Design + Inspiration

A flourishing French brand from a young designer

Creative designer Aude Herouard trained within a prestigious opticians in Rouen, ‘Le Lanchon’. This experience as well as her diverse creative talent and passion for design, fashion and luxury materials encouraged her to start her own business in the world of eyewear, and so her eponymous label was brought to life. Above: the French designer Aude Herouard: she says her collection has required years of research and planning. The frames are produced exclusively in France. Photography by Charlotte Stouvenot

Laced with feminine values and family virtues, the brand brings inspiration from Herouard’s experiences and stories from the past. Raised close to the cliffs of Normandy, the designer is the daughter of a farmer. From here, and through the contrast between Herouard’s current Parisian lifestyle and this romantic, naturalistic and wholesome upbringing, she sources much of the inspiration for the chosen frame shapes and structures as well as the selection of interesting materials included in the line. Herouard is equally inspired by strong, charismatic women in her life and executes this inspiration with particular attention to colours used throughout her designs, ranging from blush pink to darker mixes of amber, olive and brown. She does this, in her own words, “to illustrate femininity in all its nuances”.

The frames themselves have a woman’s name, expressing their character and style, each one inspired by the founder’s circle of family and friends. Colette, Brigitte, Christiane, Françoise…. – along with the names comes a fun personified description of the frame such as “Brigitte is straightforward. She makes you look good without breaking the lines of your face.”

Well researched materials used and a traditional French manufacturing process illustrate the importance of “natural elegance” for Herouard. Bio acetate is the principal material used; a mixture of wood pulp, cotton fibre and natural binders. Manufactured in Italy, the founder says her material is hypoallergenic as well as recyclable, biodegradable, non-toxic and non-polluting while the organic French glass lenses offer 100% UV protection.

Already available widely in France and further afield, the line is stocked in fine optical retailers and specialists in high quality and eco friendly frames including Le Bar a Lunettes (Belgium), Edgard Opticiens (Tours, France), Opticien Lunetier Responsable Sacrees Mirettes (Lille) and Astrologo Ottica (Italy).  For more information visit www.audeherouard.com

Written by Victoria G L Brunton for Eyestylist.com

Pince-nez edition in collaborative series influenced by antique tradition

In their latest collaboration, Rigards and Uma Wang explore the classical beauty of the pince-nez, a popular 19th and early 20th century staple, traditionally designed without temples and featuring a C-shaped bridge, which served as a clip to hold the lenses on the wearer’s nose.

For the avant-garde design of the new RG00UW6, oval lenses and slender stainless steel temples are accompanied by the dramatic C-shaped bridge and distinctive curved nose-pads, designed to fit all. Above: a design to fit all faces and features, reproducing the C-shaped bridge while revealing fresh artistry and technical skill

About the brands: Rigards and Uma Wang have embarked on a series of collaborative designs which to date have included Le Wood in aluminium-magnesium and solid wood and the 2019 designs UW5 and UW10 – https://www.eyestylist.com/2019/11/rigards-x-uma-wang-exclusive-collaboration/ among other unique designs. With its predilection for handcrafted design and artisanal excellence, Rigards has become a highly-regarded leader in handmade avant-garde eyewear produced in some of the finest and most unusual materials in the field including natural wood, buffalo horn, copper and sterling silver. Find out more at www.rigards.com

Summer expression from the bridal designer in VWX range

Just out from Vera Wang, and the most luxurious edition in her extensive eyewear and sunglasses collections, models Aviva and Taraji are two statement designs (of 5) that bring a new and beautifully defined design style to the collection while remaining true to the codes of the Vera Wang aesthetic. These glamorous high quality frames have an exclusive finish and are made in Japan – in a limited series and limited high-class colour palette. Above: model wears AVIVA in the VWX collection from Vera Wang – available exclusively in two unique colours only

A distinctive flat top design characterizes the Aviva model, but rather than have a typically masculine look, the frame is feminine and slick with a shape that is not too deep and therefore current. The stainless steel temples balance the design and the large logo, engraved and filled with a subtle enamel is present on the left temple, adding not just fashion style but also a trendy tactile finish.

The edgy triangular shape of Taraji is instantly eye-catching and reminiscent of a cat’s eye with a more daring modern look that will suit celebrities and eyewear connoisseurs alike. The lenses are mounted via screws – floating out and away from the sides of the frame.