March, 2013 | Eyestylist

Artisan Excellence

20th March 2013

Shane Baum Creates Eyewear Heirlooms

20th March 2013 Leisure Society, the sophisticated, elegantly crafted eyewear by Shane Baum, has introduced dashing new frames. Each handmade creation is constructed with the principle of heirloom design and quality. I saw these designs in Milan, and they are exquisite. Baum stated: “The etchings in each frame were inspired by the intricate design in an 18th Century candelabra given to the Dalhousie family by the Czar of Russia, and kept at the Brechin Castle, which is an estate I have been fortunate enough to visit.” Dalhouise (above) is a classic style that pays tribute to the house of Dalhousie. The oval acetate shape features a keyhole bridge, and the same intricately etched temples found in Shane’s Harvard design. The frame is available in both 12 and 18 karat gold.

Doyle - an ophthalmic frame with character and style — Doyle – an ophthalmic frame with character and style

The timelessness of Doyle (above) in acetate and 12k gold is particularly mesmerizing in burgundy tortoise.

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

Artisan etching - a Leisure Society signature — Artisan etching – a Leisure Society signature

Superb tooling detail captures the essence of Leisure Society luxury and finesse. www.leisure-society.com JG

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Candy Baroque

18th March 2013

18th March 2013 Candy colours or pastels are so sweet for Spring, and designer Moo Piyasombatkul has given her idiosyncratic porcelain tipped styles a complete make-over with these fresh shades for Spring/Summer. They remind us of delicate iced fairy cakes in pale pink and blue – and my personal favourite, this chic and uplifting neon yellow below.

Moo’s fashionista frames are now in stock at Browns in London, from £350, and for purchase online at www.brownsfashion.com. For more on Moo Eyewear on Eyestylist and our interview with the designer, visit https://www.eyestylist.com/2012/11/meet-moo/ CN

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Trend Watch: Floral Bounty

15th March 2013

Celebrate Spring With Florals

15th March 2013 Spring bouquets bloom jauntily on eyewear designs this season. Among our preferred selections is Jono Hennessy’s lovely acetate frame bursting with colourful blossoms. The gentle cat eye shape is a gracious background to the delicate spray of flowers – can you find your favourite blossom in the frame?! www.jonohennessy.com

MW73C1SUN1 — Colour Cascade by Matthew Williamson for Linda Farrow

Matthew Williamson and Linda Farrow have collaborated to celebrate spring with festive print patterns from Williamson’s Spring/Summer 2013 catwalk show. Created in acetate and stainless steel, the sunglasses (above style 73C1 Sun) include dynamic sprays of bold yellow, red, green, blue and pink. An exciting style to accompany colourful spring fashions. www.lindafarrow.com JG

Design + Inspiration

Eyestylist in Milan

12th March 2013

Trend alert at Eyestylist: a neon flash

In the fashion world, everyone is talking about neon and flashes of colour combined with other tones and there are many accessories on this theme, as well as interpretations in the fashion collections. In Italy, at the recent eyewear fair there, Eyestylist saw many examples of neon detail and new ways of colour-blocking with bright tones in frames. For those who like these fresh flashes of colour, I’ve picked out two examples on black, but I’ve also seen some excellent shapes using classic tortoise with neon tones on the temple, end tip or as a lining, which are very chic also.

The newly launched Courrèges eye shades collection experiments with single tones – sherbets and fruit colours such as canary yellow and fresh orange – as well as two-tone contrasts, including the bright pink on black pictured. It’s an upbeat fashion collection that has instantly been noticed by the fashion boutiques – it’s available at Colette in Paris – and the playful interpretation of vintage Courrèges has been carefully re-worked through collaboration with French eyewear designer, Alain Mikli. The model pictured above is called ‘Eyelids’ and the eyelids themselves are removable. www.courreges.com/lunettes-paupieres.html

NEON 6600 c5 from Blue Magic Eye — Neon 6600 c5 from Blue Magic Eye

The Italian label Blue Magic Eye has adopted the neon theme in its latest collection, including this fresh acid green contrast on model 6600. The Bologna-based brand also produces frames in its 2013 collection with shocking pink and trendy turquoise flashes. This is a super way to wear colour on the face and adds edge to an everyday look. www.bluemagiceye.com CN

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Hapter Eyewear Launches in Milan

8th March 2013

Craft and Advanced Technology Blend Harmoniously

8th March 2013 When Clodagh and I were in Milan, we had the opportunity to discover Hapter Eyewear – the innovative new handmade label from Italy. Founders Eric Balzan and Mirko Forti spent three years researching and developing the exclusive industrial process that merges fine artisanship and high technology.

Hapter txtl001 - fusion of art and technology — Hapter BO1S ZP1O from the txtl001 Collection – fusion of art and technology

A pair of glacier military goggles from The Second World War, found in 2009 on a summit within the Dolomite Mountains, inspired the creation of Hapter. Natural fibres and stainless steel provide a flexible, light frame, yet very sturdy as well. The colours are chromatically harmonized and the result is a collection that is tactile, streamlined and functional. Hapter’s first collection has already been awarded the prestigious IF Product Design Award for 2013. www.hapter.it JG