Eyewear Frame Selection

1. Eyewear Frame Selection Unit 1: Face Shape Analysis

2. A Basic Guide to Face Shapes Three Keys: Essential Elements: • Frame shape should contrast with face shape • Frame size should be in scale with face size • Eyewear should balance personal proportion • The seven basic face shapes • Identifying shape, analyzing proportions • Selecting frames that enhance features

3. A Basic Guide to Face Shapes The Ideal Face Shape • The oval face is considered the ideal face shape in the western world • The oval face is epitomized by Leonardo DaVinci’s Mona Lisa

4. A Basic Guide to Face Shapes Two General Categories of Faces • Angular (square/rectangular) • Curvilinear (round/oval) Although faces may be classified as predominately composed of angular features or curvilinear features, it should be noted that all faces are a combination of angular and curvilinear lines.

5. A Basic Guide to Face Shapes Seven Basic Face Shapes • The combination of facial curves and angles is further subdivided into the seven basic face shapes • Round, oval, square, base-down triangle, base-up triangle, oblong and diamond

6. How to Analyze Face Shapes Balance and Harmony: • Well-chosen eyewear can restore balance to the face • The optician must identify misproportions and determine how faces deviate from the oval ideal • The goal of frame selection is to find a frame that contrasts with the shape of the face and emphasizes the complimentary lines of the face

7. How to Analyze Face Shapes Measuring the Width of the Face • The width of the face is divided into five sections about the width of an eye • Identify unequal sections such as narrow set eyes or wide cheeks • The face may be either too wide or too narrow when compared to the oval ideal

8. How to Analyze Face Shapes Measuring the Width of the Face • A narrow fifth between the eyes indicates that the eyes are close together • A wide fifth between the eyes indicates wide-set eyes that are farther apart • Frames are chosen to make the eyes appear further apart or closer together to restore facial balance

9. How to Analyze Face Shapes Measuring the Length of the Face • The face is divided into three horizontal sections: • Hairline to browline • Browline to tip of nose • Tip of nose to chin • Identify unequal sections • The face may be either too long or too short when compared to the oval ideal

10. Frames and Facial Balance Facial Proportion and Balance • Perfectly balanced faces are rare • Frames are used to balance facial inequities • If the middle third of the face is too long, a deeper frame will minimize the imbalance

11. Frames and Facial Balance Facial Proportion and Balance • If the top third of the face is too long with a high forehead, low temples will help restore balance to the face

12. Dots to Determine Face Shape Dot and Define: • Visualize dots placed on each side of a patient’s brow, cheek, and jaw • The dot method will help to identify the shape and size of the face • The dots can also help identify strong and weak points

13. Dots to Determine Face Shape Dot and Define: • Photographs of faces can be used to practice placing dots and identifying face shapes • Use polaroid snapshots of patients to demonstrate the system of analyzing face shapes and balance

14. Faces, Frames, and Guidelines Oval Face: Description • The oval face is considered the ideal shape because of its mostly balanced proportions • Frames should maintain the natural balance of the oval face

15. Faces, Frames, and Guidelines Oval Face: Tips • Select frames that as wide or wider than than the broadest part of the face • Avoid low, swooping temples, which will unbalance the face • Keep frames in proportion to the face

16. Faces, Frames, and Guidelines Diamond Face: Description • Diamond-shaped faces are narrow at the eyeline and the jawline with a small forehead and chin • Cheekbones are frequently high and dramatic.

17. Faces, Frames, and Guidelines Diamond Face: Description • The diamond is the rarest face shape • Frames should widen the forehead and jaw and minimize the temples and cheekbones

18. Faces, Frames, and Guidelines Diamond Face: Tips • Choose frames that are heavy on top but avoid low temples • Frame sides can be straight or rounded. • Rimless frames • Square frames or frames with a straight top and curved bottom

19. Faces, Frames, and Guidelines Round Face: Description • The round face is full with few angles • The width and length are in roughly equal proportions • Frames should make the face appear longer and thinner

20. Faces, Frames, and Guidelines Round Face: Tips • Eyewear that creates angles or horizontal lines will make the face appear more angular • Slightly angular frames will narrow the round face • Avoid excessively rounded or square styles which will exaggerate facial roundness

21. Faces, Frames, and Guidelines Round Face: Tips • High or mid-height temples help create a longer profile • A clear bridge widens the eyes • Colored temples add width • Frames should be wider than they are deep

22. Faces, Frames, and Guidelines Square Face: Description • The square face is characterized by a strong jaw line, a broad forehead, and a wide chin and cheekbones • Frames should make the face look longer

