Design + Inspiration

Lesca Lunetier – Eyewear Legacy

29th August 2013 Lesca Lunetier was one of the brands I remember from early visits to the fashion frame exhibition in Paris. What a delightful surprise to see Joël Lesca again, and discover that his talented son Mathieu is now involved in the business. On a recent Paris visit, Clodagh and I were enamoured to have the opportunity to look at scores of gorgeous vintage designs from Lesca including frames designed by Joël. The feel of the acetate is wonderful – so smooth and rich. The beauties above are from the 1950’s that have been lovingly refurbished in the Lesca workshop.

Frame P9 (above) celebrates its 30th anniversary this year – Joël Lesca created this design in France in 1983. Fabricated in finest quality cellulose acetate, the frame shape captures vintage elements in classic tortoiseshell. www.lescalunetier.com JG

Photography (top image) by Eyestylist.com.

Eyewear Pleasures by Anne et Valentin

1st August 2013 Designer Anne Valentin lives and works in Toulouse, the lovely French city located on the banks of The Garonne River, and not far from the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. So she is used to lots of sunshine and the need for sunglasses. She has aptly named the three lovely styles above – “Time Off” – sophisticated designs with glamour and beauty. In acetate and metal, the detailing and frame shapes are superb. From the top: styles 19h15, 16h35 and 10h10 in luscious colours of blush pink, mint green and burgundy. Chic on the beach and for town wear too! www.anneetvalentin.com JG

Stunning Collection from LGR

31st May 2013 Luca Gnecchi Ruscone’s fabulous Safari Limited Edition awakens one’s sense of adventure! The Italian designer is inspired by the continent’s wild beauty and romantic surroundings, and the collection includes two sophisticated silhouettes in four colour combinations (above). Each frame has its own special lens adapted to light conditions that prevail throughout African voyages. Ocean (top row) highlights the glorious blues of the Indian Ocean, and the gradient lenses are made for the extreme weather conditions in the tropics. Forest is a tribute to the lush forests in central Africa, and the beautiful gradient and photochromic lenses provide maximum protection from direct sunlight.

The magical colours of Africa are further captured by LGR in Savanna, as it recalls sunsets and red shadows. The polarized neophan layer on the gradient lenses is made from rare earth elements. The fourth colour celebrates the sandy dunes of the Sahara, where light frequencies are amongst the highest on earth. These lenses are double mirrored and darken around the upper and lower area to give protection from the sun’s glaring rays.

If you love adventure – whether in Africa or other ports of call – these LGR sunglasses are dynamic and so elegant. www.lgr-sunglasses.com JG