The Rule: Curves Against Angles
A square face has a strong, angular jaw about as wide as the forehead and cheekbones. Curved frames contrast with those angles and soften them. It's the mirror image of the round-face rule, where angular frames add structure.
Square faces are far more common in men: in Ollie's face scan of 4,032 celebrities, 16.7% of men but only 3.1% of women were square.
Best Frame Shapes for Square Faces
Round: the strongest contrast to a square jaw. Oval: softer and more conservative than round. Aviator: the curved teardrop bottom softens the jaw. Cat-eye: lifts the eye up and away from the jaw. Thin metal or rimless: light frames add little extra line to a strong face. Rounded wayfarer or panto shapes: a middle ground if full round feels too much.
Read more: Square Face Shape Hairstyles That Soften a Strong Jaw
Frames to Avoid
Boxy, square frames with sharp corners echo the jaw and make the face look wider. Very narrow frames shrink the eye area against a broad jaw. Heavy bottom rims draw attention down to the jaw.
Size and Colour
Choose frames slightly wider than the face at the temples, with a top line that sits along the brows. A strong or darker top rim draws attention upward. Softer colours, tortoiseshell or thin metal soften the overall look more than thick black acetate.
Square or between square and round? The free face scan in Ollie Stylist measures your shape and recommends frames. See also square face hairstyles.