2011

Alfrik and Bumber

1st April 2011

Fleye Eyewear

Colourful, innovative and kid-tested! Fleye Eyewear is a Danish company whose latest collection was inspired by youngsters who gave their ideas on colours, shapes and design. Colour was high on the list of the children’s demands, so the collection includes bold, hip tones of lime, turquoise and lilac. Materials are completely free of nickel and other potentially allergenic substances. The styles above are in acetate and beta-titanium in snazzy lime green and black. You can find Fleye Eyewear for kids at Auerbach & Steele in London www.auerbach-steele.com and at Kidzz Eyezz in Amsterdam. Further info at www.fleye.dk JG

LOFT Santa Monica Show October 16th and 17th

MIDO 6-8 February 2027. Welcome to Eyewearland

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

Reviews

Eye’DJ JO91

1st April 2011

Eye’DC Junior Collection

The children’s collection Eye’DJ from Marseilles based Eye’DC merges uncluttered design with child-friendly materials. Winners of a Silmo D’Or in 2009, the current collection is modern and free flowing, with sculptured shapes in stainless steel. The colour play of the featured design between the top bar and the rim is a distinctive touch. Shape selections include oval, rectangular and round. These frames are incredibly lightweight, yet designed to cope with playground antics. Eye’DJ can be found at Optique Vie in Roquebrune Cap Martin and more details at www.eye-dc.com JG

Arts + travel

London

1st April 2011

The big city with kids

As this is our kid’s edition, I have been looking into a few places that aren’t as well known as some kids destinations in London but definitely offer lots of fun and interest.

One of these is the V&A’s Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green (pictured above) which houses an impressive collection of children’s toys, games, clothing, furniture and other exciting artefacts relating to little ones through history. I went to the museum with my four year old to while a way a Sunday morning. First we came across “Doll Face”, an eye-catching exhibition of photographs by portrait and still-life photographer Craig Deane depicting dolls from the extensive collection owned by the museum. (The exhibition ended 27th March but you can see the whole series of images at www.craigdeane.co.uk, they are really incredible images and slightly creepy but my boy was fascinated by them). (more…)

Arts + travel

Children’s stores, London

1st April 2011

Shopping recommendations

London has some great shops for kids, here are my favourite boutiques and shops for clothes, toys and furniture. (Pictured above: Their Nibs).

Caramel Baby & Child This exquisite shop is growing, there are branches in Brompton Road, Pavilion Road (Sloane Square) and Ledbury Road (Notting Hill). The store prides itself on very individual items, and paired down everyday clothing with a touch of luxury. www.caramel-shop.co.uk

Green Baby, Notting Hill My babies may have grown up a bit but they spent their early years in cotton baby grows and pyjamas from this cute environmentally sound store. www.grenbaby.com

Igloo, King’s Road The ‘it’ boutique for kids in the King’s Road. A branch can also be found in Islington. Expect to find brands such as Ikks, Petit Bateau, Mookie, even Hunter Wellies. www.iglookids.co.uk

Jigsaw Junior, 190 Westbourne Grove I have a very fond memory of this store in Notting Hill as this is where I took my bridesmaid Lucia to choose her outfit for my wedding….back in 2002. The shop is as wonderful today, with particular emphasis on fashions for girls, and the all important party dress or frock as my grandmother would have called them. www.jigsawonline.com/collections/1001284/junior

Habitat Home ideas and accessories for kids such as baskets for practical, fun storage to encourage tidying up. Also love the kid’s bedding and wooden toys here. www.habitat.co.uk

Marie Chantal Beautiful upmarket classics for children. Luxurious therefore pricey, but there are lots of lovely accessories and it’s a great place to look for outfits for special occasions. www.mariechantal.com

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Boutiques

Little Opta, Paris

1st April 2011

An eyewear boutique ‘just for kids’

Tucked away in the atmospheric environment of Montmartre is an adorable children’s optical boutique, the inspiration of Parisian optician Annette Hoffmann. The enterprising Hoffmann has three other optical locations in Montmartre, but she has a particular philosophy for youngsters. “Children have their own shops for clothes, shoes and toys, so I thought ‘why not a boutique just for children’s optics?’ I believe that children need a special place of their own to try on eyewear.”

Little Opta Frame display — Display of sunglasses, Little Opta

Hoffmann opened the little jewel of a boutique – it’s just 25 square meters – four year ago, on a lovely tree-lined street in Montmartre, an area beloved by painters Renoir, Van Gogh and Picasso. The shop’s sparkling white interior is enhanced with antiques, another passion of Hoffmann’s. As the leading optician in the area for decades, she knows the value of offering superior quality frames and personal service.

“We like to make appointments and spend time with parents and their children; kids love to look at the frames and then pick out what they want to try on. Children like to wear glasses now, because it is really cool.” Little Opta offers only the crème de la crème from companies, as Hoffmann points out that creating quality frames for kids requires technical knowledge of a child’s face. The boutique stocks Lafont, ic! berlin, Karavan Kids, and Eye’DJ, among others. Little Opta is a charming oasis for kid’s frames, and opticians Jennifer and Victor are on hand to provide a warm and professional optical experience for both parents and their children. JG

Little Opta, 81, rue Caulaincourt 75018 Paris Tel: +33 (0) 1 4254 12 60 www.opta-createurs.com