Sunny Style: How to choose sunglasses for wide faces

Is it just me, or one of the best things about summer, is digging up your old sunglasses that have been collecting winter dust? Well, I like doing that. The only thing I find is that there seems to be an explosion of style this year. I need and want all the looks! Everything goes!

But, when you have a wider face (a.k.a moon face as my 1rst grade teacher would call me #true story), you need to be cognizant of that fact that not all styles are created equal. I worked with Ottawa’s newest Bailey Nelson store in Westboro who let me pull a few glasses to showcase for this post. I did not get to keep them (just one!), although my heart is pounding for the black cat eyes!! Must go back for more!

If you read my first post about Bailey Nelson glasses, you’ll see that they are assembled in Canada, made in small batches, they are all polarized and offer high UV protection (a.k.a healthy for your eyeballs). Oh ya,  all of this,  for a whopping $145! That’s incredible for high quality glasses. Get this, they also make prescription eye wear!

I am usually a sucker for tortoise shell, the brown compliments my skin tone and hair. Except, now I have a new favourite shade in tortoise shell, is BN’s signature Cherry Blossom. It has a kiss of pink and it’s bright and fresh. I’m so in love! You’ll see that I selected a lot of styles in that colour.

Ok, now that we know how much I adore this brand, we can move onto choosing a style that suits you.

Also, a HUGE thank you to my friend Catalina of MDRN Creative Group who took these amazing photos and made the hilarious gifs! Make sure you visit their Instagram (@mdrncreativegroup) account too!

Metal frames

Metal frames and aviator type glasses work well because they offer more flexibility.  Be warned that based on the angle of the downward slope on the lenses, some aviator styles may not suit all faces. These Airlie’s had a lovely shape, not too downwards sloping, which did not give me the “sad eyes” look (you know what I mean?). Both styles offer an oversized fit and work perfectly for wide faces.

Airlie http://baileynelson.ca/collections/womens-sun/products/airlie-with-red-lenses
Archemedis / Cherry Blossom http://baileynelson.ca/collections/womens-sun/products/archemedis-cherry-blossom

Cat eye glasses

I think cat eye glasses were made for really wide and large faces. Even though this style has come and gone, a few times around the fashion cycle, one thing remains the same: they will always look fabulous on a wide face! The sides of the glasses move up and create an illusion of a pulled back, more youthful look.

Audrey Lunette / Crystal Bubblegum http://baileynelson.ca/collections/womens-sun/products/audrey-lunette-pink
Angelique / Black http://baileynelson.ca/collections/hello-summer/products/angelique-black

Key hole

Anything that creates more space between the eyes and bridge of the nose will be wider in nature. The keyhole look is not for everyone, and may not suit all noses! If your nose is very narrow, I would not recommend this look.

Darwin / Cherry Blossom http://baileynelson.ca/collections/womens-sun/products/darwin-cherry-blossom
Darwin/ Black http://baileynelson.ca/collections/womens-sun/products/darwin-black

Round
Typically, I wouldn’t recommend round glasses for a wide face, but these were too hard to pass up! If the lenses are big enough and the frame is wide enough, go for it! In this case, the bridge is wide enough in the Elodie model. Plus, reflective glasses are so hot right now, how could I pass up on this?

Elodie / Crystal with Blue lenses http://baileynelson.ca/collections/womens-sun/products/elodie

Square

It’s hip to be square, when it comes to jumbo glasses! They are oversized and proportionate to any round or wide face shape. I also like how the Mim style offers a slight lift on the top outside corner. The is a similar illusion offered by the cat eye glasses.

Mim / Cherry Blossom http://baileynelson.ca/collections/womens-sun/products/mim-sunglasses
Mim / Yellow Tort http://baileynelson.ca/collections/womens-sun/products/mim-yellow-tort

Do make sure you pop in the Bailey Nelson store, next time you’re in Westboro. The staff are lovely and will let you try on all the styles! They have a whole bunch more, so if that’s not an excuse… I don’t know what is!

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Bailey Nelson: Ottawa welcomes new eyewear and sunglasses store in Westboro

I was walking in Westboro on Victoria Day, and noticed a new shop, and it was the only one open on the strip. Of course, being the curious person that I am, I walked in and started chatting with one of the employees. It’s an Australian brand that has recently launched in Canada called Bailey Nelson and is a prescription eye wear and sunglasses shop made in Canada. Every pair is slowly crafted and assembled in Canada, using the best quality products sourced from countries like Australia and Japan.Bailey Nelson Westboro store Ottawa Fashion Blog Mode Xlusive Chantsy

It turns out this is the company’s sixth store, and they opened it right in the heart of Ottawa’s boutique shopping district! I love it! The store itself is simplistic, with clean lines and natural accents. The company has an eco-friendly eye and a soft spot for maximizing sustainable materials.Bailey Nelson Westboro store Ottawa Fashion Blog Mode Xlusive Chantsy Blogger

The premise of this business is that all frames are $145 (taxes in!), whether it’s prescription or sunglasses. The sunnies are made with high quality lenses and they are all polarized, which means they are actually good for your eyes (bonus! fashionable and functional).Bailey Nelson Westboro store Ottawa Fashion Blog Mode Xlusive

There are loads of gorgeous styles to choose: from feminine flirty to geek chic, with most options being unisex. I am told that the glasses are made in small batches, so the really popular styles will naturally become collector’s edition. At that price, you can afford to start your own collection and BUY THEM ALL!! hahaha

If you’re in the area, I highly suggest popping in to say hello! The staff are super friendly and the shopping experience will not disappoint!Bailey Nelson Westboro store Ottawa Fashion Blog Mode Xlusive Chantsy Style Blogger

Get out of your comfort zone, and start exploring the new shops that are popping up in Ottawa!

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