Choose the designer frames that suit you best with our eyewear size guide.
Looking for the perfect summer shades, or a new pair of prescription glasses that flatter your features and reflect your personality?
Going for the trendiest designer frames out there isn’t always a safe bet. We all have unique facial features, and although there aren’t basic sizes when it comes to eyewear like small, medium, and large, there are measurements we need to consider when picking out a new frame. Here’s our eyewear size guide to help you:
Eyewear Size Guide
There are three measurements to be aware of:
- Lens width: between 40 and 60mm.
- Bridge width: between 14 and 24mm.
- Temple length: between 120 and 150mm.
You will usually find these measurements engraved on the inside of the bridge or the left temple. It will look something like this: 49 22 150. The first number refers to lens width, the second to bridge width, the third to temple length. Sometimes there is a fourth number, which refers to lens height.
If you already have a frame that suits you, you can look for a new pair with similar measurements.
Keep in mind that:
- a narrow frame will make the face look wider, while a wide frame will make the face look narrower
- your eyes should be centered within your lenses
- temples should sit comfortably over your ears
Another thing you need to consider when selecting a new pair of glasses is your face shape. Here are the most flattering frames for each face shape.
Oval
Oval faces are thought of as the universal face shape. With a rounded jawline, a narrow forehead and chin and high cheekbones, it is proportionally balanced and will look good in most frames.
Recommended frames: aviator, rectangle, square, browline.
Frames to avoid: oversized.
Round
Round faces are typically as wide as they are long. They are all soft curves, the chin is rounded and the cheeks are full. Choose frames that add definition to the face, with geometric lines to contrast its roundness.
Recommended frames: rectangle, square, cat-eye, aviator.
Frames to avoid: round, oval, browline.
Square
Square faces have bold, angular features, with equally wide foreheads, cheekbones, and jawlines. Choose frames that soften your features and that are slightly wider than your face to add length to it.
Recommended frames: oval, round, aviator, cat-eye.
Frames to avoid: rectangle, square, small.
Diamond
Diamond-shaped faces have high, defined cheekbones and narrow foreheads and chins. They are sharp and angular. Look for frames that soften the angles of your face and draw attention to your eyes.
Recommended frames: oval, round, cat-eye, browline.
Frames to avoid: rectangle, square.
Heart
Heart-shaped faces (also called base-up triangle faces) have a broader forehead that descends to a narrower chin. They often have high, prominent cheekbones. Choose frames that are slightly wider than your forehead to accentuate your features, or round frames to add balance.
Recommended frames: round, rectangle, aviator, semi-rimless.
Frames to avoid: oval, browline.
Whichever style is your favorite, we probably have it. Discover luxury and designer eyewear at italist and save up to 40%* vs. local retail pricing.
About the Author
Alex English is the Head of Content Marketing at italist.com, building on a lifelong passion for fashion and luxury. After publishing a lifestyle blog for nearly ten years and obtaining an MBA in Milan at SDA Bocconi, one of Europe’s top business schools, he joined the italist team in 2019. His work since then has focused on upper-funnel messaging, brand storytelling, establishing italist as a thought leader in the space, and enriching the customer experience on the platform. Find him on LinkedIn.