What Is the Best Face Shape for Aviator Sunglasses

Aviators came on the scene in the 1930s and 40s when they were created by American Optical for the US military. Their unique tear-drop shape ensured that the entire eye was protected from the sun and glare, making it safer to fly planes.

A different company, Bausch & Lomb, made aviators and sold them to the public in 1937. Since then, they’ve been a staple in the American wardrobe. With a standard double nose bridge, wire frames, and comfortable nose pads, aviator sunglasses are hard to beat!

If you’ve never had a pair of aviators before, you may be worried that you just can’t pull them off. Well, today we’re going to get to the bottom of what face shape aviators look best on, so you can know once and for all if you should add a pair to your wardrobe.

Know Your Face Shape Before You Shop

Before you know if your face shape will look good in aviators, you need to figure out what it is. There are three ways to determine your face shape: compare your face shape to celebrities, use a tape measure, or download an app on your phone.

Compare It to Celebrities'

The easiest way to determine your face shape is to look at popular celebrities and figure out which face best matches your own. To get an idea, here are some popular men and women in the media and their face shapes.

Round faces:

Kirsten Dunst, Cameron Diaz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Bryan Tyree Henry

Square faces:

Jennifer Aniston, Zendaya, Henry Cavill, Kumail Nanjiani

Heart-shaped faces:

Katie Holmes, Selena Gomez, Robert Pattinson

Oval faces:

Natalie Portman, Bella Hadid, Ryan Gosling, Will Smith

Use a Tape Measure

The more exact way to determine your face shape is to use a tape measure. Grab a soft tape measure, like one you’d find in a sewing kit, and measure these four lengths: 

• The front of your face, which is the top of your forehead to the end of your chin.
• Your forehead, which includes the middle of your forehead from one side of your hairline to the other.
• Your cheekbone, which is across the front of your face from the top of one cheekbone to the other.
• The jawline, which you only need to measure one side to know the correct measurement. Feel for the bone just below your ear, then measure the length of that on one side. Then, multiply the measurement by two.

With all of these measurements, you should keep the measuring tape flat and ignore the natural curves of your face (except when measuring your jawline, then you can account for the curves).

Once you know your measurements, use them to complete the process of elimination to find your face shape. If your face shape is round or square, then the width and length of your measurements will be almost equal. If you have an oval or heart-shaped face, then those measurements will be different.

Then, look at your features to narrow them down further. If you have a pointy chin with a round forehead, then have a heart-shaped face. If you have square cheeks, a square jaw, and a square forehead, then you have a square-shaped face, not a round one.  

Download an App

The last way to figure out your face shape is to use an app. Hiface is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. It helps you find your face shape and even recommends hair and glasses styles that would look best on you.

If you want to use an app that you might already have downloaded, there’s also a popular face shape filter on TikTok that can tell you yours.

Best Face Shape for Aviator Sunglasses

The best face shape for aviator sunglasses is heart-shaped, followed closely by oval.

Heart-Shaped Face

Heart-shaped faces are the best face shape for any style of sunglasses. In aviators, the teardrop lenses line up nicely with the high cheekbones. The sharp lines and the top contrasted with the curves in the bottom mimic a heart-shaped face nicely.

However, since heart-shaped faces look good in almost any style of sunglasses, you can also go for more modern aviators that feature a single nose bridge or square lenses.

Oval Face Shapes

Oval face shapes look great in aviators because they balance the shape of your face. Because oval faces are longer than they are wide, a pair of wide sunglasses like aviators adds a nice balance.

Which Aviator Sunglasses Suit Your Lifestyle

Aviator sunglasses have been on the market for almost 100 years, so there are tons of great styles and versions. Here are the most popular types of men’s aviator sunglasses so you can discover which ones best suit your lifestyle.

Classic Aviator Sunglasses for Square Face Shapes

For a classy pair of sunglasses that you could wear to work, you can’t go wrong with a pair of Ray Bans Aviator Classics. After all, the Ray-Ban Aviator was the first one introduced to the public in 1937, so you can trust them to make a solid pair. 

These feature a polished rounded metal frame that’s perfect for all face shapes, even square. You can also purchase the polarized version for an additional $50. 

Sporty Aviator for Round Face Shapes

If you play hard on the weekend, then you’ll want a pair of sporty aviators, like Rōka’s Torino sunglasses. These are an active twist on the classic, with a wide double nose bridge and ultralight, sweat-resistant frame that keeps the sunglasses in place, even when you’re out in the heat.

These glasses feature Rōka’s GEKO™ fit and retention system with a proprietary elastomer applied to the nose and temple pads. This keeps a comfortable tight fit so that you can jump, run, or slide without your sunglasses flying off or catching your hair.

Square Non-Metal Frame 

If you want a pair of lightweight sunglasses that you can wear all day but adjustable nose pads drive you nuts, then you should shop for a pair of acetate frames like Emerson. This modern style features square lenses and a single nose bridge (with no nose pads) that would bring out the best in anyone with an oval face shape. 

Plus, Emerson has polarized lenses and 100% UVA/UVB protection, yet costs a third of what the first two options do at under $40.

Retro Style Shade for Round Face Shapes

Travel back to the 60s with retro shades like WMP Eyewear’s Harvey. These quality square aviators offer extra protection in the periphery with wider frames, making them great for any outdoor activities or long drives. These come in two colors, in classic matte black or retro red-tipped arms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Aviators Look Good On All Faces?

Aviators look good on all faces but they look the best on oval or heart-shaped faces. If you don’t have either of those face shapes, then you have to choose variations of aviators to match your face.

For example, if you have a round face, then you should look for aviators with square lenses to give your face more structure. But if you have a sharp, square face, then you should look for aviators with rounded lenses to soften your features.

What Face Shape Should Not Wear Aviators?

There’s no face shape that shouldn’t wear aviators. Every face shape could wear aviators, but people with square faces may find that they prefer rounder lenses with softer lines, like a pair of round sunglasses with wire frames.

What Are Things to Consider When Choosing the Shape of Aviator Sunglasses?

When choosing the shape of your aviator sunglasses, make sure that they are not too wide. You shouldn’t be able to fit more than a finger’s width between the edge of the frame and your temples. Also, consider a lens shape that complements your face shape. If you have an oval face, then a tear drop or rectangular lens would balance it out nicely.