it. .

• If you have a long nose, frames with side arms that draw attention to the temples, away from the nose are a good choice. A double bridge helps the nose appear shorter.

• A high bridge in a light colour lengthens a short nose or one that is small in proportion to the rest of the face.

Still confused?

If all this information is just too much a good rule of thumb is that the frame of your sunglasses should not be wider than the width of your face and shouldn't sit on your cheeks. It is also said that if you cannot decide which style to choose stick to a rectangular frame as over half of the population suit these!

Shades and Tints

Now you've hopefully chosen your frame you need to choose your tint ! Here's a quick guide to what tint you should aim for.

Smoke

Dark tint for daytime (bright and sunny days); decreases sunlight without distorting colors.

Clear

For low-light or nighttime, untinted for indoor or outdoor use.

Yellow

For overcast days, increases visibility and depth perception.

Flash Mirror

Lens with a partial mirror coating, used for both bright and low light.

Smoke Mirrored

Smoked lens with a partial mirror coating.

Revo Mirrored

Revo Mirrored lenses are a multi-layered titanium which provides a brilliant rainbow color. Discovered by aerospace engineers at NASA, these high-tech lenses have 12 layers of titanium dioxide and silica applied onto shatterproof polycarbonate. They are also scratch resistant.

Amber Mirrored

Amber lens with partial mirror coating. Amber lenses enhance contrast, enabling you to make out shapes, objects, and bumps in the snow more clearly because it blocks out the blue, or hazy, end of the color spectrum.

Rose Mirrored

Rose lens with partial mirror coating. Rose lenses enhance contrast, enabling you to make out shapes, objects, and bumps in the snow more clearly because it blocks out the blue, or hazy, end of the color spectrum.

EC Standards

There are five EC standards of protection against radiation in glasses.

Category 0 a clear lens for ordinary glasses and protection

Category 1 usually a yellow or orange lens, often worn by cyclists, and is for protection against grit from the road as well as for enhancing low light in winter

Category 2 usually a blue lens and will protect against sunlight but not at altitude or where there is reflection from sand and water

Category 3 the most common available for sunglasses and is good for low mountain altitudes, the seaside and bright days

Category 4 essential in high mountains above 3000 metres, regardless of whether there is any snow. These lenses are not recommended for driving as they are too dark

Oval
	Description • Balanced proportions • Chin is slightly narrower than the forehead • High cheek bones	Look for ... • Frames should be as wide as the broadest part of the face • Frames should be the same proportion as the face • More frames suit this shape than any other!	Style Check Men: X-Loop LA-4157 Women: Black Flys' LA-1832
Round
	Description • Few angles • Full face • Width and length in same proportions	Look for ... • Slightly angular (slight cat eye shape), will narrow and lengthen the face • Avoid round or very square styles which exaggerate roundness • Frames should be wider than they are deep • High frames work well	Style Check Men: Dragon LA-9030PZ Women: Versace LA-3760
Diamond
	Description • Small forehead • Wide temple area • Face narrows to a small chin	Look for ... • Frames that are heavy on top will widen the appearance of the forehead and jaw • Square, oval and rimless frames are great choices. • Frames also shaped with a straight top and curved bottoms are great for you.	Style Check Men: Komodo LA-12004PZ Women: Gucci LA-1375
Triangle (base down)
	Description • The jaw is the largest part of the face.	Look for ... • Frames should add width to the forehead while softening and narrowing the appearance of the jaw, chin and cheeks • Square, aviators, or semi-rimless styles work well • Up swept cat eye styles would work well.	Style Check Men: Matrix Neo Reloaded Women: Black Flys' LA-1826
Heart
	Description • Wide forehead • High cheek bones • Face narrows to the chin.	Look for ... • Light colours and rimless styles are effective • Frames with round tops and square bottoms will work well and aviator or butterfly styles • Avoid heavy, thick frames.	Style Check Men: Hilfiger LA-9045PZ Women: Gucci LA-1370
Oblong
	Description • Face shape is longer than it is wide • Face is narrow and jaw and cheek bones the same width	Look for ... • Frames should have top to bottom depth ie cover a lot of the mid section of the face • To soften the face, try round, deep or low triangle shapes • Decorative or contrasting frame arms can also achieve the widening	Style Check Men: Nautica LA-16003 Women: Vogue LA-5317
Square
	Description • Strong jaw line • Broad forehead • Wide chin and cheekbones • Width and length are same proportions	Look for ... • Gently curved narrow styles will minimize square ness and add length • Frames should be more horizontal that vertical	Style Check Men: Arnette LA-9055PZ Women: Dior LA-5040

Smoke	Dark tint for daytime (bright and sunny days); decreases sunlight without distorting colors.
Clear	For low-light or nighttime, untinted for indoor or outdoor use.
Yellow	For overcast days, increases visibility and depth perception.
Flash Mirror	Lens with a partial mirror coating, used for both bright and low light.
Smoke Mirrored	Smoked lens with a partial mirror coating.
Revo Mirrored	Revo Mirrored lenses are a multi-layered titanium which provides a brilliant rainbow color. Discovered by aerospace engineers at NASA, these high-tech lenses have 12 layers of titanium dioxide and silica applied onto shatterproof polycarbonate. They are also scratch resistant.
Amber Mirrored	Amber lens with partial mirror coating. Amber lenses enhance contrast, enabling you to make out shapes, objects, and bumps in the snow more clearly because it blocks out the blue, or hazy, end of the color spectrum.
Rose Mirrored	Rose lens with partial mirror coating. Rose lenses enhance contrast, enabling you to make out shapes, objects, and bumps in the snow more clearly because it blocks out the blue, or hazy, end of the color spectrum.

Category 0	a clear lens for ordinary glasses and protection
Category 1	usually a yellow or orange lens, often worn by cyclists, and is for protection against grit from the road as well as for enhancing low light in winter
Category 2	usually a blue lens and will protect against sunlight but not at altitude or where there is reflection from sand and water
Category 3	the most common available for sunglasses and is good for low mountain altitudes, the seaside and bright days
Category 4	essential in high mountains above 3000 metres, regardless of whether there is any snow. These lenses are not recommended for driving as they are too dark