Frame Shapes

Picking out glasses frames can emphasize your look and style. Selections are so vast and varied, the experience can be overwhelming. Knowing their names can be very helpful when you actually get to the point of purchase. Here is a look at the most popular frame shapes available:

  • Aviator: Envision the glasses that old-school pilots used to wear, and you have yourself a pair of aviators! They come in all kinds of materials and usually feature large, teardrop-shaped lenses. However, modernized versions of this traditional style have become quite popular.
  • Butterfly: This style features frames that splay out to resemble butterfly wings.
  • Cat-Eye: This highly fashionable style stems from the retro era, typically showcasing an upswept almond-shaped silhouette with high temples that are sometimes accented with fun embellishments.
  • Clubmaster-Inspired: This vintage style was originally created by popular brand Ray-Ban, and features an exaggerated plastic brow bar and temples, with metal-rimmed bottom frames.
  • Flat-Top: This style features a completely flat brow bar.
  • Over-Prescription Sunwear: These sunglasses are designed to be worn over existing prescription glasses, and come in various styles and colors with different lens technologies.
  • Pillowed Rectangle: This style boasts a rectangular frame shape that is slightly puffed or curved along the edges.
  • Reading Glasses: Like their name, readers are glasses that are mainly used to help people read. They feature magnifying lenses, so it is easy for people to see up close. Since readers can be purchased over-the-counter in professional and retail settings, some consumers use them as a temporary solution instead of getting an eye exam – a big no, no! It is important to visit an eyecare professional to receive a true assessment of visual health and sight needs.
  • Rectangle: This style showcases a classic rectangular frame shape.
  • Rimless: This style features lenses that appear to not have frames. In reality, the lenses are held together by an invisible nylon cord, notches or mounting screws to provide a rimless optical illusion.
  • Rounds: Like its name, this style features a perfectly round silhouette and typically exudes a retro vibe.
  • Semi-Rimless: This style features traditional frames on the top half of the lenses, while the bottom half of the lenses appear to have no frames (in reality, they’re held together with invisible nylon or other technologies), or vice versa.
  • Shields: These frames (usually sunglasses) were originally designed to fit over prescription glasses. However, they have become a fashion staple, featuring lenses that are cut into one piece or appear solid across the bridge, covering more space on the face.
  • Squares: Like its name, this style features a square silhouette that can be rounded or angular.
  • Wayfarer: This versatile style was originally created by popular brand Ray-Ban, and features a chunkier square silhouette with thick temples—a design that travels anywhere.
  • Wraparounds: These sunglasses curve around the head, from the front to the side, providing extra protection from sunlight since the lenses hug close to the face and shield the delicate skin around the eyes.