2012

RES/REI, Italy

16th April 2012 The frame company Res/Rei, a small producer of handmade frames with a lovely simplicity and elegance, have launched a Limited Edition which caught my eye last month. The company has sourced acetate from the 1980s and 1990s to produce the ten colour sets in the collection, which it says, have been flying off the shelves….they are super limited, given the small amount of patterned vintage acetate found. Some of the frames are one-offs, otherwise they are produced in tiny batches of 3 or 4.

The firm is by no means the first to use materials from the past in its present lines, but it has done it with clever results. I have seen some other stunning designs using vintage materials at a number of labels this year, including great ones by Thierry Lasry and Robert Marc. I expect there are more out there I haven’t seen, any suggestions? www.resrei.com CN

14th April 2012 Dots are very much in fashion as the vintage revival revs up for summer and there are good examples to be found in frames, including some that were brought to my attention by Iris et Prunelle L’Opticien Lunetier, by Moschino. The French accessory specialists Valrose have this pretty polka dot line which I saw in Munich earlier in the year. This is a purse-style case for the finest catseye or butterfly. Valrose also produce brightly coloured felt cases which have always caught my eye; view this brightly themed collection in full at www.valrose.net CN

Michaela Kühn, Berlin Fashion Film Maker

13th April 2012 “I’ve been interested in vintage since I was a little girl. During the late 1970’s and 1980’s, I was very impressed with old films from the 1930’s to the 60’s. So in effect, it was much more interesting for me to check out the old dresses and coats of my grandmother’s wardrobe, than it was to buy moon washed jeans and adidas basketball sneakers. Vintage appeals because I like the classical look, to show the waist and look feminine. The quality of most pieces I have is fantastic. On one hand, it is charming to know that all my vintage stuff tells stories about the past. On the other hand, I feel much better wearing used clothes and have old furniture, than to be part of an unfair industry of big businesses. I shop for Vintage everywhere I go on my journeys – flea markets, stores and ebay. My favourite shops in Berlin are cache coeur, and Lunettes Selection (www.lunettes-selection.de). Almost every piece of furniture I have is from flea markets or shops. I restore most pieces myself. And here we are at the same point: the quality is ten times better than all the new stuff. My favourite vintage furniture piece is a Finnish teak dining table from the 1950’s, from Berlin Magasin (www.magasin-berlin.de) and my 1940’s sunglasses from Lunettes Selection. The other favourite piece is my black silk-velvet 1920’s coat with art-deco lining. I found this in Berlin at cache coeur.” (www.cachecoeur.de) JG

A 3-day vintage eyewear ‘pop-up’ shop, Bond 07 by Selima, New York

12th April 2012 Opening today for three days is this special opportunity to buy vintage eyewear at New York’s Bond 07 by Selima. The 500 or so unworn frames have been sourced in London by Kajal, a Columbia business school student who is set to launch her own eyewear company this year. Carefully curated with Selima Salaun, founder of Selima Optique, who will host the special pop-up shop, the collection includes a variety of spectacles and sunglass styles by brands like Lacroix (top left), Dior (top right), Hugo Boss, Ferre (below left, and definitely my favourite amongst these four great samples) and Cazal (below right), with models for men and women. Favourite decades for retro fashion such as the 1950s and the 1970s are well represented. Prices start at an affordable $150.

“Inspired by her family’s entrepreneurial journey in eyewear, Kajal spent her younger years visiting eyewear shows throughout Europe and developed an affinity for the artisanal design of vintage pieces. We believe there is a real appreciation for vintage fashion in New York and a customer who isn’t afraid to express himself or herself by wearing the bold and vibrant designs of the vintage era.”

Selima Optique / Bond 07 Showroom, 7 Bond Street, NYC, NY 10012 www.selimaoptique.com CN

Derome Brenner 9898

11th April 2012 Play it again…..this sleek retro frame is homage to beauty, craftsmanship and lasting style. Derome Brenner frames are crafted in acetate made from wood and cotton, and the designs require over sixty different hand techniques to achieve the quality, refinement, and exclusivity found in each frame. The design above is smooth black acetate in a sculptural shape, and further accentuates its individuality with an open nose bridge. The arty necklace and bracelet is from the Derome Brenner accessory collection. This Friday, 13 April, Xavier Derome will be the guest of honour at Gogosha Optique in Silver Lake, California. If you are fortunate enough to be in the region, pop into the boutique for a visit from 4PM to 9PM, with this delightful French artisan and eyewear creator. www.deromebrenner.com www.gogosha.com JG