At a glance
- Face shape
- Heart
- Frames that add contrast
- Bottom-heavy frames, aviators, rimless and light-coloured frames
- Frames to skip
- Top-heavy or upswept cat-eye frames
- Why
- Weight at the bottom of the frame adds width where the face narrows; weight at the brow widens the widest line.
- Fit test
- The frame is as wide as your face at the temples, and the lower edge clears your cheeks when you smile
Look at where the frame carries weight
The position of the frame's visual weight matters because a heart-shaped outline tapers downward. Weight at the bottom adds width where your face narrows. Weight at the brow makes the widest line look wider.
When comparing glasses for a heart-shaped face, look beyond the name of the style. Notice whether your eye goes first to the upper or lower edge. Here, bottom-heavy describes visual emphasis, rather than how much the glasses weigh.
Compare the shortlist with top-heavy styles
Start with bottom-heavy frames, aviators, rimless and light-coloured options. These are the frames that add contrast to a heart face. Compare them with the top-heavy or upswept cat-eye styles you're aiming to skip.
A frame forms a horizontal line across the middle of your face. Its top edge, width and depth each affect the outline. Choosing a listed style is a starting point; you still need to judge the actual pair on your face.
Choose proportions before a brand
Your friend's glasses aren't a fit guide for your face. The measurements that matter are frame width against temple width and lens depth against face length.
- Check that the frame is as wide as your face at the temples.
- Compare lens depth against your face length, rather than judging the upper edge alone.
- Smile and check that the lower edge clears your cheeks.
Don't let a bottom-heavy design override cheek clearance. If its lower edge touches your cheeks when you smile, that pair fails the fit test.
Check the face outline alongside your hair
The heart face guide describes a forehead that forms the widest line and a chin that forms the narrowest. The free face-shape finder names the closest prototype from one selfie, on your device. It helps you decide whether this page's advice fits your outline.
Hair changes the outline around your glasses too. Fullness at jaw level and a fringe over the forehead help balance the downward taper. Volume at the crown and temples does the opposite. Use the hairstyles guide to consider your cut alongside your frames.
Questions people ask
- Do aviator glasses suit a heart face?
- Yes, aviators are among the suggested shapes for a heart face. Compare their width and depth on your face, then check cheek clearance with a smile.
- Should a heart face avoid cat-eye glasses?
- Skip top-heavy or upswept cat-eye frames if you want to balance a wider forehead. Their emphasis sits near the part of your face that's already widest.
- Are rimless glasses an option for a heart-shaped face?
- Yes, rimless and light-coloured frames are both on the shortlist. They still need to match your temple width and clear your cheeks when you smile.
Written from the measurements and ingredient facts on this site, then checked for the usual mistakes. Not medical advice.