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Trend alert: pastels

13th January 2012

13th January 2012 The coming season promises lots of pretty pale shades, and with this in mind I have been looking out for some sunglasses that reflect a new mood. Prabal Gurung’s statement piece, a sunglass produced in a brand new collaboration with the well-loved London-based Linda Farrow gives a taste of this new wave in pale tints and transparents with a hint of the futuristic, despite referencing the 1950s catseye all the way….this is an unusual show-stopper of a design that has had great success on the catwalk where they were featured with Gurung’s bold floral print dresses and lavish figure-enhancing pieces with contrasting sheer panels. Above: Prabal Gurung by Linda Farrow Projects SS’12 – for Linda Farrow visit www.lindafarrow.co.uk. For details on designer Prabal Gurung, and to see the full Spring 2012 runway video featuring the sunglasses, visit www.prabalgurung.com CN

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Erna

12th January 2012

Winning Awards – Fleye

12th January 2012 Danish eyewear company Fleye have launched the New Year with a stunning new design, an international award, and a business citation. They were named Eyewear of the Year 2012 in the category “Ladies Eyewear” at the International Optical Fair in Tokyo (IOFT). The winning frame is elegant Erna (above), with Diva details in the flowing acetate shape in Havana brown with gold dust, and gold temples in a subtle honeycomb pattern. In addition, the leading Danish business newspaper, Borsen, named Fleye as a high growth company in 2011. www.fleye.dk JG

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A note on acetate quality

11th January 2012

11th January 2012 Acetate frames come in all variants…if you see as many frames as we do, then it’s obvious that there are some truly outstanding ones around, but I always think it’s a point that should be illustrated as there is so much choice these days….if you are shopping for a new acetate frame and you want a good one, then it is worth studying what’s on the shelves and comparing the colours and detail of the pattern or finish ….here I have picked out some first favourites for 2012 which have been photographed to highlight the stunning transparency and vibrancy of the material at its finest. Pictured above: La Polverosa by the Italian label L.G.R. www.lgr-sunglasses.com. This design comes in a range of beautiful acetates, including the soft horn-like tone pictured, a look that is very much of the moment.

In the industry, Italian cellulose acetates (also known as zyl) and some of the Japanese ones are considered to be at the top of the league with the Italian producer Mazzucchelli being the most popular choice for the highest quality labels…the colour tones, depth of pattern, detail and overall beauty of the material tend to be very pleasing to the eye if you choose a top-quality one, giving the frames a special lightness and luminosity on the face….see for yourselves in these elegant examples.

For more information on Oscar Magnuson spectacles visit www.oscarmagnuson.com. For further details on the Japanese brand Yellows Plus featured above, visit www.yellowsplus.com CN

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Moss Lipow

9th January 2012

Author of Eyewear – a Visual History – speaks exclusively to Eyestylist

9th January 2012 Visual arts connaisseur and eyewear designer Moss Lipow takes time from his busy agenda to answer our questions about his most enduring passion – eyewear.

Eyestylist: When did you start collecting frames and what sparked your interest?

Moss Lipow: I originally found I had to wear glasses in my late teens. I was less than enthusiastic. I was surprised to find that rather than limiting my style, they gave me a chance to enhance my style. I began to get more and more glasses for my prescription, then I started getting frames I liked just as a design object. When it reached critical mass and became an actual collection though, it is hard to say. Eventually I realised I loved it as a design medium and wanted to create in it, so I began to collect more to learn more. There really wasn’t a thorough reference available. Eventually, I decided I’d like to write one, so I began to curate while I was collecting, so I’d have representative examples of everything. I conceived this project ten years ago. I’d say I have about 3000 frames, and almost all of the pieces were acquired individually and curated from a diverse collection. It’s hard to pick a favourite. I tend to like old safety and motoring glasses. They weren’t actually trying to be stylish, but they were definitely stylish.

The American actress Melitta Mara with her dog "Frisco," Photogr — American actress Melitta Mara with her dog "Frisco"

Eyestylist: What has been your most astonishing discovery about eyewear?

Moss Lipow: The lack of limits as to what can be done with it. I think a great many fascinating things have been done in the past, and even more will be done in the future.

Eyestylist: Does your art background influence your designs?

Moss Lipow: I basically work on two different levels. I do things for performers and fashion editorial that are rather theatrical. I use an arsenal of visual reference to drive home the point to be made. The only rule is to say what you need to as clearly as possible. You mine references with designs meant to be worn on a day to day basis as well, only within accepted parameters of wearability. Taste and restraint are necessary. In a way though, when a person picks their outfit for a given day, they’re styling their wardrobe – it’s almost like their life is a movie, and they’re the star. As a designer it’s your obligation to help them feel like the star – cool, glamourous, elegant and mildly heroic.

Dolce Vita, La — Marcello Mastroianni in La Dolce Vita (1960)

Eyestylist: Who do you feel are the “visionaries” in eyewear today?

Moss Lipow: The newer wave of entrepreneurs and designers building more self-consciously design oriented brands.

Eyestylist: Do you think that the interest in eyewear will continue?

Moss Lipow: Yes, it’s been pretty consistent since the late 1920’s. Most of all, it’s related to the acceptance of eyewear as a fashion item. I think the future will manifest itself in the continued proliferation and growth of boutique brands. They are niche now, but it’s a nice sized niche, and it will continue to grow.

241A_EYEWEAR_VA_06773 Lippow — Cezanne sunglasses, Foster Grant, U.S. Late 1960's

Eyestylist: Do you have an amusing/unusual/ “serendipity moment” about your research for the book?

Moss Lipow: Getting recognition as a designer let me know a lot of the people who made the fashion history I wrote about. For the future, I plan on opening a retail store in New York that will be a sort of eyewear Mecca. I’ll do custom work for special clients, sell my work, and it will be a shrine to the medium. Eyewear – A Visual History is published by Taschen www.taschen.com JG

All images courtesy of Moss Lipow.

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Mykita 8

8th January 2012

Mykita celebrates their eighth anniversary

8th January 2012 Mykita 8 – published by the Berlin-based eyewear company – offers a behind-the-scenes peek of events and goings-on in the Mykita workshop. The book coincides with the company’s 8th anniversary, and a variety of artists were asked to describe the spirit and feelings they associate with their Mykita frames, illustrated through text, art and photography. Further festivities include the relaunch of Mykita’s iconic Platinum design, a Limited Edition with three different styles. Each style is resplendent with an exclusive platinum coating that is applied using a galvanic process. One of the most valuable raw materials on earth, the coating is applied to both the frame and the Christian Dalloz Sunoptic lenses. Happy Birthday Mykita! Further details at www.mykita.com JG