17-07-2025
There's a pair of sunglasses for everyone! How to shop the best styles for your face shape, from oval to pear
Summer is in full swing, and if you don't have the perfect pair of sunnies yet, then what are you waiting for? They add an extra level of finesse to any outfit, and are also handy for hiding a festival hangover — as well as protecting your eyes from the sun, duh.
So if you're looking to try out a new style, but don't know where to start, we've got you. Bianca Swan, style editor at Specsavers, has shared her expert advice for the best sunglasses style to suit your face shape, so read on to find your perfect match…
Disclaimer alert: Here at Cosmo Fashion, we encourage our community to sport any item that makes them feel confident – if you absolutely love a pair of sunglasses and have the confidence to rock them, then go for it! In other words, we don't like subscribing to the idea that you have to have opt for a certain pair of sunglasses just because you have a specific face shape. That said, if you are looking to attract or detract from certain facial features, or are just intrigued to know what would be best suited to your face shape, do continue on!
For those with a diamond face shape, Swan recommends a rounded frame style to help compliment your features –but that doesn't mean you can't be adventurous. Try a round or oval metal frame or make a statement with cat-eye frames to help accentuate your cheekbones.
Go for styles that contrast and lengthen the look of your soft and curved features. Rectangular glasses will look great on you – play it safe with metal styles, or go bold with colourful, fun-shaped acetate.
Your defined jawline means you have a great face structure for angular frames. To balance your features, Swan recommends narrow, oval frame styles. Or you can experiment with cat-eye or geometric shapes.
Having a pear-shaped face will mean your jaw is the widest, most prominent feature – so balancing this with more angular, stand-out styles will compliment you perfectly. Try out rectangle or cat-eye styles, and Swan suggests experimenting with thicker frames.
Heart-shaped faces feature both soft and straight lines, so the world's your oyster when it comes to glasses shapes. Swan recommends going for a Clubmaster inspired style or a cat-eye frame to complement your face shape. You'd look great in an Aviator style pair too.
Your oval face shape means you have a combination of soft and angular lines. Lucky for you, almost all frame shapes will suit you, so Swan encourages you to be as adventurous as you like. Go bold with a geometric or oversized style, or opt for something more subtle with a teacup shape.
Identifying which face shape you have is simpler than you might think. Stand in front of a mirror, pull your hair back, and observe the proportions of your:
When looking at these areas, you should be able to visualise a shape in the mirror. Still struggling? Break it down further by examining the common shapes:
Oval: Forehead is slightly wider than the jawline, and the face length is greater than the cheekbone width.
Round: Cheekbones and face length are similar, and the face is relatively equal in width and length.
Square: Forehead, cheekbones, and jawline are roughly the same width.
Heart: Forehead is wider than the jawline, and the chin is pointed.
Diamond: Cheekbones are the widest part of the face, and the forehead and jawline are narrower.
Oblong/Rectangle: Face length is the longest measurement, and the other measurements are relatively similar.
If you want more precision, you can use a tape measure to take measurements of your forehead, cheekbones, jawline, and face length. There are also plenty of apps available to measure and identify your face shape for you.
Rebecca Jane Hill is the Senior Fashion Editor at Cosmopolitan UK. She has previously contributed to publications including Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, Harper's Bazaar, Refinery29, The Face, Glamour and Stylist. She started her own magazine, Sister, in 2012 whilst at university. Focused around feminism, fashion and culture, it went on to produce 12 globally stocked print issues, as well as countless events and partnerships. She closed the magazine in 2023.
Rebecca has been an associate lecturer at London College of Fashion since 2018, where she teaches on the Fashion Journalism course. She is a passionate second-hand shopper and is constantly on the lookout for new design talent.
