HOW TO PICK THE BEST SUNGLASSES FOR YOUR FACE SHAPE

12/11/2019
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Finding the best sunglasses for your face doesn't have to be a daunting, mysterious process. It's actually really simple, so why does it seem so confusing?

Here's my theory – there's a lot of unhelpful advice out there. Choosing sunglasses is all about size and proportion, but most advice focuses on face shape.

Every video, blog post and infographic I could find about buying sunglasses says you have to figure out what shape your face is, and then choose your shades accordingly.

But the thing is, our faces aren't shaped like triangles or circles. Most people don't fall neatly into one category (i.e. “heart shaped face” or “square shaped face”).

Most people are somewhere in between, which is why it doesn't make sense to try to figure out what object your face is shaped like.

That's why the face shape method for choosing sunglasses is just confusing. Let's forget about shapes and focus instead on these three things:

  1. Face width
  2. Face length
  3. Facial features

That's it. Every single face is a combination of these three factors.

You might have a short, wide face with round features. Or maybe you have a tall, narrow face with angular features.

Let's learn about each of the three factors.

FACTOR #1: FACE WIDTH

Many people wear sunglasses that are too wide for their face, which produces a bug like appearance. If you have a narrow face, it's best to wear narrow glasses.

If you're wondering whether or not you have a narrow face, grab a ruler.

Measure across your face from temple to temple. Go straight across (don't hug the contours of your face if you're using a soft measuring type.

Then use this table to figure out which size sunglasses are best for you:

Sometimes you won't be able to find the overall frame width, but you can usually find the lens and bridge width.

If that's the case, just add these up to get a sense of how wide the sunglasses are. Speaking of bridge width, pay attention to this dimension if you have eyes that are closer or farther apart than average:

Make sure to measure the width of your face and try on frames that are the right width for you. That way you can maximize your home try on experiences.

Test drive a few different shapes to get a better sense of the concepts you learned from this guide.

I hope this guide helps you understand which sunglasses are the best choice for your face “shape” (even though it's just about shape).

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