Choosing the right glasses is a style decision that can enhance your features, reflect your personality and boost your confidence. At D.I. Blow Opticians, we’ve helped people across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire find frames that look and feel perfect for over 50 years, and in this guide we’re sharing our team’s expert advice on what glasses suit your face shape best, including a few of the brands in our own collection that work particularly well for each shape.
Whether you’re picking your first pair or updating your look, understanding how frame shapes interact with your face’s unique contours makes all the difference. And if you’d rather skip the research and try frames on in person, our team at any D.I.Blow practice will talk you through it for free – no appointment needed for a browse and try-on.
Quick Reference Table
| Face Shape | Best Frames | Frames to Avoid |
| Oval | Almost any shape; try slightly wider frames | Frames much wider than your face |
| Round | Angular, rectangular, geometric | Small round frames that echo your face shape |
| Square | Round, oval, curved | Square or heavily angular frames |
| Heart | Cat-eye, bottom-detailed styles | Top-heavy or oversized frames |
| Diamond | Oval, rimless, semi-rimless | Narrow or heavily angular frames |
Why Face Shape Matters (But Isn’t Everything)
Whilst face shape gives helpful direction when choosing glasses, fit and personal style matter just as much. Frames that contrast your face’s natural features typically bring balance; for example, angular frames can define soft contour, and rounded frames can soften strong angles. Think of face shape as a starting point for narrowing down styles, not a strict rulebook: the best pair is always the one that fits properly and feels like you.
Identifying Your Face Shape
Before choosing frames, take a good look in the mirror or ask a friend to help you identify your face shape. The most common ones are:
- Oval: Balanced proportions, slightly wider cheekbones, gently tapering jawline.
- Round: Full cheeks with softer lines and similar width and height.
- Square: Strong jawline, broad forehead, angular features.
- Heart: Wider forehead with a narrower chin.
- Diamond: High cheekbones with a narrower forehead and jawline.
Not sure which one you are? Our team can help you work it out in a second during a fitting – just ask.
Best Glasses for Each Face Shape
Oval Faces
Oval faces have balanced proportions, cheekbones slightly wider than the forehead and jawline, with a gently rounded chin, which is why this shape is considered the most versatile of all. There’s very little a frame can do to unbalance an oval face, so this is your chance to have fun with style rather than worry about correcting anything.
Ideal Frames:
- Almost anything works, from round to rectangular to geometric.
- Try slightly wider or bolder frames to maintain your natural facial balance and avoid your glasses looking too small for your face.
- Aviator and browline styles are a particularly flattering classic choice.
Why It Works:
Because your proportions are balanced, frames don’t need to correct anything. They can simply express your personal style.
Brand Pick:
Ray-Ban’s classic Wayfarer and Clubmaster-style shapes were practically designed with oval faces in mind, clean, simple lines that don’t fight your natural symmetry. If you want something with a bit more presence, Tom Ford’s bolder acetate frames add more personality without overwhelming balanced features.
Round Faces
Round faces have full cheeks, soft lines, and roughly equal width and height, with few sharp angles. The goal here is to introduce some structure and add the appearance of length.
Ideal Frames:
- Angular, rectangular, or geometric shapes.
- Frames that are wider than they are tall to elongate the face.
- Avoid small, narrow, or perfectly round styles, which tend to emphasise roundness rather than balance it.
Why it Works:
Angular frames add definition and help create the illusion of length and structure that a round face naturally lacks.
Brand Pick:
Hugo Boss’s sharper, more geometric frames are a strong match here, and Prada’s more angular acetate styles help add definition without ever looking harsh.
Square Faces
Square faces are defined by a strong jawline, broad forehead, and generally angular features of a similar width top to bottom. The aim with frames is to soften those strong lines rather than double down on them.
Ideal Frames:
- Rounded, oval, and curved styles.
- Frames with thinner, lighter rims to avoid adding extra bulk to an already strong jawline.
- Avoid overly square or heavily geometric frames, which echo the face’s shape rather than balancing it.
Why it Works:
Curved frames counterbalance angular features, softening the overall look without hiding your bone structure.
Brand Pick:
Maui Jim’s rounded polarised sunglasses and Silhouette’s ultra-light rimless styles both soften a strong jawline beautifully, Silhouette particularly if you want something barely-there for everyday wear.
Heart Faces
Heart-shaped faces have a wider forehead and cheekbones that narrow down to a smaller, sometimes pointed chin. Frames that add width or detail lower down help bring the face back into balance.
Ideal Frames:
- Cat-eye styles, which draw the eye outward and balance a wider forehead.
