Which glasses suit your face shape (face shape analysis)
Glasses sit in the centre of your face, at eye level, and that’s why they have a huge influence on your image. A well-chosen frame balances the proportions of your face, highlights your eyes and conveys your style; a poorly chosen one can harden your features or make your face look wider or longer than it is. Face shape analysis (visagism), the study of facial morphology, offers simple guidelines to get it right.
The general rule: contrast and balance
The basic idea of face shape analysis applied to glasses is to seek contrast with the shape of your face and balance between its parts. If your face is rounded, angular frames add structure; if it’s angular, curved shapes soften it. The frame should also follow the line of your brows and be about as wide as the widest part of your face.
Glasses by face shape
Oval face
The most balanced shape, which suits almost any frame. What matters is keeping proportions: a frame neither much wider nor much narrower than the face.
Round face
The cheeks are full and length and width are similar. Rectangular, square or slightly angular frames, which elongate, suit you. Avoid very round, small frames.
Square face
The jaw is strong and the forehead wide. Round, oval or cat-eye frames soften the angles. Avoid very square, heavy frames.
Long or rectangular face
Longer than it is wide. Wide frames with some depth, which visually shorten the face, work well, as do those with a low bridge. Avoid small, narrow frames.
Inverted triangle or heart-shaped face
The forehead is wide and the chin narrow. Frames that are lighter at the top or carry more visual weight at the bottom suit you, as do rounded or rimless shapes.
Triangle or pear-shaped face
The jaw is wider than the forehead. Frames with more presence at the top, such as cat-eye or browline styles, balance the face.
Diamond face
The cheekbones are the widest part, with a narrow forehead and chin. Oval frames without sharp edges and with a defined top are usually the most flattering.
Frame thickness and size
Beyond shape, thickness should be in proportion to your features. If you have fine, delicate features, a very thick frame can “swallow” your face; if your features are strong, a frame that’s too thin can get lost. Size matters too: your eyes should sit roughly in the centre of the lens.
Frame colour and your palette
This is where face shape analysis meets colour analysis. The frame colour sits next to your eyes and skin, so it should belong to your palette:
- Warm skins: honey-toned tortoiseshell, browns, olive greens, golds.
- Cool skins: black, grey, navy, burgundy, silvers.
- High contrast: can carry dark, defined frames.
- Low contrast: soft tones and transparent or mid-tone frames are better.
If you’d like to know more about these two analyses, in the article on types of image analysis I explain colour analysis and face shape.
How to try on glasses at the optician
A few simple guidelines for the fitting: take your time and use good light; look at yourself from the front and in profile; check the frame doesn’t rest on your cheeks when you smile; make sure your brows remain visible or aligned with the top of the frame; and take a photo with your phone, because it’s sometimes easier to judge the result in a picture than in the mirror.
Glasses and personal style
The rules of face shape analysis are guidance, not an obligation. If you love a frame that doesn’t follow the guideline, you can wear it: your personality counts too. The key is that the choice is a conscious one and that the frame fits your style, your work and the way you dress.
What face shape analysis does (and doesn’t) do
As an image consultant, I analyse your face to recommend glasses shapes, haircuts and accessories that flatter you. I’m not a hairdresser, make-up artist or optician: I don’t cut hair or test eyesight. You take away a report with guidelines so your optician and hairdresser work with the same information.
Face shape sessions in Madrid and Zaragoza
If you live in Madrid or Zaragoza, where GIULIMAGE studios will open (Madrid from 15 January 2027, Zaragoza from 9 December 2026), you can have the analysis by video call or in person on request. You’ll find the details on face shape analysis in Madrid and face shape analysis in Zaragoza.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know what face shape I have?
Tie your hair back, stand in front of a mirror in good light and look at three measurements: forehead, cheekbones and jaw, plus the overall length of your face. In a face shape session it’s analysed more precisely, together with your features.
Does frame colour matter as much as shape?
Yes. A frame in a colour from your palette lights up your face; one in a colour that doesn’t suit you can emphasise dark circles or harden your features, even if the shape is perfect.
Does face shape analysis help with choosing sunglasses?
Yes, the same principles of shape, size and colour apply. With sunglasses, the lens colour also counts.
Will you give me a report to take to the optician?
Yes. At the end of the session you take away information on the frame shapes, thicknesses and colours that suit you, so choosing at the optician is quicker.