8 Types of Glasses Frames & How to Choose a Flattering Style
Whether you have worn glasses for years or are shopping for your first pair, finding the right frames can feel overwhelming. With so many colors, styles, and options available, it is easy to feel unsure about where to start.
The key is understanding what works best for your face shape. Once you know which styles complement your features, narrowing down your choices becomes much easier.
In this guide, we will explore different types of glasses frames from WMP Eyewear and who they suit best, helping you find a pair that feels both flattering and affordable.
Types of Glasses Frames You Should Know
Square Glasses
Best for: Round or Oval faces
Square glasses offer a classic, studious look while adding a modern edge to any outfit. They are especially flattering on round and oval face shapes, as the sharp lines help balance softer features and create a more defined, elongated appearance.
For an affordable, high quality option, consider Abner. These retro inspired frames are made from lightweight acetate, providing all day comfort while effortlessly elevating your overall style.
Oversized Eyeglasses
Best for: Oval Faces
Oversized eyeglasses offer a full lens so that you can see from every angle while adding a boost of style with a trendy, big look. Oversized glasses look best on people with oval faces. A longer face balances out the larger lenses so that they don’t look comical or clownish.
For a chic 80s look that still looks like it belongs in this century, check out Lennox. These oversized square glasses look great on men and women and can be dressed up for work but also are perfect for a pair of sweats at home.
Oval Frames
Best for: Square, Diamond, or Heart-Shaped Faces
Oval frames sit between round and rectangular shapes, offering a balanced, versatile look. Their softer curves make them especially flattering on square, diamond, and heart shaped faces, helping to soften sharper features.
If you are looking for a refined oval style, Ralph is a great option. With its thin composite frame, it delivers a clean, understated look that adds a subtle, intellectual edge to any outfit.
Cat-Eye Glasses
Best for: Round or Oval Faces
Cat eye frames are a staple of women’s prescription eyewear, and have been popular since the 1960s when Audrey Hepburn wore them for Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Cat eyes look best on people with round or oval faces because the distinguishable point at the end complements softer face shapes.
That being said, there are lots of different cat-eye glasses out there. If you have a square face and want to wear cat eyes, look for a pair like Esme. These rounded cat eyes offer a subtler point while maintaining their distinct shape, so they’d complement people with square faces as well.
Round Eyeglasses
Best for: Square, Diamond, or Heart-Shaped Faces
Round eyeglasses bring a retro inspired feel, whether you prefer thin metal frames for a vintage look or thicker frames for a more modern, intellectual style. Like oval frames, their curved shape helps soften sharper features, making them especially flattering on square, diamond, and heart shaped faces.
For a refined take on this classic style, Tate is a standout option. Featuring eye catching colorways and a notched keyhole bridge, these prescription glasses offer a timeless look with a modern edge.
Browline Wire Frames
Best for: Diamond, Oval, and Triangle Faces
Browline frames are easy to recognize by their bold upper portion, typically made from acetate, paired with a thinner metal lower half. This combination of materials creates a distinct, structured look that stands out while still feeling refined.
They are especially flattering on diamond, oval, and triangle face shapes, though their versatile design works well on most people.
For a high quality option at an accessible price, Jaxon is a great choice. Featuring a tortoiseshell acetate top and polished gold stainless steel bottom, it delivers a confident, statement making look that works in any setting.
Aviator Eyeglasses
Best for: Oval, Square, or Heart-shaped Faces (but anyone can wear them)
Aviators were originally designed for military pilots in the 1930s, but they quickly made their way into everyday fashion and have remained a staple ever since. Known for their double bridge and signature teardrop lenses, aviators are a timeless option for prescription glasses.
While this style works for most face shapes, it is especially flattering on oval, square, and heart shaped faces. The combination of strong lines and softer curves helps create a balanced look.
If you want a more modern take on the classic, consider Emerson. These oversized frames feature a single bridge and square lenses, offering a bold, updated version of the traditional aviator.
Rectangle Frames
Best for: Round, Oval, Diamond, or Triangle faces
Rectangle frames offer slightly more width than square styles, giving you added lens coverage without the boldness of oversized frames. They strike a nice balance between subtle and statement, making them a versatile option for everyday wear.
These frames work especially well on round, oval, diamond, and triangle face shapes, helping add structure while maintaining a clean, streamlined look.
If you are looking for an understated yet distinctive option, Lance is a great choice. With its neutral tones and double bridge design, it delivers a unique look that stands out in a refined, effortless way.
Choosing the Right Eyeglass Frames for You
How Prescription Glasses Should Fit
Look for affordable prescription glasses that are about as wide as the widest part of your face. The eyeglass frames should fit snugly enough that they sit comfortably without sliding down your nose, but not so tight that they give you a headache.
To get a sense of your frame size, grab a pair of glasses or sunglasses you have that fit you well and measure the length from one side to the other at the widest section. When shopping for prescription glasses, choose ones that are 2-3 mm within that length.
Which Frame Types Are Best?
Frames made from stainless steel, acetate, or high quality polycarbonate are designed to be both durable and lightweight, making them ideal for everyday wear.
If you are looking for a timeless style, aviators and cat eye frames are always a safe choice. Both have remained popular for decades and continue to make a strong style statement.
For a more understated look, round and rectangular frames offer classic appeal without drawing too much attention, making them easy to wear with any outfit.
Options for Non-Prescription Frames
If you find a pair of non prescription frames you love, there is no need to pass them up. You can purchase the frames and bring them to a local optical shop, where a specialist can fit them with prescription lenses for you.
FAQ's:
Which Type of Frame Is Best for Glasses?
The best frames for glasses are made out of acetate or stainless steel. Both of these materials are lightweight, so your face won’t feel heavy after wearing them all day. Plus, they’re both durable materials, so the glasses will last you for years to come (unless you run them over with your car).
What Are the Three Main Types of Glasses?
The three main types of glasses are rimless, semi-rimmed, and full-frame. Rimless glasses have no frame around the lens, just a nose bridge and arms that attach directly. Semi-rimmed glasses feature a frame only on the top half of the lens that attaches to the arms and bridge, and full-frame glasses feature a material around the entirety of the lens.
What Are Optical Frame Glasses?
Optical frame glasses are glasses with lenses that correct your vision in some way. It could be a pair of prescription glasses if you’re near or far-sighted, a pair of reading glasses to magnify text, or a pair of progressive lenses to correct multiple issues.
