Choosing the right pair of vintage glasses or sunglasses for your face shape can be difficult, especially if you haven't tried them on. Our guide has all the tips to help you choose your perfect pair of vintage specs.
Oval Faces
Oval faces have a tendency to be longer than they are wide. Their features are balanced and they have a rounded jawline. Lucky for the oval faces out there, they suit most types of glasses, as long as the frames are no wider than the broadest part of the face. A bold/strong bridge can help to draw focus to the centre of the face, preventing it from looking drawn. Larger frames, vintage cat eye glasses and exciting and eccentric shapes work very well.
Oblong Faces
Oblong faces are longer than they are wide. They tend to have prominent cheekbones and a high forehead which exaggerates the length. All features are well balanced. Oblong faces are best suited to round or square frames as they accentuate the balanced features. You want to add width to the face and this can be achieved by having a colourful top rim or decorative sides.
Particularly with oblong faces attention should be given to the distance between your eyes. If your eyes are wide-set you want to draw attention to the centre of your face making your eyes appear closer together. This can be done by choosing a frame with a prominent bridge. If your eyes are close-set decorative detail on the outer edge of the frame will give the illusion of greater width.
Diamond Faces
A diamond-shaped face is at its broadest point across the cheekbones and narrows towards the forehead and the chin. To balance the proportions of the face it is important that the glasses are no wider than the cheekbones. Softer frames such as oval-shaped will help balance the features of the face. If you want to add width to the brow line choose frames with colour and detail on top. Avoid rimless and cat-eye styles as they draw emphasis on the cheekbones.
Square Faces
A square face will comprise of a strong jawline, broad forehead and straight prominent bones. The face will be relatively symmetrical with both the jaw and the forehead being the same width. The idea for those with square face shapes is to soften the face, round frames or oval shapes will help achieve this. Plastic frames should be relatively thin/fine to stop the face appearing bulky.
Round Faces
First of all let's get this clear, by no means does a round face mean a fat face. It's just equal in length and width with fuller cheeks and a softer curved jawline. What we want to achieve with a round face is some angularity so stay away from round glasses and go for something more square, angular and strong. Plastic frames in strong dark colours such as blacks and tortoiseshells will draw attention to the natural lines of your face. Thinner metal frames with a prominent bridge will distract people away from those fuller cheeks and help them focus on your eyes.
Heart Faces
Heart-shaped faces are wider at the top of the face than the bottom and the cheeks contour down towards the chin. As the facial proportions are less balanced oval and square frames with curved edges suit best. This gives the narrower jaw a more proportioned look. Thin light metal frames or crystal plastic can draw focus towards the eyes and away from the prominent chin.