Great frames start with you
Looking for glasses that complement your features? Or ready to switch up your look? The shape, size and style of your frames can transform how you look and feel. Find your starting point with the Paul Taylor guide.
Find The right frames
When it comes to accessories, your glasses are centre-stage, which makes choosing the right frames for your face shape especially important. Slipping on a stylish pair of frames that perfectly balance your face shape can transform your look. But how do you know what’s right for you? Prolific eyewear designer and founder of Paul Taylor Eyewear, the eponymous Paul Taylor has some tips to help you make the right choice.
But before we dive into the details, let’s cover the basics: your face shape, essential eyewear anatomy and 3 key considerations when choosing eyewear.
WHAT SHAPE IS YOUR FACE?
Everyone has a uniquely shaped face but there are 5 broad categories which most people fall into: square, round, oval, heart and triangle.
No-one is a perfect match for any of these shapes, which is why Paul designs an expansive range of glasses to suit an eclectic blend of face shapes. It’s also why it’s important to try on a variety of frames, either in person or online, to find the one that works best for you.
However, knowing which of the 5 basic face shapes most closely matches your own will help you narrow down your choices. To discover yours, look at yourself in the mirror with your glasses off and hair pulled back from your face.
Now consider how angular or round your forehead, cheeks and jaw are and with this in mind, see which of the 5 descriptions below best matches your face:
Find your face shape
Square
Your cheekbones, jaw and forehead are roughly the same width and you have more angular facial lines.
Round
Your jaw and forehead are roughly the same width, with your cheekbones being slightly wider, and your facial lines are softer.
Oval
Your face is slightly wider at your cheekbones and gradually narrows up to your forehead and down to your jaw.
Heart
Your face is widest at the forehead, narrowing down through your cheekbones and jaw.
Triangle
Your face is widest at your jaw and narrows upward through to your forehead.
3 Important Measurements
There are 3 main dimensions you need to note when shopping for frames.
These 3 measurements have the biggest impact on the appearance of your glasses, beyond colour and material selections.
However, temple length (the length of the arms that run along the side of your head and hook over your ears) is still important. The correct temple length helps ensure that your glasses sit properly on your face and don’t slip forward.
Frame height
This is a measure of the tallest part of your frame which holds your lenses
Frame width
This is a measure of the widest part of your frame and includes the end pieces i.e. the pieces of metal or acetate that connect the part of your frame holding the lenses to the ‘arms’ of your frames, also known as the temples.
Bridge width
This is a measure of the part of your frame that runs across the bridge of your nose.
3 top tips
#1 Match your bridge width
Make sure your bridge width aligns with your nose — too wide and your glasses won’t sit snugly, too narrow and your glasses will pinch your nose uncomfortably.
#2 Taller frames for longer faces
Fashions in frame height have varied through the years, with bigger frames being popular in the 1970s and then again in the 2020s. So there is definitely an element of personal style but as a general rule, the longer or bigger your face, the taller your frames can be.
#3 Consider your natural palette
Your natural palette refers to your skin tone, eye and hair colour, with skin tone playing the biggest role. It isn’t just about shade (light, medium and deep) but also the undertone to your skin (warm or cool). Warm undertones do well with warm colours (e.g. orange, red, green, yellow, gold), while cool undertones do well with cool colours (pink, purple, blue, black, grey).
3 main ways to go
When selecting the colour of your frames in relation to your skin tone, there are 3 main ways to go: contrast with a darker coloured frame, contrast with a lighter coloured frame, or complement your undertone with a more saturated hue. Paul’s eyewear designs cover the full spectrum of colours and shades, so you can find the right match for your natural palette.
Now it’s time to dive into the details of what works for your particular face shape.
Matching your frames with your face shape
Square
To contrast the angular lines of a square face shape, Paul suggests round or oval-shaped glasses, making sure to choose frames that are proportional to the length and width of your face. Bold colours can also help soften angular lines by focusing attention on the vibrant colourways.
Round
As frame selections are all about creating balance, Paul suggests strong geometric frames for round faces, such as rectangular frames. If you’re feeling a little more daring, asymmetrical frames are another good choice i.e. frames that are wider at the top than the bottom. This asymmetry can help elongate the appearance of your cheekbones.
Oval
You can take your pick of almost any frame if you have an oval face — cat’s eye, asymmetrical frames and square shapes all work well. However, don’t forget this essential piece of eyewear advice from Paul: avoid small, short frames as these will make your face appear longer. Instead, ensure that your frame height is long enough to complement your face; try slightly larger frames such as Aviators.
Heart
Avoid oversized frames and instead choose more flattering cat’s eye frames, such as Paul’s expansive Audrey collection, or butterfly shapes. Both offer rounded lines with a twist — upswept edges that complement your heart-shaped face. To accentuate your facial lines and curves, rimless or light-coloured frames are also a great way to go for a subtle statement that enhances your look.
Triangle
With triangle faces, Paul suggests going for the mirror-opposite of your facial dimensions. With wide cheekbones and a narrow forehead, you need glasses that are top-heavy and bottom-light. Think half-rim glasses, cat’s eyes and D-frames with prominent brow lines.
Over 30 years of eyewear expertise
Finding the right frames is personal. With more than 30 years of Paul Taylor’s eyewear expertise behind these tips, you’re ready to explore shapes, colours and fits that work for you. Try something new, trust your own style and choose a pair you’ll love wearing.
Virtual Try-on
See Paul Taylor frames on your own face in seconds. Open the virtual mirror on your phone or computer, try different shapes and colours, and narrow down the pair that feels like you.
Find a stockist
See the colours, feel the fit and find your favourite Paul Taylor frames in person. Visit your local stockist to explore different shapes, try something bold and get personal advice on choosing a pair that feels like you.
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