23. Faces, Frames, and Guidelines Square Face: Tips • Gently curved narrow styles will minimize squareness and lengthen the face • The frames should be wider than the widest part of the face • Frames should be more horizontal than vertical

24. Faces, Frames, and Guidelines Square Face: Tips • Select frames with weight on top • Oval shapes with mid-level to high temples • Color or skiving (ornamental engraving) on the frames’ upper temporal corners will lengthen the face

25. Faces, Frames, and Guidelines Base-down Triangle Face: Description • The base-down triangular face has a narrow forehead that widens at the cheek and chin areas • Frames should add width to the forehead while softening and narrowing the appearance of the jaw, chin, and cheeks • The ideal face for glasses

26. Faces, Frames, and Guidelines Base-down Triangle Face: Tips • Frames should accent the eye area and be wide enough to balance the jaw line • Frame tops should be slightly heavy and contain skiving • Frame bottoms should angle inward

27. Faces, Frames, and Guidelines Base-down Triangle Face: Tips • Avoid low temple styles and use mid-level to high temple styles—depending on the length of the face • Use square, straight-top aviators or metal frames with rimless bottoms

28. Faces, Frames, and Guidelines Base-up Triangle Face: Description • The base-up triangular face is characterized by a very wide forehead and high cheekbones which narrows gradually to the chin • Frame should add width below the eyeline to offset the narrow chin • The worst face for glasses

29. Faces, Frames, and Guidelines Base-up Triangle Face: Tips • Try frames that are wider at the bottom • Other choices include aviator, butterfly, or low-triangle styles • Frames with rounded tops and squared bottoms

30. Faces, Frames, and Guidelines Base-up Triangle Face: Tips • Mid-level to low temple placement will add balance • Very light colors, delicate metal, and rimless styles are effective

31. Faces, Frames, and Guidelines Oblong Face: Description • The oblong face is one that is longer than it is wide • Select a frame that is deeper than it is wide to create the illusion that the face is shorter • Frames should “break up” the length of the face to make the face appear shorter and wider

32. Faces, Frames, and Guidelines Oblong Face: Tips • Frames should have top to bottom depth • Shorten the face by using round, deep, or low-triangle shapes • Use frames with strong horizontal lines emphasized by skiving

33. Faces, Frames, and Guidelines Oblong Face: Tips • Decorative or contrasting temples can add width to the face • Mid-level to low temple position can reduce the length of the face

34. Guidelines Face To Shorten a Face: • Use mid- or low-temples; deeper, narrower frames; or a low bridge To Lengthen a Face: • Use mid- or high-temples; a high bridge; shallow, wide frames; or frames with little or no color on the lower rim

35. Guidelines Nose To Shorten the Nose: • Choose a frame with a low or solid, colored bridge • Avoid a keyhole bridge, a high bridge, or a clear bridge

36. Guidelines Nose To Lengthen the Nose: • Choose a keyhole bridge, a high bridge, or a clear bridge • Avoid a frame with a low or solid, colored bridge

37. Guidelines Nose To Narrow and Lengthen a Wide Nose: • Use a clear or metal bridge that sits close to the nose • Use nosepads

38. Guidelines Eyes To Widen Close-set Eyes: • Select frames with an unobtrusive bridge • Use a clear bridge with darker colors placed at the outer edges of the frame • Narrow width frames help to center the eyes

39. Guidelines Eyes To Narrow Wide-set Eyes: • Use a dark colored bridge • Use wide frames to center the eyes in the lenses

40. Guidelines Scale A Small Face: • Use thin metals and subtle colors; lightweight frames; or rimless frames • Don’t overwhelm delicate features with heavy or exaggerated frames

41. Guidelines Scale A Large Face: • A large face can be balanced by using a slightly oversized frame • Heavy features can be balanced by using heavier frames

42. Eyewear Frame Selection Review Unit 1: Face Shape Analysis

43. Review The frame shape should _____ with the face shape. Contrast

44. Review A perfectly balanced face can be divided into five parts vertically and three parts horizontally. (True/False) True

45. Review All face shapes are a combination of curvilinear and angular lines. (True/False) True

46. Review High or mid-height temples on a round face help make the face appear _____. Longer

47. Review Which of the following will help lengthen a short nose? a. low bridge b. colored bridge c. keyhole bridge c. keyhole bridge

48. Review A large face can be balanced by a slightly oversized frame (True/False) True

49. Review Frame size should be in ____ with face size. Scale (proportion, balance, harmony)

50. Review Identify the face shape below: Oval