Eight

Lunor I 12

Lunor

With its traditional styling and craftsmanship using precious contemporary materials, this classic from luxury company Lunor is very good-looking. It has a telescopic slide temple, which allows you to extend the sides – this was typical of mid 19th century metal spectacles and was a temple style known in France as early as the 1780s –  and this feature has been developed especially by the makers, in a modern context. The frame also features an open temple tip, also used in the 19th century, and emerging today as a smart trendy design feature. For added luxury, these Lunor spectacles are delivered in a smart individual folding wood case. Lunor is based in Germany and was set up by Gernot Lindner, an eyewear collector who has his own collection of antique spectacles dating from 1650 to 1950. The company is now run by Lindner’s friend, Ulrich Fux, a master optician, and his son, Michael. www.lunor.de CN

 

 

Gladys

Lafont Eyewear

Leopard accessories are a significant winter trend, and for designer frames, Lafont has this great style with a touch of  jungle magic and vintage flair. The edgy design by Thomas Lafont, has a slightly raised peak along the brow, for a stunning ophthalmic shape in layered acetate. An architectural lift highlights the sculpted temples, and the overall result is beautifully crafted. As a Lafont wearer, I know from experience that the designs fit so comfortably, and literally, frame the face in an elegant manner. For further details, visit www.lafont.com JG

Tripoli

L.G.R.

Tripoli is a fine example of L.G.R.’s Italian acetate spectacles…each of these designs is made by hand using old-fashioned techniques…L.G.R. brings together a love of authentic vintage design and an understanding of the values of the history of traditional Italian eyewear production. Free from embellishments or logos, the models speak for themselves! Available in a range of colours including black, brown and dark havana, Tripoli’s modern angular flat front is likely to turn heads in the months ahead (a very trendy look for guys in 2012) but is also likely to remain covetable in years to come. www.lgr-sunglasses.com. CN

O’Day

l.a.eyeworks

Legendary American jazz singer Anita O’Day is the inspiration for this classically proportioned circular shaped acetate frame in an array of vibrant colours. The black and bottle green split combination (above) is perfect for neo-preppies looking for heritage with a new twist. Designer Gai Gherardi says that watching the video with the elegant O’Day performing at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1957 prompted the frame concept. For a vintage treat, the performance can be viewed at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agp2on83hrA  www.laeyeworks.com JG

 

Gemma

Kirk Originals

Just checked this one out in Paris…the brand new Beam Collection from the British cult brand Kirk Originals is made of acrylic, an unusual choice in eyewear, that innovator Jason Kirk has been using for temples combined with other materials since the late 1990s. The result is beautiful, as the material has a lovely shine when polished, similar to that of glass, and the intensity of the colours is striking. Handmade in France, the frames are unusual in that they do not need re-enforcing wires in the temples, so the lines remain pure. Shapes are oversized as is typical of the Kirk Originals brand, and a new colour process allows bright hues to merge and separate in tones of fluo orange, yellow, pink and acqua. RRP 420 euros. Available immediately at the Kirk Originals flagship store in London. www.kirkoriginals.com