Design + Inspiration

Lunettes Alf: through trends and time

15th October 2020

Ageless beauty meets timeless design in new portrait imagery by Dorian Prost for Lunettes Alf

The new campaign from Lunettes Alf, rolling out in the months to come, expresses the modern versatility of the French artisan label, and its sober minimalistic style, inspired by iconic glasses of the 1920s and subsequent eras, with particular fondness for the 50s, 60s and 70s. Delicate yet powerful, ageless and uncluttered, the collection by Alf promises elevated finesse through primary materials – refined hand polished Japanese acetate combined with photochromic mineral glass lenses, and for the cord and case, natural leather. Above: Bernard Fouquet wears model h19.01, the optical version of Alf’s e18.01, an elegant, classic round spectacle design. Photography by Dorian Prost

a20.02 by Lunettes Alf worn by Maeva Prigent

Model a20.02 is a reinterpretation of a frame created by the Italian ‘salute pubblica‘ (National Health system) in the 1960s. The rectangular design and strong shaping of the bridge is reminiscent of Marcello Mastroianni’s eyewear style in Fellini’s great cinematic works. The frame is well suited to men and women and an oval face shape and comes in a retro-inspired variety of colours which include clear crystal, dark tortoise and black.

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a20.02 by Lunettes ALF worn by Bart Alalof

Lunettes Alf – and their artisan eyewear collection 20/21 was created by brothers Germain and Alexis Bouchara in 2018 and has quickly become available at some of the world’s finest optical boutiques including Kitschenberg (Munich), Frank Lo (Rome) and Opta (Paris). To find out more about the latest additions in the Lunettes Alf collection visit their website at www.lunettes-alf.com

Design + Inspiration

Kirk & Kirk : bold + colourful for ’21

14th October 2020

Supersize styles in confident colours, from the UK design label

The colours just keep coming at the British eyewear company, Kirk & Kirk, whose latest additions in the Centena collection offer extra large sizes in bright, exciting statement colorways. The Kirks say that they are responding to a demand for larger sizing (adding eye sizes 59 and 60) with, in models Angus and Guy, an elevated choice of bright acrylic translucent tones – beyond the mainstream styles in brown and black. Above: Model Guy in the Centena collection. This square and angular men’s frame has a distinguished double bridge detail and thick temples. These frames come in a choice of ten technicolor tints.

All about style: Angus from the Centena Collection by British label Kirk & Kirk – in colour ‘jade’

Model Angus has a square eye shape with flat brow line. Created in acrylic in small traditional spectacle-making factories in France, the frames are very light to wear. By using a 10mm thick material the frame has the extra advantage of hiding “even the most challenging of lens prescriptions” to ensure a strong fashion vibe as well as real comfort. Read about the latest updates here https://www.eyestylist.com/2020/09/kaleidoscope-of-colours-kirk-kirk/ and find out more at www.kirkandkirk.com

Design + Inspiration

Highlighted brand: Reflect Eyewear, London

1st October 2020

Thomas Farrow Tomson wrote to us about unique sunglasses brands for a younger age group, from around 16. There began a project to identify specific collections, more unusual and unique styles, and an opportunity to highlight those frames and their details and benefits to reach the 16-25 age group wishing for fashion with an ethos of style, comfort and originality.

Reflect Eyewear, from London combines a love for hand-finished Italian craftsmanship and distinctive gender-neutral shapes and colours made for all ages, without using conspicuous logos and leaving the design and overall look to speak for itself. Their appeal for the young wearer and this particular audience is the combination of design, quality and price – at £179 sterling (online) they are affordable and similarly priced to mass-produced “famous” fashion eyewear brands.

