New Glasses for the New Year?

While they may not make for the most exciting gift you’ll receive this holiday season, if you wear eyeglasses every day, new eyeglasses make for a thoughtful gift. People wonder how to pick from the various different eyeglass frame shapes available today.

Since caring for your eyes is our total focus (see what we did there?) at Millennium Park, in this month’s blog let’s cover the types of frames that go with different face shapes. That way you can put a cool new set of frames on your list.

Shape matters

The shape of your face is why some eyeglasses look great in the display case but look wrong when they’re on your face. Blame it on simple geometry in some cases. Blame on the need for balance in others. Here are some general concepts about the right frame styles for the shape of your face.

• Heart-Shaped Face — This shape has a wide top third and a narrow bottom third. To reduce the visual width at the top of your face, choose frames that are wider at the bottom. Also, thin, light-colored frames or rimless frames are good options.
• Oblong Face Shape — This shape is like a vertical rectangle with straight cheek lines. To make the shape shorter and to appear more balanced, look for frames that have more depth than width.
• Oval Face Shape — This is a longer vertical face with even proportions. To maintain this balance, look for eyeglass frames that are as wide as (or even somewhat wider) than the broadest part of your face.
• Square Face Shape — The width and length are roughly the same, with a broad forehead and jawline. If you want to lengthen the shape, try narrow frame styles that have more width than depth, or narrow oval shaped frames.
• Diamond Face Shape — This shape is narrow at the forehead and jawline with board cheekbones. This shape is the most rare. To soften the cheekbones, try frames with detailing or distinctive brow lines. Rimless eyeglasses and cat-eye shapes can also be good.
• Round Face Shape — Round faces have curved lines with the width and length in roughly equal proportions. If you want to thin the shape and lengthen it, try angular narrow eyeglass frames to lengthen the face. Rectangular frames that are wider than deep are also good.
• Base-Down Triangle — This shape has a narrow forehead and widens at the cheeks and chin. To add width and emphasize the narrow upper third of the face, try frames that are heavily accented with color and detailing on the top half of the frame. Cat-eyes are also good.

Now you’re ready to do a little shopping and maybe pick out a specific frame to put on your list. Or, if you want to spice up your look for a holiday party with a new frame, follow these guidelines.

For any other issues with your eyes, or to schedule your next eye exam, give us a call at Millennium Park Eye Center, (312) 996-2020.