Throughout the year, we have seen numerous collections, and the amazing potential for eyewear is boundless. This month we review ten designs with imaginative concepts and creativity. Our Designer of the Month is an inspirational young Australian firm brimming with new ideas. During November, we’ll be presenting a variety of Boutiques, each with a unique concept or history. Winter holidays are rapidly approaching, and we’ll be suggesting gift ideas with great appeal. Click on City Guides for what’s happening in various cities in art, books, auctions, music, restaurants and hotels! Follow Eyestylist for continuing inspiration, discoveries, and opportunities……JG
Eyewear Inspiration
Baby R01
Zoobug
29th November 2011 If there is a little girl on your holiday gift list, here is an ideal present for a future fashionista – colourful sunglasses from Zoobug. Created by eye surgeon Dr. Julie Le, she is very aware about eye care for youngsters, and she has an instinctive feel for what appeals to the young set. The Mini frames (above) feature UV 400 polycarbonate shatterproof lenses, and rubber tips ensure that the frames stay put on little faces. Children will love the variety of cheerful colours! Available in London at Harrods and Marie Chantal, and at www.littlefashiongallery.com / www.zoobug.com JG
Introducing Res / Rei Eyewear
Adriano
28th November 2011 A friend in Italy has suggested to me to have a look at this brand….Res / Rei Eyewear, Handmade in Italy with Love. From what we hear, their first collection in acetate is rather lovely. Named after Roman emperors, the spectacles are inspired by these characters and their different personalities – pictured above, Adriano, in the elegant colour ‘Gladiator Red’.
The design of each frame has been realised to balance the weight of the frame on the face so it rests less on the nose and more on the ears, creating a design that can be worn throughout the day, without causing any discomfort, and ensuring a constant feeling of wellbeing. The brand is currently available at Gaillard Opticiens, Chartres, France, and Capello Centro Vista in Castelfranco Veneto, Italy, among other stores around Europe. We hope to have more on this soon. For more information visit www.resrei.com CN
Cult Eyewear – An Author’s Passion
Eyestylist meets Neil Handley
25th November 2011 If you are an eyewear devotee and curious about social history, The British Optical Association Museum in London is the place to visit. A personal tour by Curator Neil Handley adds richness and revelations to the experience. Handley is the author of the highly acclaimed book Cult Eyewear, an intriguing perspective on the iconic brands who redefined eyewear (image above, l.a. eyeworks “The Beat” 1980.) Fate has had a strong hand in Handley’s career – as an art historian with an Oxford degree, he took a temporary position with The College of Optometrists. “It was to be for twelve months,” recalls Handley, “and now it is thirteen years! I wasn’t in the eyewear field, so this has been amazing. The Museum was founded in 1901 – so it is 110 years old. I feel that I am the temporary custodian of the collection, and it’s my job to keep it going, and lay the seeds for the future. The Museum is a cultural home for eyewear to which people can gravitate. We have fashion, art and design students who visit, and we encourage them to get involved. In 1997, we moved to this great building on Craven Street, an historic area in the heart of Charing Cross. Benjamin Franklin lived just a few doors away.
“Working on the book required a lot of research with many discoveries. The first spectacles were not worn on the face, they were held in the hand, and designed to wear with a wig, the fashion of the time. Your character is brought out with what is on your nose. We found one box marked ‘junk’, and inside were the most incredible items – original, vintage frames and much more. Eyewear started as a craft, and the manufacturing techniques remain largely unchanged. The future lies in continuing good craftsmanship and quality.
“Britain is living up to its design standards today, but the manufacturing is being done elsewhere, as I’ve noted in the book. I hope it’s an eye opener! However, things come in waves, and there are high and low points in every story. There is always space for mavericks, but there are also lessons of history. There is no guarantee that certain companies will be around in two or three years; an awareness is needed to get through the hard times.” (Oliver Goldsmith image above: The College of Optometrists/Elliot Franks-Courtesy of Oliver Goldsmith).
Handley clearly enjoyed his research for Cult Eyewear. “You should have seen what was left out! Unfortunately, everything could not be included, but perhaps one day, there will be another book. The collections that we have here are certainly inspiring.”
With Handley’s meticulous eye for details and love of his subject matter, a sequel to Cult Eyewear is already eagerly anticipated. Published by Merrell www.merrellpublishers.com.
Museum visits by appointment only. Telephone +44 (0) 207 839 6000 www.college-optometrists.org/museum JG
Cambridge
Collegiate Chic from Leisure Society
23rd November 2011 California based Leisure Society endorses the enduring appeal of collegiate style with a collection of frames named after prestigious universities. One of my personal favourites is Cambridge (above), Shane Baum’s refined, preppy and superbly crafted frame in 100% titanium. The gold plates are available in 12k, 18k, or 24k, combined with Japanese cotton-base acetate temple tips – pure luxury! In addition, little details are precise with intricate multi-dimensional laser etching applied to the titanium and rim wire, with beautiful enamel insets. Twelve layer anti-reflective lenses, coated with Diamond Cast anti-scratch material, are state-of-the-art. Each frame is individually handmade and numbered in Japan by experienced artisanal craftsmen. www.leisure-society.com JG