You are browsing the archive for April 2012.
We continue our Vintage Voyage this month with a selection of amazing original designs from decades ago, boutique happenings, and a stunning new fashion exhibition in Paris. For exciting Vintage news, click and stay with Eyestylist.
You’ll discover retro-inspired frames, Vintage Boutiques, an irresistible Designer of the Month, and in City Guides, books and exhibitions. Eyestylist Vintage is a new launch for Eyestylist.com and for April comprises a month long celebration – Viva Vintage! JG
30th April 2012 A dream was the inspiration for the creation of Old Focals – the iconic Pasadena California boutique that supplies vintage eyewear for movies and TV productions. Owner Russ Campbell shares his story: “I had a dream in which an old man gave me his sunglasses, and I was writing down my dreams at the time. He said to me ‘you can have these old focals’. This gave me a vision, and from there I began to search out vintage eyewear. I find frames in shops, markets, and antique shops. I have bought frames everywhere, from garage sales to eyeglass companies that liquidate. I have also travelled internationally amassing my collection – the first collection came from Detroit.
“Old Focals has provided frames for Harry Potter, JFK, Benjamin Button, Men in Black, Spiderman, and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, to name a few. I also do Mad Men, The Office and Greys Anatomy.” Old Focals also provided the frames for J. Edgar, the recent film about FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Although Old Focals is all about Vintage, Campbell has a solid footing in current market forces. He is manufacturing his own collection, developing brand recognition, and “eagerly attacking internet sales.” You don’t have to be a film star to enjoy wearing vintage eyewear from Old Focals! www.oldfocals.com JG
28th April 2012 The Selima Optique team have sent us some great shots of the launch of their vintage pop-up shop, including this one above of Selima Salaun and Simon Galaviz wearing pieces from the ‘London Collection’ which we reported on earlier in the month! Here are a few more below. We are sad we couldn’t be there! Selima is an avid fan of eyewear of all types….as a designer she understands that many of today’s top eyewear brands are mined from the past, and she continues to build a rich archive of options featuring the best in high-design and high-quality.
She has a devoted following of vintage clients who continue collecting the rarest of pieces, but she also likes to give those who are not in-the-know a chance to find a truly original, one-of-a-kind pair of frames.
Alongside her handmade creations, each Selima Optique shop boasts a curated selection from some of the most trusted names in the optical arena including Alain Mikli, Cazal, Christian Dior, Gucci, Mykita and Persol. Visit when next in New York (or Paris), we will be!
Selima Salaun and Catherine Malandrino
Dana Endundo and Drue Kataoka
Photography provided exclusively by Selima Optique.
Selima Optique / Bond 07 Showroom, 7 Bond Street, NYC, NY 10012 www.selimaoptique.com CN
27th April 2012 While there are masses of cat’s eyes, classic and modified, I decided to pick out some special ones for our vintage coverage…but I have to emphasise there really are so many good ones this was not an easy exercise. Here are three that I’ve seen in the last days that have a special something in terms of the styling…. but I have loads more to recommend in our Sunglasses Special next month…
The sunglasses above are a vintage pair, part of a collection by Lunettes Kollektion’s designer Uta Geyer, who has an online vintage store at www.lunettes-shop.de. This is a very strong shape by the much-loved designer Christian Roth, a friend of ours who has made eyewear history with a number of brilliant one-off creations (I didn’t know these were by Christian Roth when I selected them, so it was a pleasant surprise). I’m very keen on the squared off sides of this interpretation, and the lens shape which is cheeky and elegant at the same time.
Vanni, Stratos V3609
From this year’s collections, this design from Vanni, an Italian brand produced by Nico Design, has charisma. It is very feminine, cute in its patterning and the two-tone front is a very important trend this year that looks really splendid here. I haven’t tried this on but I should expect it to be an easy-to-wear catseye, sweet and classic.
I-I model 033M by Italia Independent
Also from Italy, by the label Italia Independent, is this hybrid between a catseye and a butterfly design, produced in metal for a completely different effect. The model is called I-I 033M; it is quite sleek and a very nice choice for smaller faces. This colour is punchy, as is the statement gold version. From what I hear this brand is now quite widely available in London; try Bromptons (www.kensingtonopticians.co.uk) 2020 Optical Store (www.20-20.co.uk), or Schullers (www.schulleropticians.com) www.italiaindependent.com CN
26th April 2012 “How did I start collecting? My mom loved auctions and antique shops; she had a great eye for Limoges and Bavarian china. Once she went to the Salvation Army and spotted an old serving cart under a pile of junk. So I grew up that way, and then I met my great friend Jamie (passionate Vintage collector and antique dealer), and he introduced me to thrift shops. My first collection and largest, except for Christmas, is a vintage sailor doll and an early pond boat collection. I started that in New York City, during the winter, when I wasn’t sailing. The collection was featured in a magazine called Country Collectibles. Vintage appeals to me because it is so charming and warm. Nothing is made as well now – for instance, I have school chairs at my cottage that have no nails in them. The furniture has a lovely patina, and so do old oil paintings. It’s just a preference. The past is so interesting and collecting is so fun. I go to yard sales, flea markets, thrift shops, and of course, antique shops. I even found a few things on the street. It’s the thrill of the hunt – finding something special unexpectedly – for my collection – or starting a new one. Both homes have vintage furniture, linens, and china. I also have early cement birdbaths and urns, so I enjoy extending my love of vintage outdoors. And of course, I love Vintage eyeglasses, clothes and accessories!” JG
25th April 2012 Barcelona is one place I know like the back of my hand. But that was in the 1990s, and these days stores and bars and boutiques there are changing all the time…for vintage, my first stop today would be Wilde Store (www.wildestore.com), a very cool little place (there are two branches) to find quality vintage frames, from brands like Cazal, Persol, Lacoste and Silhouette, from the 1950s through to the 90s. The frames have been sourced across the world over several years. I have found them by chance through my brother, and I’m delighted to see what they are doing.
