Find the perfect pair of sunglasses for your face shape

Have you ever wondered why certain sunglasses don’t seem to suit you, yet the same pair looks great on your mate? Believe it or not, there are guides for choosing the right sunglasses for your face. Considerations such as the shape of your face, the colour and style of the sunglasses, and the lens itself all contribute to whether they will suit you or not. 
 
Different sunglasses shapes and styles
 
Before you go shopping for your perfect shades, try to have an idea of what style most appeals to you. What sunglasses have you gravitated toward in the past? Do you tend to go for more classic styles or like to be on-trend with modern styled sunglasses? There are many styles of sunglasses available, from the classic aviator to the retro wayfarer. Learn about the different types of sunglasses available to help you narrow down your search for the perfect pair. 
Style guide:
 
Aviators: popularised by pilots and regularly worn on celebrities for a stylish off-duty look, aviator sunglasses feature metal frames and teardrop lenses. These stylish frames suit most face shapes but look particularly flattering on those with oval faces. Rounded frames like aviators also do well at balancing a square face. 
 
Butterfly: with its oversized lenses, the butterfly is your go-to for a chic, glamorous look. These frames are curved which help to soften your features and subtly frame your face. Butterfly style sunglasses best suit those with square-shaped faces but also look good on oval and heart faces.
 
Rectangle: with a frame that is wider than it is tall, this versatile shape looks best on oval, oblong and round faces. Rectangular sunglasses also help to balance a diamond face shape. 
 
Semi-rimless: These sunglasses feature only half a frame, creating a timeless and sophisticated look. These simple and lightweight sunglasses are best suited to oval and heart faces.
 
Shield: these shades provide full protection from the sun from all angles. Shields have a single, large lens and suit oval, round, heart and oblong faces. 
 
Square: square sunglasses are similar to rectangular glasses, but have a more updated feel. These versatile frames suit oval faces and can help balance out a round or oblong face.
 
Round: This iconic and vintage style is very 70’s, featuring round metal frames and lenses. Round sunglasses look best on oval and diamond faces. 
 
Wrap: ideal for athletes, the lightweight frame feels like you’re not wearing anything at all. Also known as sport sunglasses, these shades are characterised by thin sleek lenses made to fight glare and stay firmly in place during outdoor activity. Best suited to round, oblong and oval faces.
 
Wayfarer: this classic, timeless style was made popular in the 1950s and 60’s thanks to countless Hollywood figures sporting them. Characterised by a trapezoidal frame and thick rims, wayfarers suit most face shapes
 
Cat eye: This retro yet sophisticated style of sunglasses are characterised by an upswept angle and frame and made famous by the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn. The uplifting shape of cat eye sunglasses helps complement round, square, and triangular face shapes. 
 
What works with your face shape?
Now that we’ve explored the different styles of sunglasses and popular frames, it’s time to consider your face shape. The reason why it’s so important to know your face shape when shopping for sunglasses is that the right pair will flatter your facial features and give a timeless look. 
 
Choosing a pair that doesn’t suit your face shape can distort or diminish your facial features and highlight areas that you would rather not draw attention to. You want a pair that complements your face shape and helps to balance out your strongest features. 
 
The best way to determine your face shape is by simply going in-store and asking a shop assistant to help you. You can also try looking into a mirror and drawing the outline of your face with a washable marker or by taking a selfie and using the ‘draw’ function in your photo editing app to outline your face. 
 
What’s your face shape?
 
Oval: you have balanced features and your chin is slightly narrower than your forehead. The cheekbones form the widest section of the face. Think Beyonce and George Clooney. 
 
Round: a soft, circular-shaped face with less defined angles. Width and length are almost equal. Think Chrissy Teigen and Leonardo DiCaprio. 
 
Heart: your forehead is broader than your jawline and chin. The face’s length is also greater than the width. Heart-shaped faces resemble a ‘heart’ or inverted triangle. Think Reese Witherspoon and Henry Cavill. 
 
Square: square faces generally feature the same length and width across the face, forehead and cheeks. The jawline has strong, well-defined angles. The hairline is almost straight. Think Margot Robbie and Orlando Bloom. 
 
Oblong: your face is long and narrow, with few angles. Also known as a long face shape, the oblong face shape is generally longer than it is wide and the jaw and cheekbones are rounded. Think Sarah Jessica Parker and Adam Levine. 
 
Diamond: with a narrow jawline and forehead, cheekbones are the widest part of your face. Also known as a triangle face shape, diamond faces have a wide square chin with the face narrowing up to the temples. Think Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Gosling. 
What’s your style?
Now that you’ve determined your face shape, it’s time to find which style of sunglasses best complements your features. 
 
Oval: lucky you! Oval faces can wear almost any sunglass style – just keep proportion in mind and try not to go too big or too small for your face. Best sunglasses for oval faces: aviators, wayfarers, round glasses. 
 
Round: avoid curved features while emphasising angular lines to help elongate your face. Oversized, rectangular and angular frames will set off any roundness in your face. For this reason, the best sunglasses for round faces include rectangle, square, and wayfarer styles. 
 
Square: soften strong features by choosing sunnies with soft lines or rimless edges, such as aviators or butterflies. Best sunglasses for square face shapes: cat eye, butterfly, semi-rimless and aviators.  
 
Oblong: oversized sunglasses work well, as do larger wayfarer or rectangular lenses or thick frames. Try styles such as wrap, shield or square and avoid small frames as these exaggerate face length. Oblong faces also look great in wayfarers and squared-off aviators. 
 
Diamond: choose sunnies with gentle curves that are no wider than your cheekbones. Aviators, cat eye, round and rimless sunnies work well.
 
Heart: opt for shades that draw attention downward, to add width to the lower part of the face. Shades with wide lower edges with no straight lines along the top will work well. Try the shield, butterfly, rimless, round, or aviator styles.
 
Find your perfect fit at The Strand 
 
Trying to find the right pair of sunnies? Not sure how each style will look on your face? The Strand at Coolangatta is home to Just Sunnies. Visit in-store today to find the right sunglasses for you.