The Best Men's Sunglasses for Your Face Shape

Trying to find the perfect men's sunglasses - a pair that not only protects you from the sun but also shows off your style? A good way to start is by identifying your face shape first.

Maybe you've looked in the mirror trying to work out which shape you see. Is it oval or rectangular? Faces are often a combination that can shift a little as you age, gain or lose weight, change your hair or grow a beard. But there is a basic shape, and matching it with the right pair of sunglasses can make the difference. In the end, finding the best men's sunglasses for you is about where your style and personality meet the most flattering sunglasses for your face shape.

Square face shape

A square face is about as wide as it is long, with a square jaw - a very good look for a man. A square face can easily carry darker sunglasses with a more distinctive shape. Given your angles, you can also pull off rounder lenses, thinner frames and more colour. Green lenses on orange frames, for example, or light grey-blue lenses on a tortoiseshell frame look great on square faces. You can even wear the more curved aviator shape and round lenses in retro panto frames. What you don't want is to make it more angular by wearing overly square shapes. Frames with a little curve or tilt, slightly more horizontal than vertical, are the best solutions; oversized frames can spoil the look.

Round face shape

This shape has a lot in common with the square face. The dominant features are a width equal to the height. But weight gain or age can soften or round the square jawline. As with the square, if your face is round it's best to avoid anything too big. Look for shapes that balance those curves with straight lines. Slim, dark rectangular shapes with a little curve at each end usually flatter a round face. And while it's best to avoid perfect circles, the soft curve of aviators can look wonderful.

Heart-shaped face

Sometimes called a "triangle" - meaning an inverted triangle - a heart-shaped face has a wide forehead that narrows to a pointed chin. Classic dark Ray-Ban Wayfarers work well, as do aviators in gold tones and narrower rimless Maui Jim sunglasses. The sporty, clean, horizontal lines of elongated oval lenses also look very good on a long heart-shaped face.

Oval face shape

If you're lucky enough to have this classic shape, you can wear almost any men's sunglasses. If your face is slightly longer than it is wide, with a gently rounded chin, you have an oval face. You don't need to worry that big glasses will make your face look small, or that small, very round or angular glasses won't suit. The oval face is the one all those funky shades and shapes were made for. Try small round sunglasses in bold colours, classic aviators, wraparound styles and vintage rounds until you find a style - or several - that best suit your personality. Just keep in mind that you can lose those perfect proportions if you go too far outside your lines with shades that extend well past the width of your face.

Oblong face shape

An oblong face is at least twice as long as it is wide. The best sunglasses for this shape are those that divide and balance that long, narrow face. As with the classic oval, oblong faces can wear big sunglasses. But there are some styles to avoid: don't pick anything that makes your face look longer, such as very narrow or small round lenses and aviator styles that draw the eye downward. Instead, good choices for an oblong face are classic rectangular shapes and designs like the Wayfarer. Because overly wide frames make the face look even narrower, look for sunglasses that don't extend more than a few millimetres past your hairline.

Other factors? Your features and your personality

Working out your face shape is a great place to start when looking for the ideal sunglasses, but your face is more than its shape. There are your features to consider too. Sunglasses will cover your eyes, so try to find a style that flatters your nose as well as your face shape. If you have a round nose, for example, rectangular shapes may balance it better. Most important is to find a pair that suits both your face and your personality. With so many styles and colours to choose from, don't be afraid to step a little outside your usual comfort zone. You never know until you try them.