25th May 2012 These summer stunners from Lindberg feature a graceful, elegant shape with gentle volume that protects the eyes, while creating a sense of mystery about the wearer. The frame (style 8561) is beautifully sculpted in acetate with a titanium insert on the temple. For more information about sunglass beauties from the award-winning Danish company, visit www.lindberg.com JG
24th May 2012 “My girls just love sunglasses, and they want to wear them all the time,” reports the mother of two girls, ages 6 and 8. Already they are sunglass enthusiasts and mini-fashionistas – we love it! Young style setters are certain to relish wearing sunglasses from Oliver Goldsmith’s Mini Icons collection. Bude (above) first appeared in 1959 for grownups, and the children’s version is an exact replica in silky-smooth acetate, scaled to fit young faces. The frame is perfectly crafted in this gorgeous retro shape in bright, oh-so-trendy red! www.olivergoldsmith.com JG
22nd May 2012 An exhibition that will explore the impact of music, art and personality on the development of the fashion of the 60s and 70s. From the poodle skirts and embellished leathers of the rockers through to the Punk era, this exhibition will take in the cool stylings of the Mods, the high baroque of Psychedelia and the kitsch glamour of 70s retro by designers such as Mr Freedom and Miss Mouse….
Highlights will include items from Elton John’s personal wardrobe (can’t wait to see these), purple flares worn by Donovan, the pop-art fashions of Mary Quant as well as Quant’s early modernist pieces from the original Bazaar. Furniture, original posters and graphics and promotional materials will help to set the scene while an “I’m Backing Britain” display will create a dramatic centrepiece.
The exhibition will provide new insight into 20 years of popular culture from one of the most comprehensive private collections of design and fashion.
Exhibition Dates: 6th July – 27th October 2012, The Fashion and Textile Museum, London. www.ftmlondon.org CN
22nd May 2012 “My favourite design this season is the ‘dr. ihab rough’. I took the inspiration from a painting by Caravaggio, which is in Berlin and called ‘Amir Vincit Omnia’. It is smooth, but rough and very beautiful with light, dark, and strong emotions. Inspiration also comes from Giordano Bruno, Karl Jaspers, Sir Karl Popper, my sister, a physician, also inspires me, and my mother in some very rare moments. For me it is easier to design for men than for dogs or horses, but for woman it is very easy, because women have more soft lines everywhere – more or less, and of course, some parts are also edgy. As long as men and women have two eyes and one nose, it is relatively simple to find a design or a shape which works on a face. I love to design for my mother, father, girl friend and boy friend, and people in the wild, wild West. Russians also appreciate our designs very much.
“Sunglasses are cooler than rx glasses, even if they are not necessary for nightlife or in clubs. If you do not see the eyes of a person, for some reason it is special, cool and fascinating. I love sunglasses and wear them much too often. Sometimes I do not see holes in the road at night, and have fallen off my bike, and broken bones. However, the future is bright and we need sunglasses.” www.ic-berlin.de JG
Top photo, Ralph wears another sunglass favourite: Rückblick
Christian Wolf discusses the Rolf Spectacles team’s favourite sunglasses for Summer 2012 – Skylark 41 – featured in the above photo.
“Rolf has a strong connection to old cars, so it is not a surprise that the first ‘woodstone’ sunglasses are inspired by a vintage car. The Buick Skylark Convertible – which like all Rolf frames – was handmade when first produced in 1939. Nowadays, only a few car companies build their cars by hand, or without a lot of computer engineering. I think the same happens everywhere – also in the optical business. Crafting a pair of Rolf glasses requires several hours of handwork and a high degree of craftsmanship. The sanding stage requires lots of concentration and precision, which we leave to experienced hands only. At Rolf, we are always searching for new materials that correspond with the company’s philosophy. The challenge was to try out a material that was not yet used on the market. Stone is the perfect addition to wood and bamboo frames, since stone also offers unique characteristics, which have developed over thousands of years. The layered structure of shale lends a lively up scale surface to the frames. Shale is prone to splintering and breakage. These characteristics have caused doubts about the viability of the project. In order to avoid destroying the stone during pressing, new technologies have been used.
“We try to keep our designs as pure as possible. As we work with natural materials, we think there is no need for special colour lenses, or a huge logo placement. We try to transport a kind of understatement. It is important that customers value the products, and do not spend lots of money because of brand attention. We try to transport a story – not a brand. I think the future will bring more and more sustainable products and new technical innovations. Also, the importance of multifunctional eyewear will increase. In the future, you will be able to do more with sunglasses than just protect your eyes from the sun.” JG