Quick Answer
The five most flattering glasses frame styles for men with oblong face shapes are Round/Oval, Oversized Rectangle, Browline, Aviator, and Navigator frames. These styles complement oblong faces, which are characterised by similar width measurements across the forehead, cheekbones, and jawline, but with significantly greater length than width and softly rounded corners.
Celebrities with oblong faces like Shawn Mendes, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Paul Rudd often choose frames that add width and balance their face length. The key to selecting frames for oblong faces is choosing styles that create horizontal emphasis whilst avoiding designs that add further vertical length to your facial proportions.
Key Styling Tips
- Choose frames with strong horizontal emphasis to create the illusion of width
- Select frames with decorative temples or distinctive bridge details to create horizontal focus
- Avoid narrow or small frames that emphasise your face’s length
- Select frame colours based on your seasonal colour palette for optimal harmony
Want to learn more? Continue reading the full article below ↓
Men with oblong face shapes benefit significantly from strategic eyewear selection that introduces width whilst minimising additional vertical length.
Understanding which frames specifically enhance your oblong features can transform your appearance, creating more balanced proportions that highlight your best characteristics.
If you’re unsure whether you have an oblong face shape, confirm your facial structure with our face shape analysis quiz before exploring these 5 expertly curated glasses styles designed to complement oblong faces.
1. Round or Oval Frames
Round or oval frames stand as an excellent primary choice for men with oblong face shapes, creating essential contrast against linear features.
The curved silhouette of round or oval frames introduces softness that counterbalances the greater length of oblong faces whilst adding beneficial width through their horizontal orientation.
Benedict Cumberbatch’s occasional preference for rounded frames demonstrates how these styles effectively add width and soften naturally elongated features.
Why it works: Round or oval frames create organic curves that contrast beautifully with the linear nature of oblong faces. Their horizontal emphasis adds beneficial width whilst their curved shape softens facial length, creating more balanced overall proportions.
Styling tip: Choose medium to large round or oval frames with sufficient width to create horizontal emphasis. Slightly oversized styles create maximum width benefit, whilst frames with distinctive temples draw attention outward rather than vertically.
2. Oversized Rectangle Frames
Oversized rectangle frames with significant width offer exceptional proportion-balancing benefits for oblong face shapes.
Their substantial horizontal dimension creates width that counteracts facial length, whilst their geometric structure adds contemporary sophistication to your appearance.
Paul Rudd’s selection of wider rectangular frames showcases how these styles can transform oblong features with their proportion-enhancing geometry.
Why it works: Oversized rectangle frames create maximum horizontal emphasis that visually widens oblong face shapes. Their substantial size in proportion to the face draws attention outward rather than vertically, effectively balancing facial length with added width.
Styling tip: Select rectangular frames that extend slightly beyond your face’s natural width. Look for styles with decorative temples or distinctive corner details that emphasise horizontal dimension. Avoid narrow rectangles that reinforce rather than balance facial length.
3. Browline Frames
Browline frames offer a sophisticated option for oblong face shapes through their strong horizontal upper emphasis and minimalist lower portion.
Their distinctive structure creates a prominent line across the upper face that adds width whilst their semi-rimless lower section avoids adding unnecessary vertical emphasis.
Eddie Redmayne’s occasional choice of browline styles demonstrates their ability to add beneficial structure to oblong features.
Why it works: Browline frames create a strong horizontal emphasis along the brow that visually widens oblong face shapes. Their architectural top-heavy design draws attention across rather than down the face, effectively counterbalancing natural facial length.
Styling tip: Choose browlines with substantial upper rims that create maximum horizontal emphasis. Styles with distinctive temple details or metal accents at the outer corners further enhance the widening effect. Select frames with a width that aligns with or slightly exceeds your cheekbones.
4. Aviator Frames
Aviator frames with their distinctive teardrop shape offer excellent width-enhancing benefits for oblong face shapes.
Their broad upper portion and slightly tapered bottom create width where needed most—across the upper face—whilst their curved elements soften linear facial features.
Shawn Mendes’ selection of aviator-style frames illustrates how these versatile styles can balance oblong features with their strategic proportions.
Why it works: Aviators create beneficial width through their horizontally-oriented top bars and broad upper lens shape. Their teardrop silhouette adds width at the browline while subtly tapering toward the bottom, creating balanced proportions for oblong face shapes.
