Design & Inspiration

Optical frames offer a plenitude of choices: luscious colours, superb materials and innovative design. Natural and high tech materials give opticals a unique élan and stylish demeanour. ROLF Spectacles – advocates of vintage cars – created a frame based on the 1980’s Kadett model, which they have handcrafted in natural wild cherry – a beautiful wood favoured during the Biedermeier period. ROLF smoked the wood, and the cherry veneer develops a Cognac-like colour with a silky matte finish. Exceptional! www.rolf-spectacles.com

An ultra-swept brow on Anna-Karin Karlsson’s elegant frame – Lusciousness Divine – superbly compliments the face. Glistening aquamarine acetate is accentuated with a metal trim on the frame front. The design is sensuously sculpted, and available in other welcoming colours. www.annakarinkarlsson.com

Premium materials highlight the latest designs from Coppe & Sid. The frames – that include Bogota (above) – are crafted in Italy in either 24K gold plated, or pure palladium plated. Nostalgia for the 1950’s inspires these sophisticated designs, and the nose pads are Bohemian crystal glass. For more info on the Coppe and Sid Gold Vintage collection, visit www.eyedesignclub.com

The latest frame in the DOLCE series by Charmant Line Art – XL29077 – is a lyrical rimless design, with a lovely colour technique on the temples. The gradient effect is available in both a shiny gradation – and a matt finish. Superb comfort is assured with special ergonomic end tips. Stylish and streamlined. www.charmant.com

Carefully selected Tuscan Italian leathers provide an innovative approach to JF Rey au Masculin Club line. The brand has created a process so that naturally tanned leather is inseparable from the acetate, and the result is a distinctive, elegant, and luxurious look. The Leather Collection is available in both optical designs – above Club JF1348 – and sunglass models. www.jfrey.fr JG

Eyewear innovators can see an appetite for bold experimental shapes, eye-catching colour and unusual details and combinations. Enter Flatline by RVS Eyewear – a rare square eye shape that demands attention. The reduced size of the squares – a throwback to retro elegance – and the unusual bridge on top, create a powerful intersection between vintage and futuristic. Colours add to the lasting impression: a graduated black/tortoise or crystal/tortoise produce two very different effects.

Flatline is now available for purchase via the redesigned RVS Eyewear website launched last month at www.rvseyewear.com. Find other “RVS classics” including the not-to-be-missed asymmetrical Annette and “wild cat” design, Paris II.  CN

Italian handmade label Res/Rei presents its new line of handmade sunglasses in a series of illustrations by Karin Kellner, the Milan based illustrator and portrait artist – www.karinkellner.com. The images include portraits of men and women, predominantly in monochrome, wearing the Res/Rei sunglasses and spectacles, picked out in a watercolour effect that perfectly illustrates the refined nuances in colour and pattern of the Mazzucchelli acetates.

The smoothly sculpted style Calvino, included in the illustration (top) is evocative in its simple yet classical shaping and pretty marbling, combined with a gentle tint in the lenses. For more information on Res/Rei and eyewear featuring in the Karin Kellner illustrations, visit: http://www.resrei.com/home/karin-kellner-x-res-rei/ CN

Beautiful accessories can enliven the spirit as well as the wardrobe. With the arrival of spring and summer activities on the horizon, Eyestylist presents accessory ideas from leisurely to luxurious. Luca Gnecchi Ruscone at L.G.R brings his formidable talents to a new métier – a distinguished weekender bag. With the magic and mystery of Africa so much a part of Luca’s eyewear creations, the legendary Muthalga Country Club in Nairobi, Kenya inspired this illustrious Safari Bag. The bags are totally handcrafted in Italy, constructed in leather and canvas – the materials selected because they are able to bear the extreme heat, humidity and sandstorms of an African Safari. The canvas exterior is protected from water splashes, and instead of zippers – that would clog in sandy, salty conditions – Luca opted for a 3mm thick leather flap that will stand up to rainy days and age beautifully with time. Ultra-chic for a weekend adventure! www.lgrworld.com

Espadrilles are a summer tradition, and Manebi handcrafts in Spain comfy shoes for beach wear to glamorous holiday parties. Quality fabrics – solid colours, prints and stripes – and leather from European resources are used to create classic espadrilles, as well as wedge and flat sandals. Manebi is in a Blue Mood (above) this summer – from soft tones to deep blue sea. To view more stylish espadrilles, click on www.manebi.eu

A Plinio Visona’ bag was a great Eyestylist discovery in Vienna, and a subsequent visit to the chic Milan boutique revealed an Italian collection with elegance, originality, innovation and beauty. Italian craftsmanship is the core of Plinio Visona’; the bags are handmade in the company’s artisan workshop in Vicenza. The latest collection includes intricately woven leather creations – including Arianna (above) in beautiful colours. The selection includes bags for daywear and evening. More details at www.pliniovisona.it

When the sun sets, even summer evenings can foster a chill. Keep cosy with a comfortable, beautifully hand-woven lap robe accented with leather trim (above). Created by Countess von Eckermann, a Swedish brand producing interior design and accessory products, the luxurious materials are environmentally friendly and exclusive to the company. Focused on sustainability and made locally in Sweden, the products are created with heritage and tradition. More news at www.countessvoneckermann.com JG

Creative liberty, technical expertise, beautiful materials and luscious colours feature prodigiously in eyewear collections. Shapes vary from moderate to voluminous – further enhancing  sunglasses. Blackfin’s S/S collection features clean, sculpted silhouettes, as seen in the above photo. The man wears Blackfin’s Weston BF760 in titanium with gold-mirrored lenses. Panto shaping highlights the women’s frames – Waterhouse BF743. The all-Italian production ensures the finest quality. Discover more from Blackfin at www.blackfin.eu

Brilliant, bouncy and bold – Smoke x Mirrors unites layered acetates and stainless steel with a fun sunglass collection – Soda Pop. Vibrant colours and chic neutrals – such as the black and white sunglasses above – bring an alluring dimension to summer fashions. Additional details about Soda Pop at www.smokexmirrors.com

Panto shaping – an eyewear highlight for Spring/Summer is elegantly expressed by Sven Götti at Götti Switzerland. Dan (above) delicately combines retro and modern contemporary styling in ultra-light titanium with flat lenses – sleek, stunning and streamlined. See all the Götti collection news at www.gotti.ch

California based eyewear brand SALT. has been shortlisted from the Opticians Award 2016 for TAFT (above) as Best Frame of the Year. Handcrafted in Japan, the double-bridge brings additional distinction  to a design with flair, beauty and harmony. www.saltoptics.com

Originality and savoir-faire comprise designs by Christian Mascré and Yolande de Clerq. Retro vibrations, extraordinary production – all crafted in France – bring glamour and excellence to the frames. The frame front in Eva in vanilla acetate (above) is artfully shaped and looks fabulous on the face…also available in other great colours. www.vuedc.fr JG