Glasses Shapes You Need To Avoid If You Have A Round Face (& What To Wear Instead)

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Got a round face? Then you probably know how much there is to think about when eyeing your next pair of glasses. Though rounder face shapes are gorgeous, giving the appearance of youthfulness with soft features, the wrong pair of spectacles can emphasize a lack of natural definition, making your face look even rounder. "If you aren't wearing the proper glasses for your face shape, it can make your face look disproportionate and distort things, as well as make your face appear larger or smaller than it is," Katie Schuppler, founder of KS Style Consulting, exclusively tells Women. 

Of course, the most important thing to consider with new frames is that you like them and they fit your style. But if you need help determining the most flattering shapes and styles for your face shape, we've got you covered. First and foremost? Round-faced beauties should steer clear of round glasses. "You want to go with something more angular to elongate the shape of your face," Schuppler says. Rectangular or square glasses will be more complementary, as they'll work against the roundness in the face. Personal stylist Cynthia Kennedy previously spoke to Women about the glasses shapes that won't do any favors for older faces, and had something to say about round frames. "They tend to exaggerate roundness in the cheeks or jaw and can drag the face downward," she explained.

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Another big no-no for those with round faces? Small-framed glasses. "A smaller frame will get lost in the shape of your face, not creating proportion," Schuppler explains. Instead, chunkier frames — like the pink pair Selena Gomez wore to a SAG-AFTRA event in 2024 — will help create a more defined look. Generally speaking, the larger and rounder your face is, the larger your glasses should be to help balance your features.

There are very similar rules to determine the perfect sunglass silhouette for your face shape. Just like with regular glasses, Katie Schuppler tells Women exclusively that if you have a round face, avoid sunnies with small, delicate frames. Fortunately, you'll find you have more choice with sunglasses than standard glasses, as thicker frames are more popular and readily available, so you can go even bolder with more exaggerated shapes. SOJOS Vintage Oversized Square Sunglasses or FEISEDY Oversized Square Sunglasses have thick and stylish frames that will do the trick. Even better, if you're wearing them in 2025, the chunky, formerly outdated sunglass trend is officially back, so you'll be right on trend, too. "Bold, chunky frames are stealing the spotlight, turning sunglasses into the ultimate statement piece — rain or shine!" Stitch Fix stylist Emiko Strah recently told Women.

Schuppler also recommends, "For round sunglasses, you don't want to choose a frame shape that matches the same shape of your face." Try Fozono's Retro Small Rectangle Sunglasses or FEISEDY Oversized Square Butterfly Sunglasses, instead. Both are angular and won't over-emphasize the roundness of your face. Similarly, a squared-cat-eye pair can help bring more structure to the face, as long as you avoid anything too rounded.