June, 2011 | Eyestylist

Tennyson by Paul Smith

7th June 2011

Trend watch: Marbling and mottled effects

14th June 2011 The variety of effects you can get in a plastic frame are close to unimaginable. But after looking at thousands of styles made of plastic over the years, I have come to learn how much this material varies in quality. For any consumers out there buying a chunky acetate frame or with that intention, be really sure you are getting a high quality one; you will see they hold colour and pattern better making them look a whole lot more stylish than the ordinary and rather tacky poor quality ones.

When a few opticians point out a collection they like which is doing well, it must mean something! The current Paul Smith optical and sunglass line is one of these that has been brought to my attention a few times over the Spring. This unisex optical example above, with the eloquent literary name ‘Tennyson’, is one that caught my eye at a recent press day…primarily owing to the interesting effect of the purple and black patterning which is best seen close up but this image represents it fairly well. A classy, easy-to-wear optical range, with some leading trends incorporated such as the patterning of this unisex frame, or other retro details such as keyhole bridges, and evocative round and rectangular vintage shapes, this is great statement eyewear. www.paulsmith.co.uk CN

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Trend watch: Coco in pink

7th June 2011

Oscar Magnuson

10th June 2011 On my hunt for pretty pale pink and nude tones, I have come across the unusual model Coco by the Swedish designer Oscar Magnuson in this sweet pink tone. While it’s not a label I know well, I like the combination of quality and sophistication. Magnuson’s designs are usually inspired by individual expression. Often the starting point will be a colourful character such as Arthur Miller or even a fictional character such as Dorian Gray. More on the A/W styles by Oscar Magnuson coming soon. CN

www.oscarmagnuson.com

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Matheo

7th June 2011

Theo interprets the nerd trend

8th June 2011 Glasses featuring maths symbols? This is a limited release by the Belgian designers at Theo which plays on the trendy “geek-chic” look. There are four titanium and four plastics in the series which are now available in some of Theo’s most popular stockists. Taking the mathematical theme as its starting point, the designs have minute, fluorescent mathematical symbols contrasting with the black of the frame, from the easily recognisable “equals” sign to less well-known symbols such as the one for disjunction. Theo has injected humour, whilst creating frames with a strong identity. The use of fluorescent tones is on-trend but not garishly flamboyant, a fun touch. CN

www.theo.be

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Shane Baum

5th June 2011

Leisure Society Designer Inspired by Life

June 2011 A conversation with Shane Baum is always a rewarding experience. The American designer of supremely elegant, luxurious Leisure Society, has astute viewpoints on eyewear, design and business that he shares with Eyestylist.

Design philosophy: “I don’t rely on the eyewear industry for inspiration, but search in other creatively driven industries. Furniture design, watch manufacturers and electronic products often inspire me. I also feel it is important to be honest with yourself. As a ‘designer’, you must reflect and disassociate yourself from your finished drawings, and judge them with harsh cynicism. My best design decisions often involve a trash can and fresh sheets of paper.”

Preferred materials: “I like working in gold-plated titanium. It is such a luxurious material and completely inert. It lasts forever. The inherent flexibility of this combination of materials allows one to engrave it, shape it, mould it and texture it in a very detailed manor that permits limitless possibilities. Platinum would be interesting too. We are working with Tigers Eye, Ruthenium and Buffalo Horn for Spring 2012. History has shown that luxurious materials hold their value better over time. This is the essence of Leisure Society’s ethos of “Heirloom Design.”

Creative inspiration: “I maintain a ‘child like’ enthusiasm for designing eyewear. The eyewear industry is unique: part fashion; part engineering; and part medical device. For me, the key to success as a company and as a designer is to create proprietary brand attributes that are distinctly my own, and quality attributes that only reveal themselves systematically over time. It is simply a matter of remaining true to my personal paradigm of open mindedness whilst remaining true to our corporate commitment of excellence and self-involvement.”

The future: “I believe the world is entering a period of reverse globalization We are noticing a trend towards locally made products crafted by classically trained artisans. The preservation of cultural traditions is increasingly important to consumers, especially our youth. This demographic wants meat from a butcher, watches from a watchmaker, and shoes from a cobbler. For eyewear, a brand focused on quality and innovation should enjoy ‘just rewards’.”

Leisure Society designs are available internationally in high fashion shops and eyewear boutiques. www.leisure-society.com JG

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Special edition for Sonar Festival, Barcelona

3rd June 2011

ETNIA Barcelona

4th June 2011 The Catalan brand Etnia has produced this limited edition exclusively for the music event Sonar this year (which takes place on 16th to 18th June). The model is available to those attending the daytime events, who take part in the brand’s Facebook promotion – there are 300 being given away each day. From what we hear and from the pictures we’ve seen, it looks like a very cool sunglass style in fluorescent fuchsia and white acetate – it features Zeiss lenses in four colours of which the blue gradient is our favourite choice, and clever, understated detailing….a very hip sun style for Summer 2011, but unfortunately not available in the shops. CN

www.etniabarcelona.com

For more on Sonar 2011, visit www.sonar.es