FACE SHAPES

There are no rules set in stone for this advice but the following guide may help you to choose the correct spectacles for your facial features:

Square Faces: Your head will be as wide as it is long and you will have a square jaw line and a deep forehead. The best suited frames will be oval, rounded frames rather than small square ones.

Oval faces: Your face will be about one and a half times longer than it is wide. Your jaw line will be oval and curved with your forehead being wider than your jaw. Most frames will suit your face due to these features as long as the frames are in proportion to your face size. 

Round Faces: Your face is as long as it is wide. You will have a rounded jaw line and forehead. The best suited frames are squarer frames which are shallow in depth but wide in width.

Heart shaped faces: Your face is broader at the top than at the bottom with a narrow rounded jawline. The best suited frames are rounded, slender or square but not broad fitting frames in width.

Long Oval faces: Your face will be longer than it is in width with an oval jawline and long forehead. The best suited frames are striking, heavier topped frames and even larger squarer types.

SKIN TONE

Pale Complexions: We recommend trying lightweight frames like those with a touch of color such as a rose or amber. Tortoiseshell frames look great on persons with fair complexions (avoid darker versions) but clear, blue or green tinged frames may drain color from cheeks.

Dark Complexions: Olive Mediterranean, Golden or Asian skin and dark hair look stunning in silver, gold or clear frames. Avoid black, which can be too heavy for your complexion.

SUNGLASSES TERMINOLOGY

Bridge: The part of sunglasses that extends across the nose.

Cat's eye: Most common in women's sunglasses; lenses which are wider in the middle than on either side; with a greater curve on the bottom than the top.

Impact resistant (also protective glasses or safety glasses): Lenses, usually polycarbonate, designed to absorb an impact; they are shatter-resistant, not shatter-proof. If you need these, choose only ANSI compliant sunglasses.

Polarized sunglasses: With a filter between the front and back surface of the lens, horizontally reflected glare is much reduced; very useful near water, snow, ice, glass etc.

Temple: The arm of the sunglasses, running from the ear to the lens frame.

Wrap-arounds: The lenses curve around the head or the temple is about as tall as the lenses; they eliminate peripheral vision but add extra sun protection