As well as its vintage frames, Wilde is also dedicated to the handcrafting trend…the store is launching its own sunglasses label this season, made on the premises by Carlos Azuaje and colleague Tepo, who have a passion for the artisanal qualities of traditional eyewear. Carlos explains, “The first Wilde Sunglasses collection is made by hand from Mazzucchelli acetate with metal accents. We are revisiting the old techniques of the 1950s, and producing in very small quantities per colour. All our work is done exclusively in our workshop in Barcelona, we are making our ideas a reality!”
As if this were not enough, the store has also created WSkin by Wilde, handmade felt and leather cases and covers (for iPhones, iPads and eyewear) made with love and attention to detail. Their videos of the work they put in are superb, I’m a fan! CN www.wildeskin.com/showcase/index.php/fabricacion
Wilde Store, Barcelona
Oscar in Grey, by Wilde Sunglasses (Euros 150)
Wilde Store, c/Joaquin Costa, 2, Barcelona 08001, Spain
Wilde Store, c/ Avinyo, 21 Barcelona, 08002, Spain
http://wildestore.com/
25th April 2012 A few days ago we spoke to Heidi Chan, the designer behind Heidi London whose sunglasses caught my eye in Wolf and Badger in London (www.wolfandbadger.com). This is a collection that has an old-school vintage theme running through, brought up to date with modern details such as on-trend colour and pattern. In our interview, Heidi talked about her background and latest designs.
Can you outline the brand philosophy and your design intentions. The initial intention was to create a sunglasses wardrobe for sun lovers and snow bunnies, different silhouettes to suit different face shapes and complexions. Effortlessly wearable yet comtemporary, I wanted to see what would happen when my experience in womenswear design was applied to eyewear design. Now I am in my second season, I’m designing pieces that are simpler and more chic compared to the first collection, which was all about fun colours and patterns.
H1008 from Heidi London
Heidi London H1006 in khaki
I love designing something that reflects the contemporary time and the current world. While the designs might change each season to reflect the now- one thing that never changes is that my ultimate goal is to bring happiness to people where I can, that’s the best thing; it’s the best feeling in the world when you see the sparks and excitment in other people’s eyes when they see what they love. I think that when people feel better, they look better, live better, and then they are happier. So my job is to make people feel good and look good. Continue reading “Introducing… Heidi London”
24th April 2012 Clear plastic – or crystal – frames were a stylish expression in the 1950′s and 60′s – as they are today! Designers are re-inventing – or re-launching – frame designs in elegant, clear crystal. The above frame is from Blue Magic Eye – style 3303 – with distinctive temple detailing.
Savigny in Crystal by Framers
This handsome vintage concept is sometimes enhanced with new materials, such as Lafont’s combination of crystal and carbon, or spiked with sophistication, as in Framers’ sleek crystal and black sunglasses. www.bluemagiceye.com www.framers.de www.lafont.com JG
Initiale in Crystal from Lafont Paris
22nd April 2012 Creator of RVS by V, Vidal Erkohen, first set up his business to sell rare vintage frames (www.rarevintagesunglasses.com). We asked him to model a few and here are the results…thanks Vidal! Here, as part of our Vintage series, Eyestylist asks Vidal about his passion for vintage eyewear and how it has shaped his own designs at RVS by V.
“Vintage eyewear has a soft spot in most people’s heart, whether it may be the memory of a loved one wearing them when they were a child, or the vision of their favourite actor wearing them in the their favourite movie. A piece of vintage eyewear from the ’80s may have been a hit back then, but today it may signify a whole era that will bring back hundreds of memories to its user. I believe a piece of eyewear can only truly be iconic by passing the test of time, and that is exactly why some vintage frames are particularly sought after, year after year.
Vintage Cazal
Vintage Persol Ratti
Can you tell me about your own collection, RVS by V., and how it is affected by your love of vintage? “I always try to keep true to vintage style in our RVS by V. designs by keeping the updates we make to our designs very minimal. The way we use materials, our finishing (which we always do as matt) and our colours are all very important to me. I am in love with colour and it holds great importance in all of my designs. I believe the colour tones you use bring a whole new modern look to timeless styles that sometimes seem to come from a ‘black and white’ era. I think men sometimes shy away from wearing colours and this is why I try to incorporate vibrant hues with classic design; I like to help them overcome this habit.” www.rarevintagesunglasses.com www.rvsbyv.com CN Photography by RVS by V. for Eyestylist.com.
RVS by V. Limited Edition 212 in purple haze
20th April 2012 From Australia comes another collaboration from the frame company, Colab who launch a line with the Italian illustrator Jonathan Calugi…with images inspired by Fellini. Another super retro theme for our Vintage month!
Colab/Jonathan Calugi
The collection includes references to the 1963 release ’8 1/2′ and Mastroianni’s lead character, Guido. The sunglass style JCA001_8 1/2 has a trendy half bi-tone front, matte brushed gold trim and is part of a Limited Edition of 1000 pieces. The best way to order these from outside Australia is online at www.colab.com.au/shop