Above: Thomas wears AF11 Unique by Reflect Eyewear, an Italian acetate sunglass style with Carl Zeiss Vision sun lenses – “As many of my close friends know, I have strong feelings about being myself and showing who I am. You can do this even through the expression and style of your glasses….” Thomas Farrow Tomson – photography by @suede_baby

The AF13 by Reflect (above and below) has a thick Mazzucchelli (Italian made) acetate frame fitted with Carl Zeiss Vision sunlenses for high-quality UV protection. The squareish bold eye shape of the front mixes corners and curves which complement the contours of the face.

Model AF8 in clear pink has a downward curve in the top bar and matching crystal pink infused frame and lens, a look that is back with a vengeance for trans-seasonal wear.

About the brand – the London-based brand Reflect Eyewear was founded by Andrea Pisano and Francesco del Garda two years ago. Their aim was to create a high-quality line of glasses, produced in Italy with timeless yet innovative designs that could appeal to an audience who seeks a distinctive and unique style. The brand first launched its models at Sonar, the electronic music festival in Barcelona. Later in June 2019, to mark the launch of the ‘Colour’ collection Reflect Eyewear presented an installation with elements of wood and mirrors at the luxury designer store LABOUTIK during London Fashion Week.

Photography by @suede_baby. Model – Thomas Farrow Tomson @thomasfarrowtomson – for Eyestylist.com. Eyewear by Reflect Eyewear – www.reflect-eyewear.com – For enquiries about product placements and working with our UK-based team of photographers and models, please contact [email protected]

Design + Inspiration

Virtual products highlight: Tyche + Iset Eyewear, Los Angeles

30th September 2020

Virtual products showcase The Galápagos Collection is a metaphorical reflection of my journey within the eyewear industry as an emerging designer, says Morganne Leigh, founder and designer, Tyche + Iset Eyewear. She says this latest Collection has evolved into a lesson about persistence and adaptation in order to survive; such as the exotic flora and fauna of the famed islands in the Pacific Ocean. Pictured above: Las Islas in midnight marble

Las Mariposas sunglasses comes in three unique colours

Bold, glamorous, with fine crafting and careful attention to materials, the line offers versatile shapes (find geometric, oval and oversized squareish forms), and a confident artistic design language.

Las Iguanas from the Galápagos collection

The award-winning young label Tyche + Iset Eyewear is founded on the mythological aspects of life, telling stories through eclectic and alluring design.

Products: Galápagos collection Brand: Tyche + Iset Eyewear Website: www.tycheandiset.com Contact address: [email protected]

About the Eyestylist virtual products showcase: the Eyestylist virtual products showcase offers a unique launchpad for new avantgarde, artisan or luxury eyewear and sunglass products – through Autumn 2020. The showcase is an initiative designed to connect Eyestylist readers and specialist designers in the absence of international trade fairs + launch events due to the Coronavirus pandemic. For more details email [email protected].

Design + Inspiration

French chic at Volte Face Paris

29th September 2020

Virtual products showcase Volte Face, from French design house JF Rey, is synonymous with a classic offbeat style. The label introduces new exciting silhouettes for the season, infused by a free and powerful femininity of spirit. Shapes and details alongside exclusive colorations come with patterned materials in unexpected transparencies and finely finished mix-and-match tones. Above: model OHM in the Volte Face line: the frame is inspired by the Art Deco movement

Innovative light effects, hidden details and sculpted volumes are characteristics of the new frames. Model Ofelie is representative of the combination styles in metal and acetate. A narrow metal bar in two colours defines the brow line and complements the acetate colorations.

The handmade classic shapes of Ola (above) and Onyx (below) are paired with a pretty textured-look acetate informed by the iconic technical folds of couture pieces by Issey Miyake. The material is delicately sculpted using a sharp milling technique giving the frames exceptional shine and artistic qualities playing with reflection.

The designs reflect a Parisian elegance, with creative, multi-colored proposals which give the line its wearable, modern aesthetic.

Product: Ola, Onyx, Ohm and Ofelie Brand: Volte Face at JF Rey Website: https://www.jfrey.fr/volte-face/ Contact address: [email protected]