7 Signs You Picked the Wrong Glasses Style for Face Shape

Finding the right glasses style for face shape isn’t just about fashion—it’s about balance, comfort, and owning your look.

As a licensed optician at Not Another Eye Store, I’ve seen what happens when people walk in wearing frames that fight against their features. You deserve better. Let’s fix that. But first let’s identify your face shape.

How to Identify Your Face Shape

Not sure where to start? Grab a mirror, pull your hair back, and look closely at the overall outline of your face. Here’s what to look for:

Round Face: Full cheeks, soft jawline, face is as wide as it is long.
Oval Face: Balanced features, slightly longer than wide.
Square Face: Strong jawline, wide forehead and cheekbones.
Heart-Shaped Face: Wider forehead, narrow chin.
Diamond Face: Narrow forehead and jawline, widest at cheekbones.
Triangle Face: Narrow forehead, wide jawline.

Once you’ve identified your face shape. As a general rule, it’s best to find frame shapes that contradict your face shape. If you’re unsure what your face shape is, go to your local optical store and ask.

1. The Frames Hide Your Best Features

If your glasses cover your high cheekbones or draw attention away from your eyes, they’re not working for you. Angular lines and sharp edges might be stunning on square faces, but for a heart-shaped face with a narrow chin and wider forehead, that balance can be thrown off.

However, if your glasses sit too low on your nose and cover your upper cheeks, this can make your face appear longer than it is. Round frames may soften a strong jawline on a square face, but on a round face, they can exaggerate fullness instead of adding structure.

Tip: For high cheekbones or oval faces, opt for frames such as cat-eye or round styles to soften your angles and enhance your bone structure for females.

2. They Don’t Match the Structure of Your Face

Your face has natural geometry. If your glasses don’t complement it, they clash.

Round faces benefit from angular frames like rectangular or square shapes. Clean straight lines help add definition.
Diamond face shapes—with slightly wider cheekbones—work well with frames that sweep up or are rimless.
Heart face shapes—widest at the forehead—need glasses that balance a narrow chin. Try bottom-heavy styles or round edges.

3. They Slide Down Constantly

This one’s technical. If your glasses keep sliding or sit unevenly, the bridge doesn’t fit right.

Frames that slip throw off the balance of your face and won’t look good. They sit too low, lose their shape, and draw attention away from your eyes.

Online shops can’t adjust that for you. I’ve seen it too many times—get them fitted in person by someone who knows what they’re doing.

At Not Another Eye Store, we take your PD (pupillary distance), bridge width, temple length, and even cheekbone shape into account. And if your prescription doesn’t include your PD—which in Alberta, clinics aren’t required to provide—we’ll take those measurements for you, in person, when you bring your prescription.

4. You Went Too Trendy, Ignored Your Shape

Trends change. But your facial features? They stick around. Just because angular frames are hot this year doesn’t mean they’re for everyone.

Got a triangle face shape with a wider jaw? Go for frames with color or detail on the top half to shift attention upward.
Got an oval face? You’re lucky—almost any frame shape will suit you. Just avoid extremes.

We’ll walk you through your best options when you stop by. No pressure, just honest advice.

5. You Bought Them Without Trying Them On

Buying online is tempting. I get it. Some people spend as little as $40 on a full pair of glasses online. It’s quick and cheap—but you give up real fittings, accurate PD measurements, and better-quality frame materials.

Our store gives you one-on-one attention. You’ll see how the frames look and feel, and we’ll make sure they actually suit your features.

If you wear progressive lenses, choosing the right frame is even more critical. You need space for your distance, intermediate, and reading zones. Frames that are too short vertically can cut off those zones and ruin your vision experience. We’ll help you pick a frame with enough lens height to make progressives work well.

6. You Chose the Wrong Frame Size

Oversized glasses drown small faces. Tiny frames disappear on broad ones. Size isn’t just fashion—it’s about balance.

If your frames don’t match your features, they throw everything off. And if they’re too big with a higher prescription, your eyes can look tiny or overly magnified. They can even highlight under-eye bags more than usual. That’s why proper sizing is key—especially when fitting higher prescription single vision lenses or progressive lenses.

You should feel like your frames belong—not like you’re playing dress-up.

Want to see how sizing matters? Stop by the store and try on a few in person—we’ll guide you through what works best for your face and lenses.

7. You Didn’t Ask for Help on Frame Selection

Most people don’t know that frame shape and face shape are deeply connected. And most optical shops won’t take the time to walk you through what works.

At Not Another Eye Store, I’ll tell you straight up what flatters your features. I’ve helped people rethink their entire eyewear game just by matching angular lines to softer features or adding lift to downward-sweeping cheekbones.

Let’s be real—you’re wearing these every day. Don’t settle.

Own Your Face: Pick Glasses That Work With It

Choosing the right glasses style for face shape makes all the difference. It’s not about following trends—it’s about understanding what enhances you.

Come into Not Another Eye Store. Let’s get you a pair that fits your face, not just your budget.

FAQ - Glasses Style for Face Shape

How do I pick glasses for my face shape?

Frames that contrast with your natural face shape tend to offer the best balance.

If you have a round face, rectangular or angular frames add structure and definition.
If you have a square face, round or oval frames help soften strong jawlines and corners.

This contrast creates visual harmony and enhances facial features without overwhelming them.

Want help finding the right frame for your face? Ask a licensed optician in-store.

Should glasses cover eyebrows?

In most cases, no—your glasses should not fully cover your eyebrows. A licensed optician will typically fit frames so the top rim aligns just below or with the eyebrow line, keeping the brows visible.

Why?

Eyebrows define your expression. Covering them can make your face appear flat or less animated.
They provide balance. Visible brows help guide how frames interact with your facial structure.
It improves fit and proportion. Frames that sit too high or cover the brows often signal a poor fit.

That said, some fashion-forward or oversized styles may slightly overlap the brows. If that’s your personal style, it’s okay—as long as the frame fits comfortably and doesn’t interfere with natural movement.

Should glasses be as wide as your face?

Yes. Your frames should align with the width of your face at the temples.

If they’re too wide, they’ll look off and may slide.
If they’re too narrow, they’ll feel tight and sit awkwardly.

Your eyes should sit as centered in the lenses as possible—this keeps your vision clear and the fit comfortable.

Ask a licensed optician to check the fit if you’re unsure.

What shape glasses are most attractive?

Rectangle frames — ranked most attractive by both women and men
Square frames — second for women, third for men
Cat‑eye frames — popular with men and a top choice across genders
Browline frames — seen as confident and professional, especially by hiring managers

These insights come from research on how different glasses shapes influence perception—explore the full breakdown here.

Related Reads: