Design + Inspiration

An array of artisan designs are releasing at Oliver Goldsmith Sunglasses, including one model originally designed and worn by Audrey Hepburn

Just in, and just in time for the sunny spell! Oliver Goldsmith’s OG Icons collection has six new enticing designs for summer, oozing with the refined and glamorous spirit of the Goldsmith Icons – and its extraordinarily rich history. The OG Icons recreate the brand’s most historic and famous sunglasses worn by a host of celebrities in film, tv and fashion. Above: HEP is one of the new releases: the frame was originally designed for and worn by Audrey Hepburn in the 1960s. Recommended for women with smaller faces who wish to find a comfortable oversized frame with a beautiful timeless elegance, its oval shape is versatile while the colours include very cool nude tones of champagne and pink champagne or classic dark tortoise. The bevelled sculptural quality of this design and its neat vintage key hole bridge are special features.

Multi-sided geometric shapes in eyewear are a delightful, alternative shape this season; model Ego is a 1970s variation with a shapely architectural construction that layers a modified hexagon on top of a more squarish shape. If vintage colour is your thing, then this frame delivers with its stylish combinations of black with leopard and tortoise and sand while trendy nude tones of winterfell or pink champagne are feminine, chic and seasonally light.

The 1970s saw a new generation of creative eyewear shapes emerge for men. The Kendal at Oliver Goldsmith is representative of that look with its abstract angles and confident large shape, well adapted to the tastes of the design oriented modern man.

All six styles in this new OG release – available for pre-order – are handmade by artisans in Italy. The frames are made from cotton acetate and are fitted with premium, optical grade sun lenses. See the frames online at www.olivergoldsmith.com

Square, round, browline or aviator inspired…these four shapes are more slick than ever

The evolution of the classic glasses styles is something of a wonder for 2021. Even where the colours are minimal, delicate and pared down, the designs express a contemporary attitude and showcase an incredible range of materials, with details atuned to modern design enthusiasts.

The square shape is traditionally recommended for round and oval faces, and its versatile, so many of us can carry it off. In crystal tones, the style has a special charm, reminiscent of a look that has been much loved, and easy and flattering for hair colourings and varied tones of skin.

Round glasses are most often suggested for rectangular or square shaped faces but these rules can easily be broken, and the material and thickness of the design can really transform the style and how it looks on different faces. Meanwhile aviator glasses with a square or rectangular eye shape usually flatter oblong and rectangular faces; the double bridge typically has the effect of widening the face and creating a bold statement style. The traditional 1950s browline design (with a heavier line over the top of the front) can be suited to an oblong, oval or diamond shaped face; its expressive statement styling and generally quite large construction is popular with men who seek out vintage style glasses. Above: Nirvan Javan’s London collection – model 09-16 – a classically inspired square shape in a clear crystal acetate, www.nirvanjavan.com

l.a. eyeworks interpreted the classic round  in titanium this season: handmade in Japan, their Pismo design has a confident, intellectual air with its perfectly circular eye shape; custom acetate components on bridge and temples ensure that this frame gets noticed wherever it pops up! www.laeyeworks.com

Model Fresno is a roomy, square men’s aviator style with the classic double bridge – clearly vintage inspired with a three-dimensional sculpted nosepiece. The colours lend a stylistic integrity to the look, with modern muted tones of gunmetal, army green/silver and brown/silver or combinations with a flash of brighter colour on the inner surface such as blue/red and black/blue. www.blackfin.eu

A traditional browline shape, the combination frame ‘Adrian’ at Fleye has a refined contemporary design – resulting from some very attractive advanced materials. Made from carbon wood and titanium, the colours of dark blue, dark red, dark wood or carbon pattern exemplify this Danish company’s capabilities in special and spectacular finishes. The tiny rivets add to the aesthetic of the construction as well as the robust, and durable quality of the frame. Find out more at https://fleye.dk

A smart pair of square and oversized sunnies pulls everything together!

For anyone who’s got a little bit bored of the same old accessories in lockdown and a lazy form of dress, an upgraded pair of sunnies could change your outlook for summer! Sunglass trends are bold and brazen for the months ahead, with plenty of good, cheery colour combos, fantastic patterns and interesting voluminous forms to add a modern spin to any look.

Those who do not yet have a pair of large sunnies could look to a square eye shape which is polished and stylish and oozing retro distinction. The Series 4 sun style by the Italian label Essedue Sunglasses, an Italian artisan brand, is one of those styles in traditional Italian acetate, that works with the glamorous distinctive shape in amazing colours.  A classic black frame with beautiful bright graduated lenses is elegant and contemporary as is their red/tortoise combo (above and below) with a light pink tint lens.

The frame is substantial and well built, but not so big that the comfort would be compromised. The CR39 sun lenses, as is typical this season, come in tints that do not completely obscure the eyes and several chic graduated colours of grey or pink that are soft and delicate and easy to wear. Visit the Essedue online store for more information about model Series 4 at www.esseduesunglasses.com/product/serie-4/

The UK trade event for the optics industry is taking place online on 23rd-24th May 2021 via an invite only platform / independent artisan labels from Italy, Switzerland, UK and USA are highlighted as part of the carefully coordinated line-up which also includes CET accredited sessions

Headlining with a catwalk show filmed in central London, designed to showcase new eyewear lines to an audience of opticians at home in the UK and further afield, the 100% Optical Online will take place over two days. The event is designed to re-connect buyers and brands and encourage opportunity for new meetings and discoveries after difficult months of shop closures and lockdown and cancellation of numerous trade shows. The fair organisers have dedicated energy and enthusiasm to the online format, and exhibitors and participants include a selection of independent labels that shine the light on innovation and design for the Spring/Summer 2021 and Autumn 21 seasons.

On Monday 17th May, 100% will premiere the “100% Optical London Fashion Show” ahead of the fair.

The 100% virtual platform will provide networking opportunities via AI powered matchmaking, meeting request scheduling, video calls and instant messaging. A one-day programme will feature editorially led content in partnership with the AOP, CET accredited sessions as well as brand spotlight videos and interviews.

Above: The independent label Erker’s 1879  from the USA are regular exhibitors at the live 100% shows in London and this year they are taking part in the upcoming online event which will allow a chance to to discover their very latest new styles. Visit the Erker’s 1879 website to preview this heritage brand’s new collections: www.erkers1879.com

The distinctive artisan qualities of the Erker’s 1879 collection are highlighted in their new Maplewood spectacles, a combination design in stainless steel with a softly shaped acetate brow line. This type of retro infused design with handmade details works beautifully through the seasons and can be worn will a variety of apparel tones – from a slick black suit to colorful separates.

Among the brands from Italy that will have products to view during 100% online is Luca Gnecchi Ruscone’s prestigious handmade label L.G.R, the ultimate purveyor of high class acetate sunglasses and glasses with beautiful lines, proportions and rich tonal sophistication produced in traditional ways in family-run workshops. www.lgrworld.com

Portrait Eyewear is a small artistic label from Italy, with a style that is experimental and individualistic. The 1984 glasses come from their Art-Fakt series inspired by retro futurism and based on minimalistic shapes, clean geometries and flat elegant colours. https://portraiteyewear.com

Gotti Switzerland’s collection are a highlight at the 100% annual event, offering versatility, variety and beautiful lightweight comfort. The Swiss brand will exhibit during the event and is one of the highlighted labels in the catwalk presentation. Gotti is a hugely successful brand in the UK, with an aesthetic and colour palette that is subtle, sophisticated and very accessible for all ages. www.gotti.ch

100% Optical Online will take place on 23rd to 24th May 2021. The two day virtual event has been designed to offer an opportunity to opticians and optometrists to reconnect and meet suppliers. Independent brands will be well represented via UK distributors and agents and include the following highlights: Ahlem, Anna-Karin Karlsson, Blake Kuwahara, Booth & Bruce, DITA, Erker’s 1879, Gotti Switzerland, Kaleos, LA Loop, Line Art (Charmant), L.G.R, NW77th, Paul Smith, Portrait Eyewear, + Thom Browne.

The 100% virtual platform will provide networking opportunities via AI powered matchmaking, meeting request scheduling, video calls and instant messaging. A one-day programme will feature editorially led content in partnership with the AOP, CET accredited sessions as well as brand spotlight videos and interviews.

A physical event is planned for 22nd to 24th January 2022 at ExCeL London. Find out more at www.100percentoptical.com