How to Select the Best Frames for Your Face

Eyeglasses can be far more than valuable visual aids. The right pair can help you express your personality, enhance your appearance, and even boost your self-confidence. 

At Eyes on Hartz Optometry in downtown Danville, CA, we offer an extensive selection of top designs from Gucci, Celine, Tom Ford, and more. Under the direction of optometrist Jennifer Hoang, OD, the Hartz Optometry opticians are experts in helping you find the perfect glasses for your facial shape and skin tone.

Here are their pro tips when perusing our collection:

Frames for a heart-shaped face

If your face is broader at your forehead and narrower toward your chin, choose round or square eyeglasses with curved edges. Such frames can draw attention away from a high, wide forehead. Avoid frames with decorative temples or otherwise embellished tops, which can have the opposite effect.

Frames for an oval face

For an oval face, choose glasses with a strong bridge. They should also be wider than the broadest part of your face, experts say, and have a geometric shape. Avoid frames that are especially large or cover more than half of your face, which can throw off your facial symmetry.

Frames for a square face

Oval and round frames can help balance the width of a square face, creating a slimmer appearance. Choose frames that soften the angularity of your face and that sit high up on the bridge of your nose. Steer clear of boxy, angular frames, which can make your face look bulkier.

Frames for a diamond-shaped face

If your face has the shape of a diamond, play up your narrow chin and forehead with frames that are wider than your cheekbones, or that sweep upward, such as oval or cat-eye styles, to accentuate your delicate features and cheekbones. Avoid narrow, boxy frames, which can draw attention to your narrow features rather than complement them.

Best frames for your skin tone

Your skin tone can also help determine the best frames for your face. If you have a cool skin tone with pink or blue undertones, go for colors that won’t wash you out. Good colors for you include pink, blue, purple, mauve, black, dark tortoise, and gray.

If you have a warm skin tone with hues of bronze, yellow, or gold, avoid pastels. Instead, go for flattering shades such as browns, light tortoise, gold, honey, olive green, or beige.

Other factors to consider

In addition to the shape and color of your face, keep your lifestyle in mind while selecting eyeglasses. Think about your daily activities and hobbies. Certain frames are best suited for an active lifestyle, for example, because they carry a lower risk of breaking if they’re bent or twisted.

Your personality also plays a key role in choosing frames. You may even want one professional-looking pair for work and another with more flair for socializing with friends. 

Choose colors you love, within your ideal tones, and styles that feel like you once you put them on. If you still have questions or want to learn more, contact Eyes on Hartz Optometry.