Every Type of Sunglasses Shape (So You Can Find Your Best Fit)

Though the ultimate goal of sunglasses is to shield your eyes from the blazing sun, there’s a plethora of shapes and sizes to choose from. There’s the quirky cat eye with its flared frames, the timeless aviator, oversize shades synonymous with celebrity culture, and many more. We’re detailing the key differences between types of sunglasses, sharing a bit about their history, and helping you find the most flattering fit. 

Aviators

Looks Great On: Everyone

All sunglasses are rooted in utility, but the aviator might just take the cake. Bausch & Lomb (founders of Ray-Ban) were commissioned by the U.S. Army to whip up some shades to help their pilots fly better in the sun. 

“The result was a wrap-around lens large enough to completely cover the eyes and a brow bar to block sweat and debris from rolling down,” explains Dalia McPhee, designer and style expert. “When choosing a pair, make sure the frames are not too wide or too narrow and that the teardrop lenses sit comfortably without overpowering your features.” 

Cat-Eye

Looks Great On: Oval, square, and heart-shaped faces

Cat eye sunglasses are pure vintage glamor with their upswept outer edge that mimics the exotic shape of a feline eye.

“This style really made a cultural splash in film with French cinema, in the ‘60s, such as Jean Seberg in Loveless,” says Benjamin Montoya, vice president of product design for SALT. Optics. “For me she is just so timeless and her style is obviously an icon for the era. A couple decades later Michelle Pfeiffer in Scarface is wearing an oversized thin cat-eye, and the style and approach evolved again making it the new go to style that was so impactful at the time.” 

Wayfair

Looks Great On: Everyone

Wayfarer sunglasses are known for their trapezoidal lens shape and thicker frames that are wider at the top and more narrow toward the bottom. McPhee tells us they were first introduced by Ray-Ban in 1956 and considered revolutionary at the time since they were made from plastic versus metal. “Heard of Breakfast at Tiffany’s? Those were Wayfarers that Audrey Hepburn wore in the classic film,” McPhee says. 

Geometric

Looks Great On: Round and oval shaped faces

Made popular in the ‘60s and ‘70s, geometric sunglasses have lenses and frames in shapes that are neither squared nor rounded. Instead, they’re a bit angular with hexagon, octagon, or irregular polygons—a perfect reflection of the experimental vibes of this era. They still have that contrarian air about them, which helps them read futuristic versus retro. You’ll see them a lot on creative types, like Rihanna or Beyonce. 

Round

Looks Great On: Square and oval faces 

Round sunglasses feature circular lenses and frames for a classic and symmetrical appearance. Although they’ve been a mainstay since the 1920s, they’re popularity ballooned in the ‘60s. “They really gained traction after being worn by icons such as John Lennon and Jackie Onassis,” McPhee says. “They also became a symbol of equality since men and women wore the same shape.” 

Oval

Looks Great On: Square, rectangular, and heart-shaped faces

Classic oval shapes are similar to round sunglasses, but have more of an elongated shape that some find more flattering. “This style is synonymous with the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. Brands like Armani eyewear were extremely popular back then, and some of the metals they were well known for had an oval shape that really was new to eyewear at the time,” says Montoya. “We’re now seeing this style come back a bit here and there and trend with the cool girl Gigi Hadid in-line influencers.” 

Browline

Looks Great On: Square, diamond, and oval face shapes

Browline sunglasses have a bold top frame that mirrors the shape of your eyebrows. They’re somehow vintage-y and modern at once. 

“Browline sunglasses are heavily influenced from the 1950s ‘Shuron Ronsir’ that was extremely popular at the time,” says Montoya. “During the ‘50s and ‘60s this style was worn as an eyeglass, and around the 1980s Ray-Ban came out with the Clubmaster, which featured the Browline as a Sunglass version.” If you look at a roundup of ‘80s music videos you’ll see this look everywhere.  

Square

Looks Great On: Round or oval face shapes

Square sunglasses take on a modern vibe thanks to their angular edges and symmetrical, structured silhouette. “Square glasses gained prominence in the post-war era in the ‘50s and ‘60s as a bold fashion choice that was unique and creative,” McPhee says. “Andy Warhol was often spotted wearing this statement accessory, which symbolized breaking the mold.”

Butterfly 

Looks Great On: Heart-shaped, oval, and square faces

True to their name, butterfly sunglasses feature large, wing-like lenses that flare out at the temples and are tapered toward the nose. It rose to popularity in the ‘50s and ‘60s right in line with the era’s bold and glamorous approach to fashion. This style saw a flare in popularity in the ‘00s and is again enjoying some time in the sunlight in the 2020s. 

Oversized

Looks Great On: Everyone 

You might equate oversized sunglasses with people like Anna Wintour or the Kardashians, but these “too cool” shades were popular all the way back in the ‘20s and ‘30s. “[They were] particularly popular with stars of the silver screen since the large size allowed for some anonymity,” McPhee explains. “They gained further traction from the ‘60s on, and have continuously evolved in style and function.