The Best Glasses for Oval Faces: What Suits You?
November 24, 2024 • 4:00 PM
When you’re looking for new eyewear, you want the perfect pair for you. The right glasses will improve your vision and highlight all the best features of your face too.
The question is: What are the best glasses for oval faces?
Let’s clarify what an oval-shaped face is so you know if you have one. Then we’ll explore which frame shapes and styles will work best, so you can confidently pick out the right pair of eyeglasses.
Is Your Face Shape Oval?
Very few people have perfectly round face shapes, square faces, heart-shaped faces, or oval faces. Most are a combination of these, but you can get a good idea of your main face shape by looking at your forehead, cheekbones, and jawline.
An oval-shaped face shape is likely to have these features:
- A long face (compared to its width)
- A narrower forehead that’s slightly wider than your chin
- High cheekbones that are widely set
- A softly curved jawline
- A narrow chin
Celebrities who have probably spent some time looking for the best glasses for oval faces include Beyoncé, Charlize Theron, George Clooney, and Julia Roberts.
If your face shape is oval, you’re in luck. The oval shape is the most versatile as it has a natural balance, with evenly proportioned features. That means it’s easy to find new glasses that complement it.
That said, there are some eyeglass frame styles and shapes that work better than others. Let’s have a look at those.
Best Glasses for an Oval Face Shape
The pair of glasses you choose should flatter your facial features, not hide them or emphasize the wrong things. When you’re looking for the best glasses for oval faces, it often comes down to balance.
Round Frames
Round glasses have been around for centuries and worn by many famous people, including John Lennon, Janis Joplin, and Steve Jobs. They still look great, especially on oval faces. They complement the oval shape and can look formal, casual, or even retro, depending on the design.
Have a look at these round Base Frames:
- The Soto for a classic round lens
- The Otis for a wide round frame
- The Reese for a narrower, petite face
- The Twain for an extra-narrow face or for children age 9 and up
- The Serra for children age 5 to 9
Square and Rectangular Frames
Best glasses for oval faces: Blue rectangular tortoise eyeglasses on a blue background.
Geometric frames — like rectangular or square frames — are classic and professional-looking, instilling a sense of confidence. They bring in balance by contrasting with your oval or oblong face, especially more curved features like a rounded chin and jawline.
Rectangular and square glasses also add symmetry and structure, highlighting your eyes and cheekbones. To maintain balance, look for frames that are as wide as (or slightly wider than) your cheekbones.
Check out these rectangular Base Frames:
- The Kirby for a wider face or oversized look
- The Casper for medium-width faces
- The Larkin for a fashionable, universally fitting option
- The Finley for a versatile rectangular frame
- The Cedro for children age 5 to 9
- The Otero for kids age 8 to 12
Cat-Eye Frames
Cat-eye glasses sweep upwards, and their vintage feel gives you a trendy, retro look. Dating back to the 1960s, this flattering style is still very much in fashion. Choose a brow line that’s the same width as your face. The sweeping frames slim down your jaw and help emphasize your cheekbones.
Cat-eye frames are a great choice if you want a more retro vibe. Given the unique shape of a cat-eye frame, they’ll draw attention to your eyes and give the top half of your face more definition.
If you do go for a cat-eye, consider pairing your new frame with a winged eyeliner look to really embrace the old-school look.
Be seen in these cat-eye Base Frames:
Aviator Frames
Another classic shape to try if you have an oval face is the aviator. Although they were originally designed as sunglasses, you can now find aviator glasses, as well. This frame shape usually features a thin, metal frame with a double bridge that is straight across the top and tear-drop lenses.
Aviators are one of the best frames for oval faces because they add some angularity to your face, complementing your round features. Given that they have a wider frame, they can also help add balance to your face, given that oval faces tend to be longer.
If you mind that aviator glasses frames are, without a doubt, the ones for you, then you’re in luck. Aviators are one of those glasses styles that’s popular in the world of both prescription glasses and sunglasses, so this one style can meet all of your glasses needs.
Now, equally as important as suiting the face shape is making sure the glasses shape suits the personal style of the wearer. That said, keep in mind that aviators are often associated with movies like Top Gun and The Wild One. They give off a cool, tough vibe that might be perfect if your go-to look includes a leather jacket or a pair of Levis.
