Kathy Tran and I have a little problem. Some of you have it too. We have a small nose bridge, which makes wearing stylish eyewear a bit tricky.
Ever had trouble finding oversized sunglass frames that don’t suction themselves to your cheeks?
“I’ve always had issues with any kind of eyewear in general,” says Tran, whose nose bridge is actually smaller than mine. “The response I always got was, ‘Oh, no, no — they don’t make them for you.’ My only option was frames with nose pads.” (Nose pads for me always result in red indents on on either side of my nose bridge when I take off my shades. Unpretty.)
So while in business school, Tran created a business plan for a line of frames that would fit faces like hers — and mine and yours, too.
And later, she poured all her savings into research and product development, and what’s become a capsule collection of 20 frames in seven different styles to suit a variety of face shapes as well as bone structures.
Here’s how KayTran frames differ from the standard (click to enlarge):
Brands such as sportswear type Oakley call this sort of thing “Asian fit,” but Tran recognizes that a low nose bridge isn’t just an Asian thing. “KayTrans are really a universal fit that includes people who couldn’t find frames to fit them before,” she says. “It’s like any other kind of clothing. When I was growing up, there weren’t many options when it came to buying jeans. Now there’s curvy fit, stretch, slim fit…. These frames are another fit option — the KayTran fit.”
Handmade in Italy, and featuring top-quality scratch-resistent UVA/UVB-filtered lenses, the line has a vintage flavour. “They’re inspired by friends of mine,” says Tran, whose plans for the future include optical wear — take note if you have a tough time finding specs that fit your face.
KayTran shades range in price from $295 to $320 and are now available via KayTran.com and Toronto specialty stores Goldstein Boutique, Optic Zone and Pink Eye Optical. They’re also available in NYC, at Maximeyes (Chelsea district and Meatpacking district), as well as Artsee Eyewear in West Village.
What do you think of these? And may I be so bold as to ask for your input on what pair I should buy?
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Get them all! Hahaha!
This is such a great idea!! My daughter has a small nose bridge too, and mine isn’t huge either. Most glasses sit on my cheeks if they don’t have the nose pads. GENIUS.
This is genius! Fellow small nose bridge here. I hate how “regular” over-sized sunglasses leave red dents on my cheeks when I take them off. They look like angry red war paint; not pretty. Will definitely look these up and spread the word!
PS. I’m really drawn to the 3rd pair you wore except the bridge part seems a bit too wide. The 1st is a safe choice. :)
I love the glamorous flair those Celine shades have — they’re beautifully made, with that metal accent sandwiched between the layers of acetate (see photo #4). But you’re right, the bridge is a bit wide for me. I’m teetering toward the Cecilia pair (the pair you suggest), although I have a crush on the Olivia pair (rounder) too.
I like the 2nd one you’re wearing next to the white frames that Kay is wearing.
p.s. LOVE the frames! My glasses are always falling off my face. This is so needed!
Agree. The ones next to the white frames. So chic.
Buy ‘em all!
Now that you bought all them sungoggles, say, do you happen to have a pair of sungoggles I can borrow? Maybe that Cecilia pair you’re wearing there?
I need a pair!
I own an Oakley that’s supposedly an Asian Fit as well, but I still get frame marks all over my cheeks when I wear them. They also have nose pads. :(
I quite like the round ones on you, Janine. :)
The Olivia pair! I like them too — they have a slightly eccentric air that I enjoy. Also, those frames are grey. My favourite colour!
BTW, the bridge on my current pair of eye goggles is 15. It’s an absolute nightmare looking for any kinda frames with a bridge that small. They invariably have to have nose pads and shopping for sunglasses is worse – the frames always touch my face ’cause nobody really makes shades for face-nose combinations like mine. I love that these are now available – I’ll be able to wear them ‘n push them back in my hair without nose pads getting stuck tangled in my hair when I go to put ‘em back on my face! So great!
Finally sunglasses for small nosebridges! Please expand out west.
KayTran has free returns, so if you try something via the website, you can send it back if it doesn’t suit :-)
Oh…I can so relate! I wish all eyewear lines would take the nose bridge issue into consideration as Kathy Tran has. My nose bridge is almost non-existent. I just purchased a pair of Tom Ford sunglasses & eyeglasses late last year…love ‘em, but I have the same problem, they sit on my cheeks. I have the option to add nose pads, but rather not due to the imprint problem.
Agree that the Celine nose bridge is a bit wide for my face. I’m torn between the Cecilia (in the photo with Kathy in cream frames) and the Olivia (rounder, in the photo underneath)! Can’t make up my mind!
Brilliant! I thought I was the only problem with sunglass suction. It had me worried when I kept fogging up my glasses.
I prefer the Olivia on you – just my two cents.
Oy, the fogging up. Awful in the summer time, when the frames suction to the cheeks.
I like the Olivia frames too — different from what I already have. But am leaning toward the Cecilia pair. Oversize!
I need one or two of these!!!!! Brilliant idea and much needed.
Hard to choose, right?? And definitely! There are a few brands that make frames that fit like this, but not enough, not enough at all.
Awesome!!!
These are gorgeous and great idea!!! Asians are known to have small nose bridge. This would really fit for all Asians including me!!!