Glasses for a square face

How frames interact with a square face

Glasses sit above the jaw, at the widest part of the face, so they set the tone for how the jaw reads. A rounded frame introduces a curve the face lacks and makes the jaw look softer by comparison. An angular frame repeats the jaw's lines and makes the whole face look more sculpted.

Width matters too. On a square face the jaw is nearly as wide as the cheekbones, so a frame narrower than the face leaves the jaw looking wider than the glasses. Choose frames that are as wide as, or slightly wider than, the face.

Frame shapes that soften a square face

• Round frames are the classic choice. Thin metal round frames soften without adding heaviness.
• Oval frames do the same with a little more width.
• Rounded rectangles (rectangular lenses with soft corners) balance a curve with enough width to fit the face.
• Aviators, with their teardrop lens and curved bottom, work well in both eyeglasses and sunglasses.
• Cat-eye frames with soft curves lift the outer corners and draw attention up from the jaw.

Frame shapes that sharpen a square face

If you want the jaw to read as the feature it is, a moderately angular frame echoes it: a soft square, a browline with a straight top bar, or a wayfarer. Keep the frame at least as wide as the face so the proportions stay balanced, and avoid very small angular frames, which make both the frame and the jaw look boxy.

Frames to avoid on a square face

Small, narrow frames of any shape, which leave the jaw looking wider than the glasses. Very thick, very square frames in a small size, which stack angles on angles. Frames whose lower edge sits low on the cheek and points toward the jaw corner, which draws the eye to the corner.

Width, height and bridge

Frame width should match or slightly exceed the cheekbone width, which the face shape test reports. Lens height can be moderate; a square face is usually not long, so there is no need to avoid taller lenses, but very shallow lenses draw a horizontal band that emphasises width.

The bridge should sit level. On a square face with a wide, flat nose bridge, a keyhole bridge or a frame with adjustable nose pads usually fits better than a saddle bridge.

Material and colour

Thin metal frames soften most; medium acetate keeps some structure while still curving; thick acetate sharpens. For colour, match your undertone rather than your face shape. Warm undertones suit tortoiseshell, gold and warm browns; cool undertones suit black, silver, navy and cool greys; neutral undertones can wear either. The test reports undertone with the shape.

Sunglasses for a square face

Round and oval sunglasses, aviators and softly rounded oversized frames all soften. Flat-top and square sunglasses sharpen. Either can look good; the boxed-in effect to avoid is a small square lens with a heavy frame that mirrors the jaw exactly.

A quick check

Try the frames and photograph yourself straight on. If the jaw looks wider than the glasses, size up. If the face looks boxy, the frame is too angular for what you are trying to do; try a rounded version of the same size.