How to Choose a Frame

First Things First - What Size Frame Do You Wear?

Have an old pair of prescription glasses that fit you well? Put them to good use! Look inside the frame, on the temple, and you’ll see three numbers, such as 50-18-140. This is the frame’s measurements in millimeters for lens diameter, bridge, and temple, respectively. Use these numbers as a guideline of your ideal frame size.

Remember that your measurements don’t have to be exact. Let’s say your old glasses measure 50-18-140:

• Lens Diameter: “50” in this example. Look for eye sizes within 2 mm (would be 48-52 mm).
• Bridge: “18” in the example. Stay within 1 mm of your old bridge measurement (17-19 mm). If you’re getting a metal frame with adjustable nose pads, you can broaden your search to within 2mm.
• Temple: “140” in the example. Your ideal frame is within 5 mm of your old temple width measurement (135-145 mm in this scenario).

Each of our frames has its measurements listed and is categorized by overall size: small, medium, and large. You can also search by specific size by entering in a range of measurements (for example, if you want to only see frames that are the same size are your current frames, just go to our search page and plug in the numbers).

Finding the Perfect Frame: Simple as ABC

The key to flattering glasses is picking the right frame—one that sells you from the get-go, accentuating both your look and your lifestyle. With our simple guide, scoring that perfect-for-you pair is easy and stress-free—simply remember your ABCs

A: Assess Your Face

Face Shape – Determine your face shape and flattering glasses will follow, it’s as simple as that. Look in the mirror or at a photograph and compare with the graphics below. There are six main face shapes; find the one you most imitate:

Face Shape	Description	Best Frames	Frame Tips	Frame Goal
Round	Your face is a circle and is about as wide as it is long, with soft curves.	Square, angular frames (aviator or square)	Try a clear bridge to widen your eyes; DO NOT wear round frames	To thin out and lengthen your round face
Oval	Your face is a proportional oval, with curves.Oval is the “ideal” face shape.	Any frame shape (aviator, oval, or square)	It’s best to pick frames that are at least as wide as the widest part of your face	To maintain the balance of your proportional face
Square	Your face is equally as wide as it is long, with angular lines.	Circular, curved frames (aviator, oval)	Lengthen your face with frames that are wider (↔) than they are deep (↕)	To soften and lengthen your angular, short face
Oblong	Your face is a rectangle and is longer than it is wide, with angular lines.	Triangular, Circular, or Deep Rectangular frames (aviator, oval, or some square)	Balance your face with frames that are deeper (↕) than they are wide(↔)	To soften and shorten your angular, long face
Base-Up Triangle/Heart	Geometric, Circular frames (oval, some square)	Try frames with wider bottoms than tops or rimless frames	To minimize your temple width and draw the eye down to the bottom of your face	Your face has a wide forehead that descends to a narrow chin.
Diamond	Your face has a narrow forehead, wide cheekbones, and narrow chin, with angular lines.	Circular or Cat-Eye frames (aviator, oval, some square)	Look for top-heavy frames, such as semi-rimless frames or frames with detailing on the brow line	To emphasize the eyes and cheekbones and draw the eye up to the top of your face
Base Down Triangle	Your face has a narrow forehead that flares to a wide chin.	Geometric, Circular, or Cat-Eye frames (aviator, oval, some square)	Go for frames with wider tops than bottoms that are top-heavy (semi-rimless or detailed on the brow line)	To minimize your chin width and draw the eye up to the top of your face

B: Bring out & Balance your Features

Frame Types (full, half, rimless)

You know your basic face shape, now stretch that knowledge yoga-style. Frame Zen: To emphasize your facial strengths while deemphasizing your facial weaknesses. Frame types and frame sizes help you achieve this balance.

• Full-rim frames – Fully enveloping, these frames help emphasize those gorgeous eyes.
• Semi-Rimless frames – These rims only frame the top of your glasses, emphasizing the upper portion of your face (wonder worker for diamond and face-down triangle face shapes).
• Rimless frames – Seeming to float on your face, these magical frames achieve a “barely there” look with your glasses and deemphasize your forehead (works especially well with base-up triangle/heart face shapes).

Frame Sizes refer to the total frame width and fall into one of three basic categories:

• Small (130–139 mm),
• Medium (140–149 mm), or
• Large (150+ mm).

You want your frames to be proportionate to your face size. Find which range fits best by measuring the width of an old pair of glasses .

C: Consider Your Coloring, Style, and Preferences

Coloring:  Want to maximize your overall look? Consider your coloring (warm or yellow- and peach-based tones or cool or blue- and pink-based tones ). Stick with shades that best compliment your coloring to really make your eyes, skin, hair, whatever sparkle.

Style: Give yourself a quick pop-quiz and make those answers work for you:

1. What is your personal style—modern, retro, or traditional?
2. What glasses will go with your wardrobe?
3. What impression do you want your glasses to give? A bold, brightly colored frame screams confidence and fun, while a more traditional, muted frame exudes “I’m professional.”

Preferences: Make your own personal pros and cons list: What glasses features do you love? What glasses features do you hate? Think of your former glasses: what has worked and what hasn’t? What helped you stay happy? What made you fester?

Remember to consider glasses materials, nose pads vs. no nose pads (such as on plastic frames), and anything else that affected previous eyeglasses relationships. This should, in fact, be quite therapeutic.

Preferences: Make your own personal pros and cons list:

• What glasses features do you love?
• What glasses features do you hate?
• Think of your former glasses: what has worked and what hasn’t?
• What helped you stay happy?
• What made you fester?

Remember to consider glasses materials, nose pads vs. no nose pads (such as on plastic frames), and anything else that affected previous eyeglasses relationships. This should, in fact, be quite therapeutic.

You have just virtually flown around the glasses-frame globe. How do you feel? Ready to use your ABC know-how to choose the glasses you will absolutely adore? Then get to it!

One click and you’ll do your friends a favor—impart the knowledge, spread the glasses joy.