Best Sunglasses for Smaller Faces
For many, the hunt for the perfect sunglasses can be a sigh-inducing process fraught with near-misses and a longing sense of “if only.” Before you get desperate enough to peruse the kid’s section for your next pair of sunnies, it might help to get some of our–if we do say so ourselves–expert tips on how to find the best sunglasses for smaller faces.
How To Tell if You Have a Smaller Face
Before we dig into the ins and outs of finding well-proportioned sunnies, let’s define what qualifies as a small face. And, to be honest, this can be a little tricky, as opinions vary—some say it’s about overall head size, while others insist it’s about how your features relate to each other. But in general, faces that measure under 5 inches from temple to temple are considered small. Features like narrow cheekbones, a shorter chin or forehead, and petite eyes, lips, or nose can also contribute to the appearance of a smaller face.
Prioritize Fit
Even though those specs might tick all the boxes as a primo pair of sunglasses for petite faces, don’t overlook how they feel. After all, if you’re putting something on your face for any length of time it ought to feel right. Some fit attributes to keep in mind are:
Bridge Fit How’s the fit on the bridge of your nose? Higher nose bridges tend to benefit from choosing sunglasses with adjustable nose pads.
Arm Length Are the arms too long? A good way to tell is if they slide right off your nose when you look down. To solve this, most frames can be adjusted to curl behind your ears for a more secure fit.
Check the Specs If you’re ever unsure about the proportionality of a pair of frames, take a peek inside the arm. There’s a series of numbers and they’re not some obscure item number, they’re actually measurements for various spots on your specs like the bridge width, temple width, lens size, etc.
Barely-There Frames
When it comes to sunglasses for smaller faces, minimalism is your best friend. Thin, metal frames like TTYL help keep things proportional, ensuring that the frames enhance your features rather than overpowering them.
Round Frames
There’s no ands, ifs, or buts about it: softer lines just work on small faces. Round and oval sunglasses, particularly smaller versions like FELT CUTE, are a classic option that’s guaranteed to look good. Those with smaller features and faces can relish in their subtle, vintage vibes that expertly transcend trends—as proven by a-listers and the fashion elite time and again.
Classic Cat-eyes
Sure, it’s a style of sunnies that’s been around since Ricky loved Lucy, but cat-eyes aren’t going anywhere. This dramatic style is even one of our picks for frames that suit minimalist outfitting. The upswept lines on cat eyes give balance to more narrow cheekbones and create an illusion of width. However, look for subtle interpretations and avoid overly wide styles that will look too large overall. These dramatic and enduringly cool styles like our TEMPTED cat-eyes are even one of our picks for timeless sunglasses for a minimalist wardrobe.
Sunglasses to Avoid
A little obvious? Maybe. But we’d be remiss if we didn’t warn against the styles of sunglasses that won’t do your petite features any favors.
Any sunglass styles with “oversized” in their name are a definite don’t.
Since softer lines tend to complement smaller proportions, avoid bulky and angular styles like thick square and rectangular frames.
Unfortunately, although aviators are generally considered universally flattering, if they’re not specifically smaller proportioned, the way these have a wider shape at the brow and descend down the cheek isn’t ideal for most small faces.
For more spectacular options, see our selection of fresh, new sunglasses and find your favorite among our most up-to-the-minute styles.
