Wayfarer sunglasses: who they suit and how to wear them

Short answer: Wayfarer sunglasses suit almost every face, and they work especially well on round, oval, heart-shaped and long faces. The strong top line and angular corners add definition to soft features, and the solid front adds width to a long face. Square faces can wear them too if the corners are softer and the frame is not oversized. Then let the fit decide: frame width close to your face width, a top line that follows your brows and a bridge that sits firmly without slipping. Our wayfarer model Venturi gives you real millimetres to compare: 51□19-143, frame width 137 mm.

What makes a frame a wayfarer

A wayfarer is easy to spot: a plastic front shaped like a trapezoid, wider at the top than at the bottom, a thicker brow line and outer corners that flare slightly upwards. The lenses taper towards the nose and cheek, so the frame looks structured without being square. The shape appeared in the 1950s and has stayed in fashion ever since. Today you see three versions: the classic wayfarer with a bold rim and a front that tilts forward, the slim wayfarer with a flatter, more tailored profile, and the bold or chunky wayfarer with an extra-thick rim.

See all our wayfarer sunglasses. Every ECO SHADES pair has UV400 lenses in recycled PMMA. Our lenses are not polarised; polarisation cuts glare on water and wet roads, but it does not replace UV protection. Questions about our materials or UV protection? Just contact us.

Who wayfarer sunglasses suit

The wayfarer is one of the most versatile shapes in eyewear. The contact lens and eyewear retailer lens.com calls it particularly good for round and oval faces, because the angular lines add definition. The online optician Vision Direct recommends it for round, oval and heart-shaped faces, and GlassesUSA lists wayfarers among the best picks for long faces, because a wide frame visually shortens the face.

• Round face: The classic match. Straight lines and angled corners give soft features more structure. Pick a frame at least as wide as your face.
• Oval face: Almost any wayfarer works. Keep it in proportion – the frame should not reach past the sides of your face.
• Heart-shaped face: A wayfarer that is about as wide as your forehead balances a narrow chin. Choose a medium size rather than a heavy, oversized one.
• Long or oblong face: A wayfarer with a solid front and a deeper lens breaks up the length of the face.
• Square face: It can work, but avoid hard, oversized corners. A slimmer wayfarer with softer edges keeps the look balanced – or compare our guide to rectangular sunglasses.
• Small or narrow face: A slim, compact wayfarer looks better than a chunky one. Check the frame width before you choose.

Not sure which face shape you have? Our guide to which sunglasses suit my face walks you through it. These are guidelines, not rules – the wayfarer you love wearing is the right one.

How to wear wayfarers: style and colour

Wayfarers are unisex and go with almost everything: a white T-shirt and denim, a shirt and blazer, a knit and a long coat. Colour changes the mood more than the shape does:

• Black: The most graphic and classic look. It frames the face sharply and works for every age and style.
• Havana (tortoiseshell): Warmer and softer than black, and easy with brown, beige and navy.
• Transparent or champagne: Lighter and fresher – a good choice if a black wayfarer feels too heavy on your face.
• Coloured lenses: Blue or orange lenses in a black frame give the classic shape a playful twist.

If you like the pilot shape as well, our guide to aviator sunglasses shows who suits the teardrop instead.

How a wayfarer should fit

Because most wayfarers are solid plastic with a fixed bridge, fit matters more than with a metal frame:

1. Frame width first. The outer edges should sit roughly at the widest part of your face, not far beyond it.
2. Read the temple stamp. Lens width □ bridge – temple length, for example 51□19-143 on Venturi. Our guide on how to measure sunglasses shows how to compare it with a pair you already own.
3. Brow line. The top rim should follow your eyebrows. With sunglasses, brows should be either fully covered or fully visible, not cut in half.
4. Bridge check. There are no nose pads, so the bridge should rest evenly on your nose without gaps. If the frame slides down, the bridge is too wide for you.
5. Smile test. The lower rim must not rest on your cheeks when you smile – otherwise the frame lifts and smudges.
6. Check the product page. UV400, CE, UKCA and FDA approval and the lens category are listed per product.

ECO SHADES wayfarer sunglasses: Venturi

Venturi is our wayfarer: the classic silhouette distilled into a slim, tailored profile in recycled plastics. The front is rPCTG, the temples are rCP and the lenses are rPMMA, all part of our recycled collection. It has 5-barrel optical hinges, friction-lock screws and tapered temples, so the frame feels light but solid and keeps its shape for years. Size 51□19-143, frame width 137 mm, Medium fit, Base 2 (a flatter front), UV400 lenses in Category 3 on every colour.

Venturi is a slim wayfarer, not a chunky one: compact enough for medium faces and the slimmer side of wider faces, with straight lines that give round and oval faces definition.

• Venturi Havana: a tortoiseshell frame with green lenses – warm and classic, and the pair featured here.
• Venturi Black: a black frame with dark lenses – the sharpest version, easy to wear with everything.
• Venturi Champagne: a transparent champagne frame with green lenses – light and soft on the face.
• Venturi Blue: a black frame with blue lenses – the classic shape with a fresh colour.
• Venturi Orange: a black frame with orange lenses – bright and playful.

At 137 mm, Venturi suits medium faces. If your face is clearly wider or narrower, measure your current pair first and compare the frame width before you choose.

Quick FAQ

Who looks good in wayfarer sunglasses?

Almost everyone, but especially round, oval, heart-shaped and long faces. Square faces should choose a slimmer wayfarer with softer corners.

Are wayfarer sunglasses for men or women?

Both. The wayfarer is a unisex shape. What matters is face shape and size, not gender.

Are wayfarers square or rectangular?

Neither exactly. A wayfarer is a trapezoid: wider at the top than at the bottom, with slightly flared upper corners. That is why it looks more dynamic than a plain rectangle.

Are ECO SHADES wayfarer sunglasses polarised?

No. ECO SHADES lenses are not polarised. Venturi has UV400 lenses in Category 3.

Every ECO SHADES pair comes with UV400 lenses and a 2-year warranty, and our sunglasses are CE, UKCA and FDA approved. We have 30 years of optical experience and 20,000+ happy customers behind our designs. A wayfarer works when the width matches your face and the bridge sits firmly – measure first, then pick your colour.