Best Sunglasses for Long Faces: Deep Lenses and Wide Frames
Best sunglasses for long faces: why deep lenses, wide frames and horizontal details balance an oblong face, plus the shapes and sizes to try.
5 min readBy IGIOO Optical
In this story
The best sunglasses for long faces have deep lenses and a frame that is at least as wide as your face. Oversized round shapes, square frames with tall lenses and classic aviators all shorten the face visually, while small, shallow lenses tend to make it look longer. Look for a lens height of around 40 mm or more and a frame width that reaches the outer edge of your cheekbones.
What makes a face "long"?
A long (or oblong) face is noticeably longer than it is wide. The forehead, cheekbones and jaw are usually similar in width, the chin can be slightly pointed or straight, and the cheeks often look flatter from the front.
A quick check: pull your hair back, look straight into a mirror and compare the distance from hairline to chin with the width across your cheekbones. If the length is clearly greater, and the sides of your face run fairly straight, the tips below are for you. If you are unsure, our face shape guide walks through all the common shapes.
The three rules that matter most
- Go deep, not shallow. Taller lenses cover more of the middle of your face and break up its vertical line. Slim, letterbox-style lenses do the opposite.
- Match or slightly exceed your face width. A frame that ends inside your cheekbones leaves bare face at the sides and stretches the overall look.
- Add a horizontal accent. A strong top bar, a double bridge, contrasting temples or decorative hinges draw the eye sideways, which balances length.
Everything else, from colour to lens tint, is personal taste. Get these three right and almost any style can work.
Sunglass shapes ranked for long faces
| Shape | How it works on a long face | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Oversized round / panto | Deep circular lenses fill the mid-face and soften straight sides | Excellent |
| Square with tall lenses | Adds width and structure; works best when the lens is nearly as tall as it is wide | Excellent |
| Aviator | The teardrop lens is deepest at the outer edge, and the bar across the top adds a horizontal line | Very good |
| Wide cat-eye | Upswept corners lift the eye line outward; choose a version with generous lens depth | Good |
| Narrow rectangle | Shallow lenses leave more visible face above and below, which emphasises length | Use with care |
| Small round | Tiny lenses look lost on a longer face | Usually skip |
Frames worth trying first
These three cover the strongest shapes from the table: a deep round, a square with real lens height and an aviator.
Chicago is a round acetate style with a 43 mm lens height on a 48 mm lens, so the lens is almost as tall as it is wide. That depth is exactly what a long face needs. Kenosha brings a broader 142 mm frame width and 53 mm lenses with a 41 mm height, a good pick if your cheekbones are on the wider side. Tiamo is a full-rim metal aviator with polarized amber lenses, for anyone who prefers a lighter, more open look.
Numbers to check on the product page
Style descriptions only go so far. The measurements printed on each frame tell you more:
- Lens height: aim for roughly 40 mm or more. Under about 35 mm, the lens starts to read as a slim band across a long face.
- Frame width: compare it with a pair you already own. If your current sunglasses look narrow on you, pick something a few millimetres wider.
- Bridge width: a wider bridge lets the frame sit slightly lower on the nose, which visually shortens the area below the lenses.
- Temple length: long faces often have a longer head shape too; check that the arms reach comfortably behind the ears.
Our frame size guide shows where to find each number on the inside of a temple and how to measure an existing pair with a ruler.
Styling details that help
Once the shape is right, small details can push the balance further:
- Darker or patterned acetate, such as tortoise or a bold solid, gives the frame more visual weight across the face than a clear or very thin rim.
- Double bridges add a second horizontal line between the lenses. Niloss, with its gold-tone double bridge, is a good example.
- Gradient lenses that are darker at the top keep attention on the upper half of the frame, which makes the face appear more compact.
- Hairstyles with volume at the sides, or a fringe, pair well with wide frames and support the same effect.
If you also wear prescription glasses, the same principles apply. Our article on glasses for long faces covers optical frames in more detail.
Prescription sunglasses for long faces
Many of our sunglasses, including Tiamo and Niloss from this guide, can be ordered with prescription lenses. Deeper lenses are a practical advantage here as well: there is more lens area to look through when you glance down at a phone or a map. If you need varifocals, a taller lens also leaves more room for the reading zone. Have your prescription and PD ready before you order, and the lens selector will guide you through tints and polarized options.
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Frequently asked questions
Are oversized sunglasses good for long faces?
Yes, as long as the extra size comes from lens depth and width rather than just a thicker rim. Oversized round and square shapes are among the most flattering choices for a long face.
Should people with long faces avoid rectangle sunglasses?
Not completely. A rectangle with a tall lens can work well. It is the very slim, shallow rectangles that tend to make a face look longer.
Do aviators suit long faces?
Usually, yes. The teardrop lens adds depth at the cheek and the straight top bar creates a horizontal line. Pick a size that reaches the edges of your face.
What lens colour works best?
Lens colour does not change face shape, so choose it for comfort and use. Grey keeps colours natural, brown and amber add contrast, and a gradient tint can keep the focus on the top of the frame.
Find your pair
Start with a deep lens, a frame that matches your face width and one strong horizontal detail. Browse women's sunglasses, men's sunglasses or the full polarized sunglasses range, and if you need corrected vision, see our prescription sunglasses. Add your prescription in a few clicks with our lens selector.
