The British designer and style icon Victoria Beckham who has made her mark at the top of the competitive echelons of international fashion, brings a new line of versatile sunglasses and spectacles for AW16 – designed to fit into the everyday and yet luxurious in terms of craftsmanship and materials. An interesting mix of one-off shapes and colours, some brights but a predominance of classical naturals, dark amber and glossy greens, add to a line that has become known for its timelessly elegant silhouettes that fit perfectly into the VB wardrobe.
The uniting theme amongst the materials used in both the sun and optical ranges this season is texture. Creamy, marble-like surfaces, perforated leather brow bars, and acetate that mimics scales all feature, bringing a tonal and tactile complexity to the collection. Heavily influenced by the interior of the brand’s flagship Dover Street store and its colour palette, multiple layers of rich acetate are combined on fun styles such as the Layered Cat and Layered Kitten, creating vivid slices of contrasting colours.
In response to the popularity of the mirrored lenses, the classic Supra Round style has been given a shot of shimmering colour with a selection of mirrors (by Zeiss) previously seen on the aviators – Desert Rose, Sky, and Dune amongst them.
Unlike many fashion brands, Beckham produces her own collection independently without any licensing agreement, taking control herself of overseeing the designs, and adhering to strict guidelines for quality production and cutting edge technology – producing exclusively in Italy. In a statement for Eyestylist.com, Beckham said:
“During the six years since we launched the eyewear collection, I think we’ve managed to create a very desirable and distinctive brand. In line with this growth, I felt that the natural next step was to bring the manufacturing process in house – working with a number of specialised local workshops in Italy. As of last spring, this move means we now have even more control over all aspects of the development process, and can source our own exclusive materials. Producing the collection in house also means we can take full advantage of the expertise of the studios we work with in the Valdobbiadene region – nurturing the artisanal techniques they use to make the glasses. For me it’s important to keep that connection to craftsmanship alive, and to have a truly handmade product. That’s what makes it special for me.”
Victoria Beckham, 36 Dover Street, London W1 www.victoriabeckham.com CN
