Best sunglasses for an oblong face: frames that add width
If your face is oblong, pick sunglasses that add width and give your face some horizontal emphasis. Look for frames a little broader than your cheekbones. Oversized, square, aviator and cat eye frames all suit an oblong face.
Frames to try
Oversized frames
Bigger frames cover more of your face, so it looks less long. Tall or deep frames suit this face shape too. Try the Hugo Boss BOSS 1783/S.
Hugo Boss BOSS 1783/S 2IK PR 55 Havana Gold / Grey Brown Gradient Lenses
Aviators
Aviators with teardrop lenses suit an oblong face. Try the David Beckham DB 1200/S in havana with light green lenses. You can see more in our aviator range.
David Beckham DB 1200/S 086 O7 55 Havana / Light Green Lenses
Square frames
Frames with sharp angles, like square frames, suit an oblong face. Try the Carrera 3045/S in black with dark grey gradient lenses.
Cat eye frames
The upswept corners of a cat eye frame draw attention to the upper part of your face. Try the Carrera 3046/S in havana with brown gradient lenses.
How to tell if your face is oblong
Grab a mirror and a tape measure. Measure across your cheekbones, along your jawline and down the length of your face, then compare the numbers. Length goes from the top of your forehead to the bottom of your chin, and width goes across your cheekbones.
An oblong face is roughly twice as long as it is wide, and the forehead, cheekbones and jawline are all about the same width. An oval face is different: the width is less even, and there's more contrast between forehead and chin.
Shape first, then protection
Cancer Council Australia recommends close fitting wraparound sunglasses, because they give better UV protection, including from the sides. You can't judge UV protection by how dark the lenses are, what colour they are or what they cost. Check the label for the level of protection, and make sure the pair is labelled sunglasses, not fashion spectacles.
Polarised lenses reduce glare from reflective surfaces like water and pavement. For more on these lenses, read our guide to polarised sunglasses. For more buying tips, read choosing sunglasses in Australia.
If you wear prescription glasses and use them for sun protection, Cancer Council advises they should also be close fitting and wraparound. We don't fit prescription lenses at BrightEyes, so see an optometrist for those. We do sell fitover sunglasses that sit over your glasses, clip on sunglasses and stick on bifocal lenses.
Questions we get asked
What type of glasses look best on an oblong face?
Frames a little broader than your cheekbones make your face look less narrow. Square, cat eye, aviator and oversized styles all suit this face shape.
How is a long oval face different from an oblong face?
Oval faces are also longer than they are wide, but they have a softly curved jawline and taper to a narrower forehead and chin. The frame advice in this guide is for oblong faces, which are about twice as long as they are wide, with the forehead, cheekbones and jaw about the same width. Use the measuring steps above to check which shape you have.
What kind of sunglasses look best on an elongated face?
If your face is oblong, look for frames that add width and horizontal emphasis.
Start with frames that add width to balance your face, then check the label for UV protection. BrightEyes has been Australian owned since 1985, and we stock over 100 authorised sunglass brands in stores across QLD, NSW, NT and WA, and online.
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