Styling tip: Select aviators with substantial width and a prominent top bar. Consider styles with slightly flattened bottom curves rather than dramatic teardrops to avoid adding unnecessary vertical emphasis. Frames with decorative bridge or temple details create additional horizontal focus.
5. Navigator Frames
Navigator frames, with their distinctive squared-off aviator shape, provide excellent structural balance for oblong face shapes.
Their geometric hybrid design combines the width benefits of aviators with straight bottom edges that prevent additional vertical emphasis, creating ideal proportions for oblong features.
Adam Driver’s occasional choice of navigator-style frames demonstrates how these architectural styles can transform oblong features with their balanced geometry.
Why it works: Navigator frames create horizontal emphasis through their squared-off aviator silhouette. Their flattened bottom edges reduce vertical emphasis while their substantial top bar and width create beneficial structure that balances facial length.
Styling tip: Choose navigators with substantial width and prominent structural elements. Frames with distinctive bridge details or temple accents create additional horizontal emphasis. Select styles with flat or slightly curved bottom edges rather than pointed ones to minimise vertical emphasis.
The Role of Seasonal Colour Analysis in Frame Selection
While frame shape provides crucial structural balance for oblong faces, colour selection significantly impacts how your eyewear integrates with your overall appearance.
Your seasonal colour palette—determined by your skin tone, hair colour, and eye colour—should guide your frame colour choices for optimal style integration.
If you don’t know your seasonal colour, take our free quiz.
For Spring Men (Warm and Light)
If you have a Spring palette with warm golden undertones, choose frames in caramel, amber, warm tortoise, golden brown, or clear warm tones. For oblong faces, consider frames with horizontal details in contrasting colours to emphasise width whilst complementing your natural warmth.
For Summer Men (Cool and Light)
Summer palettes with cool, soft undertones pair beautifully with frames in cool grey, blue-grey, mauve, rose brown, or cool tortoise patterns. Consider styles with subtle two-tone effects that create horizontal emphasis while maintaining the soft, muted harmony that complements your natural colouring.
For Autumn Men (Warm and Deep)
Autumn colour profiles with rich, warm undertones harmonise with frames in deep brown, olive green, bronze, copper, or warm tortoise with amber highlights. For oblong faces, consider frames with distinctive temple colours or patterns that draw attention outward rather than vertically.
For Winter Men (Cool and Deep)
Winter palettes with high contrast and cool undertones are enhanced by frames in black, navy, clear crystal, burgundy, or cool tortoise with black elements. Consider frames with contrasting top bars or temple detailing to create horizontal emphasis that balances oblong proportions whilst complementing your crisp colouring.
For a comprehensive understanding of your personal colour palette, consider our Professional Seasonal Colour Analysis, which provides customised recommendations beyond basic seasonal guidelines.
Frames to Avoid for Oblong Face Shapes
While oblong faces can accommodate many styles when properly selected, certain frames may accentuate rather than balance your natural proportions:
- Small Frames: Undersized frames appear disproportionate against oblong faces and fail to provide the width-enhancing benefits needed.
- Narrow Rectangular Frames: Slim rectangular styles can emphasise rather than balance facial length, especially when they have minimal width.
- Frames with Strong Vertical Elements: Styles with pronounced vertical design features further elongate already-long face shapes.
- Very Deep Frames: Excessively tall frames add unwanted vertical dimension to oblong faces, emphasising rather than balancing length.
Conclusion
Men with oblong face shapes benefit tremendously from eyewear that introduces width and balances their natural facial length.
Whether opting for the organic curves of round frames or the substantial structure of navigators, the ideal glasses create horizontal emphasis while minimising additional vertical elements.
Take the First Step With The VOU’s Free Styling Quizzes
Start your style journey with our free resources. First, take our Face Shape Quiz to confirm your face shape and receive initial styling guidance.
Then, discover your most flattering colours with our Seasonal Colour Analysis Quiz.
Learn which garment styles suit you best through our Body Shape Quiz, and find your ideal personal style with our Fashion Style Quiz.
Transform Your Image with The VOU’s Professional Guidance
For comprehensive image development that goes beyond eyewear, The VOU offers expert styling services to ensure your complete look projects success and sophistication.
Our Professional Body Shape Analysis, Fashion Style Analysis, and Complete Image Transformation services work together to create a polished, successful appearance that commands respect in any setting.
Contact our expert stylists today for a personalised consultation that will transform not just your eyewear, but your entire image.
Visit our styling services page to explore how we can help you achieve the sophisticated, successful look you deserve.