- Frames with detailing around the bottom rim or mid-section.
- Lighter-coloured or rimless bottoms, to avoid drawing extra attention to a narrower chin.
Why it Works:
These styles widen the appearance of the lower face, bringing harmony to the natural taper from forehead to chin.
Brand Pick:
Michael Kors and Ted Baker both do excellent cat-eye and lightly-detailed lower-rimstyles that balance a narrower chin against a wider forehead beautifully.
Diamond Faces
Diamond faces have high, prominent cheekbones with a narrower forehead and jawline, a striking, well-defined bone structure that frames should complement rather than compete with.
Ideal Frames:
- Oval or rimless frames, which soften angular cheekbones.
- Semi-rimless styles with detailing weighted towards the top of the frame (brow line).
- Avoid frames that are narrower than your cheekbones, which will look pinched.
Why it Works:
These shapes enhance your natural bone structure without overwhelming it, drawing attention to the eyes rather than the cheekbones.
Brand Pick:
Tiffany & Co.’s oval and rimless styles add elegant detail exactly where diamond faces need it – around the brow and cheekbone – without competing with your bone structure. Silhouette’s rimless designs work just as well if you’d prefer something almost invisible.
Remembering Frame Fit
Whilst face shape matters, fit matters equally – this is the job of a dispensing optician rather than an optometrist (read our guide to opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists if you’re not sure who does what). At D.I. Blow Opticians, our fittings are carried out by dispensing opticians registered with the General Optical Council (GOC) and ABDO-trained to make sure that every pair sits perfectly, taking into account your face shape, nose bridge, and temple width. No amount of the “right” shape will look good if the fit is wrong.
Here are a few fitting basics:
- Width: Glasses should align with the broadest part of your face. If they’re narrower, they’ll look pinched; if wider, they’ll slip and look oversized.
- Bridge Fit: The frame’s bridge should rest comfortably on your nose without slipping or leaving marks.
- Temple Length: Arms should comfortably reach behind your ears without pinching at the temples or behind the ears.
- Eyebrow Line: As a general rule, the top of the frame should sit at or just below your eyebrows.
At D.I. Blow Opticians, we’re proud to offer one of the widest selections of frames in the Midlands, from everyday value options to designer brands, all tailored with expert advice and precise fitting.
Whether your face is round, oval, square, heart-shaped or diamond, the right glasses can highlight your best features and elevate your look. So come in, try on a range of styles, and let our team guide you to frames that fit not just your face but your personality, too.
Once you’ve found your ideal frame shape, it’s worth thinking about lenses too – our guide to thin vs standard lenses explains your options, and if sunglasses are next on your list, see our polarised vs non-polarised sunglasses guide. If you’re curious what’s trending right now, our roundup of the latest eyewear styles is worth a look too, or browse what to look for in a glasses shop before you visit.
Book an appointment today at D.I. Blow Opticians and find the perfect pair for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Glasses Suit Me?
The quickest way to find out is to identify your face shape first – oval, round, square, heart, or diamond – then match it against our quick reference table above. For a definite answer, our team can identify your face shape and recommend frames for free during a fitting at any D.I. Blow practice.
How Do I Choose Glasses for My Face Shape?
Start by identifying whether your face is oval, round, square, heart-shaped, or diamond, then look for frames that contrast rather than copy your natural features. For example, angular frames for a round face, or curved frames for a square jawline. Fit (width, bridge, and temple length) matters just as much as shape.
What Shape Glasses Suit a Round Face Best?
Angular, rectangular, or geometric frames work best for round faces, since they add structure and help elongate softer, rounder features. Avoid small or perfectly round frames, which tend to emphasise roundness rather than balance it.
Do My Glasses Have to Exactly Match My Face Shape?
No. Face shape is a helpful starting point, not a strict rule. Personal style, colouring, and how a frame feels when you’re wearing it all matter too. Many people find frames outside their “ideal” category still suit them once fit and personal style are taken into account.
Can I Try on Frames Without Booking a Full Eye Test?
Yes. You’re more than welcome to come into any D.I. Blow practice and try on frames from our full range at any time – no appointment or eye test required. If you do need an updated prescription, we’re happy to combine both in one visit.
Where Can I Get Expert Help Choosing Glasses in Nottinghamshire or Derbyshire?
D.I. Blow Opticians has practices across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Mansfield, including Alfreton, Bulwell, Eastwood, Hucknall, Ilkeston, Sutton-in-Ashfield, and Wollaton. Find your nearest practice here and our team will help you find frames that suit your face shape, lifestyle, and budget.
