The best summer sunglasses for every face shape, according to experts
It’s finally sunglasses season! The sun is shining bright, temperatures are warming up and a plethora of summer adventures lie ahead. No matter what your summer plans include, it’s key to have a stylish pair of sunglasses at hand. But searching for the perfect pair of sunglasses can be a challenge. How do you know what sunglass style looks good on your face shape?
As much as you might love a certain sunglasses trend — whether it’s the tiny retro frames the Hadids sport or the sleek and slim cat-eyes Rihanna loves — it may look good in theory, but not necessarily in reality.
To help you find the right fit, we consulted four sunglass experts from Ray-Ban, Warby Parker, Krewe and Westward Leaning on how to choose the best sunglasses for your face shape.
Below, learn and shop in our complete summer 2019 sunglasses guide.
Square Faces
“When deciding what style looks best for your face shape, think of opposites and focus on balancing the proportions of your face,” Marie DiPalma, senior brand director of Ray-Ban North America, tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “If you have a square shape, we suggest rounded frames. Ray-Ban’s latest Oval design, RB3547, is the most recent update to the classic round frame, perfect for square face shapes.”
The key is juxtaposition, according to Kim Nemser, vice president of product strategy at Warby Parker. “Round-lensed frames balance out strong jawlines or cheekbones,” Nemser tells Yahoo Lifestyle.
“An angular face gives you the opportunity to explore a softer or rounder silhouette," Eliot Jungers, creative director of Westward Leaning tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “An aviator shape is always classic and flattering on a square face, or go bold with a circular frame.”
Ray Ban Oval RB3547
Shop it: $168, ray-ban.com
Warby Downing
Shop it: $95, warbyparker.com
Westward Leaning Eclipse 03
Shop it: $225, westwardleaning.com
Le Specs Air Heart 51mm Sunglasses
Shop it: $69, nordstrom.com
Coach Thin Metal Round Sunglasses
Shop it: $72 (was $145), coach.com
Oval Faces
The brilliant part about oval faces is that you pretty much wear anything. “Those with oval-shaped faces have endless styling opportunities,” notes Nemser. “With an oval face, the ratio of your facial features is balanced, which lets you play around a bit more.” Essentially, "oval faces are lucky because almost almost every frame fits them well,” says Stirling Barrett, founder of Krewe Eyewear.
Although oval faces can wear any shape, they “look best in oversized styles,” says DiPalma.
Krewe Milan
Tie and Tru Women’s Metal Sunglasses 2-Pack Bundle
Shop it: $14, walmart.com
Sunglass Warehouse Honolulu Polarized Cat Eye Sunglasses
Shop it: $16, sunglasswarehouse.com
Sunglass Museum Thick Pastel Oval Mod Retro Sunglasses
Shop it: $18, sunglassmuseum.com
Topshop Diamond Sunglasses
Shop it: $22, topshop.com
Round Faces
"Square and oversized styles are especially flattering on round faces,” says Jungers. “The strong lines of a square or wayfarer style frame really compliment a rounder face shape.
DiPalma suggests wearing The 1971 — Ray-Ban’s square design brought back from the 1970s archives: “The square frame juxtaposes the roundness and adds texture and balance.”
Ray-Ban The 1971
Shop it: $153, sunglasshut.com
& Other Stories Rectangular Frame Sunglasses
Shop it: $29, stories.com
Warby Parker Harris
Shop it: $95, warbyparker.com
Warby Parker Felicity
Shop it: $95, warbyparker.com
Westward Leaning Big TV 01
Shop it: $195, westwardleaning.com
Heart Faces
"With a heart-shaped face, you want to avoid wearing a frame that is too heavy at the bottom," explains Jungers. “Mirror your jawline and accentuate your face shape with a bold cat-eye. Many sporty styles also feature a cat-eye shape and are a great casual option.” Adds Barrett: “Cat-eyes and frames with round edges give this face shape balance.”
That said, heart-shaped faces can pull off another iconic sunglass style: aviators. “The Raider frames are a tried and true classic shape with smooth lines that compliment a wider forehead,” says Nemser. The iconic designer of Ray-Ban agrees: “Heart-shaped faces look best in frames that can help broaden their delicate jaw line. For example, aviators or frames with broad bottom halves tend to work best,” DiPalma says.
Krewe Earhart Blinker
Shop it: $355, neimanmarcus.com
Krewe Irma
Ray-Ban Aviator
Shop it: $153 (was $203), ray-ban.com
A New Day Cateye Sunglasses
Shop it: $15, target.com
Warby Parker Raider
Shop it: $145, warbyparker.com
Although it’s important to take your face shape into consideration, Nemser brings up a few good points to remember: “Beyond considering your face shape when selecting frames, it’s important to consider the width of your face. This mostly comes into play with optical frames (with sunglasses, you can bend the rules a bit). Wide frames can overwhelm narrow features, and too narrow of frames can result in an incorrect fit,” says Nemser. She adds, “Another factor to note when selecting frames is how glasses interact with your eyebrows — to cover or not to cover! In the age of the bold brow, it’s important to consider.”
Interestingly, Barrett approaches eyewear slightly differently: “I tend to recommend frames based on color. For instance, if you have lighter skin with red undertones, you'll look great in a silver titanium and cool-toned acetates. That being said, we encourage people to ‘do you’ when it comes to wearing Krewe. You don't have to follow the rules; as long as you love how you feel in them and you're expressing yourself, that's what matters most."
The editors at Yahoo Lifestyle are committed to finding you the best products at the best prices. At times, we may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page.
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