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celebrity sunglasses google images
Celebrity sunglasses. Photo credit: Google images

 

Shopping for shades is much the same as shopping for clothes. It’s important to know your shape in order to determine what styles will be the most flattering. There are seven commonly recognized face shapes: round, oval, heart, square, oblong, diamond and triangular. Understanding which of these shapes is yours can help you decipher which pair of sunglasses to invest in this season. (Interestingly, most people fall into two or even three categories.) Once you’ve figured out your face shape, you can shop the current trends–round, square, decorative, colored, mirrored, oversized, cat eyed frames and, of course, aviators–with confidence!

Here’s the run down on each face shape:

The Round face is generally as wide as it is long. The best shades to complement this shape will be rectangular and horizontal styles that make the face appear longer and thinner. Geometric and angular frames can help sharpen facial features that are otherwise soft. AVOID small frames that are out of proportion and short frames that accentuate face length. Famous round faces include Cameron Diaz, Kristin Dunst and Mila Kunis.

The Oval face is characterized by balanced proportions and can therefore wear most any style of sunglasses. The best looking frame shape, however, for this face is a square shaped frame with gently rounded corners. AVOID frames that are too large or too small for your face. Famous oval faces include Halle Berry, Charlize Theron and Megan Fox.

The Heart face has a large forehead, wide cheekbones and a narrow, pointy chin. Choosing frames that are angular and square or more bottom heavy will help to narrow the forehead and balance out the chin. AVOID top-heavy styles that draw attention upward and decorative temples that accentuate a broad upper face. Famous heart faces include Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson and Jennifer Lopez.

The Square face tends to be angular with a wide jawline. Choose frames that are oval or round in more delicate frames such as aviators. Rounded corners will soften an angular face. AVOID geometric and square shapes that accentuate angles of the face. Famous square faces include Angelina Jolie, Gweneth Paltrow and Demi Moore.

The Oblong face is long and narrow. Choose frames that will widen and shorten the face. Tall frames will help create a shorter face, and broad glasses with an accented top rim or decorative temple create added width. AVOID frames that are wider than the widest part of your face as well as small, short frames as these will only make your face look narrower. Famous oblong faces include Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Alba and Liv Tyler.

The Diamond face is widest at the cheek bones. Choose frames that are round, oval or rounded rectangle. Upswept styles like the cat eye that emphasize the cheek bones. Oval frames create balance. Rimless styles are also a good choice. AVOID narrow frames that draw attention to narrow eye line. Famous diamond faces include Madonna, Ashley Greene and Jennifer Love Hewitt.

The Triangular face has a prominent jawline and more narrow forehead. Choose styles like the cat eye or oval with a top heavy frame to create the illusion of a wider forehead and draw attention away from the jawline. AVOID low-set temples that widen the jaw and narrow frames that are out of proportion. Famous triangular faces include Jennifer Anniston, Renee Zellweger and Kate Moss.

Now, here’s a quick guide to help you determine what your face shape is:

  • If you have a Round face then your face is as wide as it is long. This may vary a little, but generally the measurement is pretty close.
  • If you have an Oval face then the length will be equal to one and a half times the width.
  • If you have a Heart face then you will be more narrow at the jaw line and wider at the forehead and cheekbones.
  • If you have a Square face then your forehead, jaw line and cheekbones are almost equal in width.
  • If you have an Oblong face then your face is longer than it is wide.
  • If you have a Diamond face then you will have wide cheeks with a narrow forehead and jaw line.
  • If you have a Triangular face then your eye line will be narrow and widen through the cheeks and jaw line.

And a final tip:

Lastly, if you want your face to appear smaller, choose frames that are wider than your face. Likewise, if you want your face to appear larger, choose frames that are narrower than your face, unless, of course, you are intentionally going for the Nicole Ritchie look of highlighting a small face with super huge frames!

Now that you’re ready to shop, here are our top picks for this season!

Online picks:

Tory Burch Butterfly Sunglasses
Tory Burch Butterfly Sunglasses $165

 

Tory Burch Cat Eye glasses
Tory Burch Cat Eye glasses $150

 

Prada $375 at Nordstrom
Prada $375 at Nordstrom

 

Oliver Peoples Francisca Retro Sunglasses $295 at Nordstrom
Oliver Peoples Francisca Retro Sunglasses $295 at Nordstrom

 

Gucci Aviator Sunglasses at Nordstrom
Gucci Aviator Sunglasses $350 at Nordstrom

 

Jimmy Choo Cat Eye Sunglasses $340 at Nordstrom
Jimmy Choo Cat Eye Sunglasses $340 at Nordstrom

Local picks:

These are all from iiis: an optical shop in Southside. If you’ve never been in, it is an amazing shop with a fabulously curated selection of eyewear.

A great shape and not too oversized.
A great shape and not too oversized. $590

 

It's a little hard to tell, but the side view is really awesome.
It’s a little hard to tell, but the side view is really awesome!

 

 

Love the bridge detail!
Love the bridge detail! $450

 

uber chic!
sporty chic!

 

Another great shape in an on trend green color.
Another great shape in an on-trend green color. $590

 

Very cool side detail
Very cool side detail

 

A classic tortoise cat eye
A classic tortoise cat eye. $350

 

So suave!
So ladylike!

 

Here’s to many sunny days in the future!

 

 

 

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Catherine Romero