May 2011

Shopping for sunglasses

1st May 2011

Liberty’s Sunglasses Salon, London

1st May 2011 As well as the choice of incredible opticians across London, the department store Liberty is an excellent destination for quality sunglass collections, including some quite rare finds. I recently visited the new Sunglass Salon to research the RetroSuperFuture designs, and was delighted to see there are now 24 brands on show, with 14 new ones and some very strong eyewear names, such as Thierry Lasry, Moscot, Cutler & Gross Vintage, Persol and Alexander Wang for Linda Farrow.

The new interior of the Sunglasses Salon features antique cabinets that have been reworked to fit the frames perfectly. Nothing is behind glass so customers can see the designs easily and take advantage of the full length mirrors so they are assured in the sartorial eloquence of their purchases. A giant central area provides a style clinic where you can get expert advice on exactly what suits you and what doesn’t! One wall of the salon takes its inspiration from childhood trips to the optician and is covered in handheld optical lenses, layered together to create an outlandish 3D wallpaper.

MIDO 6-8 February 2027. Welcome to Eyewearland

SILMO Paris - The Optical Fair. 25th - 28th September 2026

LOFT Santa Monica Show October 16th and 17th

For anyone who loves sunglass design and wants to see something a bit different, it’s a well balanced selection, offering trendy and outlandish as well as sophisticated and paired down shapes. Liberty themselves highlight the 1950s and 60s frames for S/S 2011, such as the Alexander Wang catseyes and the Cutler & Gross 1004 feline shape in black glitter. To see some of the frames on offer and to purchase online, visit www.liberty.co.uk

Category header

Robert Marc

1st May 2011

Inspiration from Palm Springs

Robert Marc has had his own brand since 1999 and is now a leading American eyewear designer with eight shops in New York and one in Boston. His designs are made by hand in France and Japan. No corners are cut when it comes to quality and detail. “As an independent designer, I do whatever it takes to get what I want for the frame and the brand, however painstaking or however long it takes to ensure the production is perfect.”

I have known Robert for a long time and I recently met with him at the Four Seasons in Milan to see the 2011 collection, which is inspired by the desert landscape and modernist architecture of Palm Springs. Robert explains, “On the occasions I have visited Palm Springs, I have always been struck by the linear architecture, the straight lines and surprising pops of colour; but also the nature around me, the plants, cacti and incredible smoke tree. It is an unusual place, with an energy that I wanted to evoke in this year’s collection.”

With a subtle approach to colour, Robert uses bright yet natural colour tones, as well as some of his favourite classics, including Havana and tortoise.

“Colour was always an important element of the architecture in Palm Springs, and in this collection I have used colour, both contrasting and complimentary, to bring out the graphic potential in the clean-lined design of the frames. I also layered temples with contrasting bright colours creating a vibrant energy that is in perfect tune with modernism.” In this collection, the women’s shapes are as Robert describes slightly “man-tailored” with subtle lines and a vintage flavour coming through, and of course occasionally an extremely feminine catseye or butterfly. For men, there is a reminder of Hollywood and the 1950s, with deep shapes such as those worn by Cary Grant, rounded designs with an intellectual air, and the ever popular classically defined aviator. All models sport the Robert Marc trademark hinge, which is instantly distinguishable as a mark of the brand, whilst serving its crucial role to provide ease-of-wear and absolute comfort at the temple. CN

www.robertmarc.com

Home

Sunglass Style Guide

1st May 2011

Giuliana Grosso in Phillip Lim

4th May 2011 Giuliana Grosso (above) is the Sales Manager at Modo Eyewear Srl in Italy. Modo Eyewear produces a range of lines including the 3.1 Phillip Lim Sunglass Collection. “I am wearing Doctora by Phillip Lim, in navy. I really love the pilot or aviator styles, and I like wearing the shape with casual clothes and jeans, which are great with the colour I’ve chosen. This is a lightweight, metal model combining the navy with brushed gun.

My style is very simple, I don’t think I’m a fashion victim. As I get older, I’m becoming more feminine. For glasses and sunglasses, I look for designs that match the style of clothing and colours that I’m wearing…mostly black, brown and natural tones.”

www.modo.com

Home

Sunglass Style Guide

1st May 2011

This season’s looks, modelled by the girls on the inside

3rd May 2011 Seeing how real women wear their sunglasses is much more inspirational than looking at pictures of models in magazines. So we’ve asked our female friends in the eyewear industry to share with us the styles they are enjoying wearing for S/S 11. And while some were a bit shy, the results of our research will be posted over the next days …we absolutely love seeing how they have styled their frames, and we want more images please!!! If you are working for a frame designer and want to send us your picture this month please hurry and email us ([email protected]) – if you can send us a high quality photograph plus a picture of the frame you are modelling, we will feature you and details on your favourite design! Hurry girls… CN

Monica Chong (pictured above) is Creative Director and PR Director at the British eyewear brand Cutler & Gross. Her frame is called Blue Sparkle 1004, one of the styles in the Cutler & Gross S/S 11 Mermaid and the Office Collection.

“This sunglass style is right for me,” says Monica, ” because I love 40s and 50s fashion; I am wearing a 40s style playsuit in this picture which I designed myself for my own collection. The cardigan is a vintage 50s piece. The Cutler & Gross Blue Sparkle sums up the blue sparkling ocean on a hot summer day. The style represents pure Hollywood glamour with a vintage feel, perfect for Mermaids! I look for frames that suit my personality and style, as I collect vintage 40s and 50s hats, clothes and jewels. I have a tendency to choose cat’s eyes to complete my look, but I also love what is current and on trend. I have more evening wear than day wear; I adore the works of McQueen, Givenchy, Lanvin and Westwood.”

www.cutlerandgross.com

Home

Trend watch: Flower Power

1st May 2011

Floral sunglasses for Spring/Summer

1st May 2011 Florals are so much in fashion, and I’ve been looking for sunglasses that work with this trend. Nicole Farhi’s Jackie Poppy Print Sunglasses, an oversized round shape, are a wonderful choice (see picture above and below). They are retailing at £90.00 and can be purchased direct from the website. The style has appeared in all the fashion pages in the last weeks and are probably close to selling out as they combine a flattering shape with the sensuous colouring of the lavish poppy fabric ( www.nicolefarhi.com).

NFSUN1 Col 12 — Jackie Poppy Print sunglasses by Nicole Farhi

I have also fallen for the Shell sunglasses below by Francis Klein (www.francisklein.com), a French brand which is producing quite a few floral themed products, including optical frames…all of which you can browse through on their very enjoyable website.

SHELL C21 529 - S297 — Shell sunglasses by Francis Klein

Some of them have little enamelled flowers decorating the printed acetate, they are very chic indeed.

DG 4111M 1931-8H — Dolce & Gabbana DG 4111M

Other florals that I have found in eyewear are the new styles in the Dolce & Gabbana collection, including the DG 4111 M, which has flowers on the arms, contrasting with a single colour front such as this punchy red.

There is also the popular collection produced in Italy by RetroSuperFuture for the London fashion store Liberty, featuring the store’s famous Liberty prints. Having looked at the models yesterday in the shop, I am really impressed – the price tag at £120/£130 offers a sturdy vintage design and lovely details such as the colourful fabric and the high-quality Zeiss UV protective lenses, not to mention the very pretty matching packaging.

http://store.retrosuperfuture.com/ CN