Oval Face Shapes: What To Avoid
Because your oval face is fairly evenly balanced, think twice before wearing oversized frames. They may not be the best glasses for oval faces as they can throw that balance off and not look as natural. If you do want to try them, aim for frames that are the same width or ever so slightly wider than your cheekbones.
Also, avoid very small or narrow frames and frames with heavy design elements that might make your oval face look longer.
Picking the Best Glasses for Oval Faces
If you’re still not sure of the best glasses for oval faces, visit Pair Eyewear for a wide variety of choices. Our Virtual Try-On feature helps you explore a range of Base Frame shapes to find the best glasses for you.
To use this feature:
Start from one of the Collections pages:
- Select the Virtual Try-On feature for the frames you’re considering.
- Agree to the Privacy Policy.
- Allow Pair Eyewear to use the camera on your device.
- Select a Base Frame color.
- Give the camera a few moments then you’ll see an image of you wearing those frames.
- If you want to save that picture, select Take Photo.
- To try on another frame, simply select that frame and give the system another moment.
- Once you’ve chosen your frame, select Design Your Frame to choose from the wide range of Top Frames.
What Else To Consider for Your New Glasses
Now that you have an idea of what frame shapes make the best glasses for oval faces, you can start to think about colors and designs. Consider your skin tone and hair color, as well as the colors you tend to wear often, and aim to complement or contrast with them.
Pair Eyewear has a huge and ever-expanding range of stylish and fun color and design choices. And why limit yourself to just one style? Our unique Top Frame technology allows you to snap on a new frame design whenever you choose, depending on your personality as well as your mood and outfit for the day.
When it comes to lenses, you can choose from single-vision or progressive multifocal lenses. You could also add blue-light filtering lenses for computer work or go with UV-resistant sunglasses to shade your eyes when you’re outside on brighter days. Pair Eyewear sunglasses are all polarized for an extra layer of protection, helping you cut through any glare that might interfere with your vision.
While all the above advice usually holds true, the real measure of a pair of glasses that’s perfect for you is how they make you feel. The best glasses for oval faces will reflect your personality and let your true self shine through. Do you feel happy, confident, and authentic in them? Then that’s the best eyewear for you.
What Type of Sunglasses Suit an Oval Face?
Generally speaking, the glasses frames that suit an oval face are also the sunglasses frames that will suit an oval face. However, given that you’ll likely wear your sunglasses less often than your normal glasses, you can take a bigger risk with your sunglasses style than you would with your prescription glasses.
That said, if you go for a more traditional round or geometrical shape for your glasses, why not try a slightly bolder frame shape like a cat-eye or aviator for your sunglasses? Regardless of what frame shape you choose, it’s important to always have a pair of sunglasses or glasses with transition lenses.
If you don’t wear sunglasses regularly, you’re more likely to develop cataracts, pterygium, glaucoma, and other conditions that can cause damage to your eyes. What’s more, sunglasses can also protect the skin around your eyes, which tends to be some of the most sensitive skin on your face.
The Best Glasses for an Oval Face Are the Ones That Suit You
Finding the right glasses depends a lot on the shape of your face. An oval face is extremely versatile and can wear a variety of different frame shapes. Choose from round, square, rectangular, or cat-eye and you’re bound to find the best glasses for an oval face.
And once you’ve chosen your frame shape, feel free to play with our selection of Pair Eyewear Top Frames. From stylish designs like the Tortoise and the Classic Cheetah to the artsy look of the Almond Blossom or the Rose Gold Sparkle Sun Top to convert to sunglasses, there’s one to suit every aspect of your personality and every occasion.
New collections come out monthly, so you’ll never run short of options. And at only $25 to $30, you can afford to express your changing style every day.
Sources:
Blue Light Facts: Is Blue Light Bad For Your Eyes? | All About Vision
Sunglasses With Transition Lenses: Pros and Cons | American Academy of Ophthalmology
Cataracts | National Eye Institute
Do Sunglasses Actually Protect Your Eyes? | Cleveland Clinic