Glasses and sunglasses for a round face: how to choose, and 8 frames that work
A round face wants angles: square, rectangular, cat-eye, at least as wide as the face. The three rules, what to avoid and eight frames from independent designers, optical and sun, chosen by OCCHIO!.
A round face wants angles.
Full cheeks, a soft jaw, width and height almost the same: it is a face that changes a lot with the right frame. The rule is contrast: where the face is curved, the glasses should be straight. Below, the rule translated into shape, frame size and colour, with eight models from the OCCHIO! selection that apply it.
the right shape: square, rectangular, cat-eye or geometric
millimetres of eye size, for a frame at least as wide as the face
models chosen for a round face, optical and sunglasses, available now
Three rules, in order
1. Angles, not curves. A square or rectangular frame adds the lines the face doesn't have; a cat-eye lifts the cheekbone and draws the gaze upwards. A small round frame repeats the shape of the face and makes it look fuller.
2. Width. The frame should be as wide as the face, or a little wider. If it is narrow, the cheeks stay exposed and the face looks wider. The first number on the frame (e.g. 52–20–145) is the eye size: with a round face it is worth starting from 50.
3. A strong top line. A dark or thick upper part, as in browlines and acetate squares, defines the forehead and draws a boundary that a round face doesn't have. Colour matters more above the eyes than below: bold on top, lighter at the bottom.
Optical and sunglasses: what changes
For optical frames all three rules apply, and the cat-eye is the right choice for anyone who wants something less rigid than the square. With sunglasses you can go further: a square oversize with a dark lens covers the cheeks and lengthens the face more than an optical frame. Large Seventies rounds are the only exception to the angles rule, and only in sunglasses.
What to avoid
Small, thin round frames, narrow frames, low bridges that shorten the nose, oval shapes that soften where there is already softness. And the most common advice, «discreet glasses that don't get noticed»: on a round face, the glasses that don't get noticed are the ones that leave it round.
The eight selected models
Cubitts Panton Dark Turtle XXL
The square by Cubitts in five sizes: a straight top line and clean angles, with a generous eye size. The most affordable way to see how much an angle changes a round face.
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Kuboraum L12 BS
A full rectangle, shiny black, with thickness: one of the most geometric Maske by Kuboraum. On a round face it draws two horizontal lines that lengthen it.
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Ahlem Art Decò Dark Green
A strong top line and barely softened corners: the Art Déco geometry of AHLEM gives structure without stiffening.
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Kuboraum K26 Tortoise
A wide rectangle in tortoise acetate, handmade in Italy: a clean horizontal line, in the colour that warms the face without softening it.
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Cubitts Matilda Celadon
Cubitts' soft cat-eye: the raised outer corners lift the cheekbone and draw the gaze upwards, the movement a round face needs.
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VAVA WL0067 Black Matte
The square sunglass by VAVA, matte black, with an aluminium bar: straight lines and clean angles, handmade in Italy.
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Eyevan Eldridge S Light Blue
Square but light, in transparent light blue acetate: for anyone who wants the angle without the weight of black.
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Paloceras Pebble SX Pistachio Green
The square with rounded volumes by Paloceras in pistachio green, with brown gradient lenses: angles that are present but soft, for anyone with a round face who doesn't want to overdo the geometry.
View the productThe other shapes
If the jaw is sharp, the face is square and the opposite applies: glasses for square face. If it is taller than it is wide: glasses for long face. If it is slightly taller than it is wide, with regular features: glasses for oval face. If the widest part is the forehead: glasses for heart shaped face; if it is the cheekbones: glasses for diamond face. The face shape guide compares them all, and the size guide explains how to read eye size, bridge and temple. To browse the whole selection: square optical, rectangular, cat-eye and square sunglasses.
What glasses suit a round face?
Frames with angles: square, rectangular, cat-eye, geometric. Straight lines and angles give the face the structure it lacks; a frame as wide as the face, or a little wider, makes it look slimmer. Avoid small round frames, which repeat the shape of the face.
Round face: large or small frames?
Large, or at least as wide as the face. A narrow frame leaves the cheeks exposed and accentuates the roundness; a wide one balances it. The right eye size starts at 50 mm and grows with the size of the face.
Can a round face wear round glasses?
Yes, if they are large, thick and with a low bridge, like a Seventies oversize: the contrast of scale works. Small, thin round frames don't work, as they make the face look even fuller.
Which colour to choose?
Dark or bold colours on the upper part of the frame (black, tortoise, midnight blue): a strong top line defines the face. Light and transparent colours work if the shape is square.
How do I know if I have a round face?
Similar width and height, full cheekbones, a soft jaw with no angles, a rounded forehead. If width and height are similar but the jaw is sharp, the face is square: in that case the opposite applies, and soft shapes are needed.
Shape is tried on, not guessed
In our boutique in Crema we let you try the shapes side by side in ten minutes. Online, send us a front-facing photo on WhatsApp and we will tell you which of the models on this page suit you best.