Frame Your Face Right

After a recent, almost devastating trip to the eye doctor, I found out that I have to wear glasses for the next year. This is something I'm having a hard time coming to grips with because as a kid, I was made fun of on a daily basis four-eyes, dork-face, geek. And now at age 21, I'm going to have to wear them again. But I am convinced that can do this with style and finesse.

My current budget allows my to buy only one pair of glasses. So I need to find the right shape. Something I can wear ever day, with every outfit. Such an odd concept because I don't have one pair of shoes, or one pair of earrings. So these glasses need to be SPOT ON. Not like this horrific pair from when I was 8:

I have a round/slightly oval face shape. I found a pair of glasses that are rectangular shape. I was told that you should pick a shape that is opposite of the face shape you have:

Round A round face has curved lines with the width and length in the same proportions and no angles. To make a round face appear thinner and longer, try angular narrow eyeglass frames to lengthen the face, a clear bridge that widens the eyes, and frames that are wider than they are deep, such as a rectangular shape.


Oval An oval face is considered to be the ideal shape because of its balanced proportions. To keep the oval's natural balance, look for eyeglass frames that are as wide as (or wider than) the broadest part of the face, or walnut-shaped frames that are not too deep or too narrow.

Oblong An oblong face is longer than it is wide and has a long straight cheek line and sometimes a longish nose. To make an oblong face appear shorter and more balanced, try frames that have more depth than width, decorative or contrasting temples that add width to the face, or a low bridge to shorten the nose.


Base-Down Triangle A base-down triangular face has a narrow forehead and widens at the cheek and chin areas. To add width and emphasize the narrow upper third of the face, try frames that are heavily accented with color and detailing on the top half or cat-eye shapes.


Base-Up Triangle This face has a very wide top third and small bottom third. To minimize the width of the top of the face, try frames that are wider at the bottom, very light colors and materials and rimless frame styles (which have a light, airy effect because the lenses are simply held in place by a few screws, with no surrounding frame material).


Diamond Diamond-shaped faces are narrow at the eye line and jawline, and have broad cheekbones that may be high and dramatic. This is the rarest face shape. To highlight the eyes and soften the cheekbones, try frames that have detailing or distinctive brow lines, or try rimless frames or oval and cat-eye shapes.


Square A square face has a strong jaw line and a broad forehead, plus the width and length are in the same proportions. To make a square face look longer and soften the angles, try narrow frame styles, frames that have more width than depth, and narrow ovals.


Information provided by: http://www.allaboutvision.com/eyeglasses/eyeglasses_shape_color_analysis.htm