Field guide · Oblong face · Glasses
Glasses for an oblong face
On a long face, glasses can do two jobs at once: cover some of the length and add width at the cheekbones. Bigger, wider and deeper frames do both.
How frames work on an oblong face
An oblong face is long with straight sides. Frames sit across the middle of it and can break the vertical line, cover part of the length with a deep lens, and add width beyond the sides of the face. The more of those three the frame does, the better it suits the shape.
The rule is deep lens, wide frame, something happening at the temples.
Frame shapes that suit an oblong face
- Oversized frames, wide and deep, cover the most length and add the most width.
- Round frames in a large size add curves to straight sides and cover length.
- Square and rectangular frames with a deep lens, wider than the face. Choose a lens that is at least two-thirds as tall as it is wide; shallow rectangles do not cover enough.
- Wayfarers, which are wide and moderately deep.
- Frames with decorative, thick or contrasting temples, which add visual width at the sides of the face.
- Aviators in a large size, in sunglasses.
Frames to avoid on an oblong face
- Small frames of any shape, which leave most of the face exposed and look lost on it.
- Shallow, narrow rectangular lenses, which draw a thin horizontal band and emphasise the length above and below.
- Frames narrower than the face.
- Rimless frames with thin temples, which add nothing at the sides.
Width, height and bridge
Frame width should be equal to or wider than the cheekbone width, which the face shape test reports. Lens depth should be generous; the deeper the lens, the more of the face's length it covers. A low-set bridge keeps the frame sitting lower on the face, which visually shortens the upper half.
Colour and material
Bolder frames suit an oblong face because they take up more visual space. Thick acetate in dark tortoiseshell, black, deep colours or a two-tone finish adds presence. Contrasting temples, in a different colour from the front, add width at the sides. Choose the tone by undertone, which the test reports: warm undertones with tortoiseshell, amber and gold; cool undertones with black, navy and silver.
Sunglasses for an oblong face
Sunglasses are where an oblong face can go big. Oversized square or round sunglasses, large aviators, wide wayfarers and shield styles all suit it. The only rule is to keep the frame at least as wide as the face and to avoid small lenses.
A quick check
Photograph yourself straight on in the frames. The right frames make the face look shorter and a little wider; if the face still looks long above and below the lenses, choose a deeper lens or a larger frame.