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1950s inspired glacier goggles from Mykita&Moncler

9th December 2011 I am still looking around for the more stylish quality protective sun styles for skiing, and with a trip to Austria creeping up, I hope to find something that suits me (can be really hard to find the right combination of style with technical features) and that offers true protection in the depths of winter when protection from wind and weather, as well as UV, is crucial for safety and full enjoyment.

Just arrived in my mailbox is this image of one of Mykita & Moncler’s new shades (model Achille), suitable for downhill runs and classic everyday use and produced in a collaboration with the German brand. They are inspired by the look of 1950s Alpine goggles, which featured round lenses in metal rims with leather side pieces for the ultimate protection against dangerous UV rays. But these are futuristic, produced in Mykita’s new Mylon material, and fitted with top notch Barberini glass lenses with stylish flash mirror finish.  Available from mid December at Mykita stores and Moncler boutiques worldwide. www.moncler.com CN

Ski Style by Emmanuelle Khanh

8th December 2011 A new design theme for a ski necessity is this vibrant red mask (style 1969 Rouge) by French fashion company Emmanuelle Khanh. The shape is smaller than a conventional ski mask, yet it provides protection from wind and misting with its form fitting eye shape, and an adjustable elastic band for the desired comfort. The mask is beautifully chiselled in shiny, high quality acetate – certain to make a stylish and protective statement on the ski slopes, as well as for other winter sports. www.emmanuellekhanh.com JG

Sunglasses with technical enhancements

7th December 2011 The biggest issues for me when I ski are the misting up aspect, whether I’m wearing goggles or sunglasses, and the need for really good visibility in all weather conditions, given how mountain conditions can change dramatically in a short space of time. I would also recommend asking about the lenses you are buying. There are lots of high-tech properties, and as these two examples show, these should be part and parcel of the package. Both of the models reviewed here have a variety of enhancements, coatings and comfort benefits that can improve your overall sports experience.

I like the look of the Terrex Fast by Adidas (pictured above, in white and green) and I’ve used a couple of Adidas wraparounds in the past for skiwear that worked well so I would definitely consider this one for the future. Recommended for hiking and mountaineering, the style is described as being very light because it is made from shatterproof SPX material and it has a technical sports look. I like the idea that the nosepads and temples are adjustable, the UV protection is obviously a key factor, and the frame is pretty versatile, so you can change the arms for a headband and the lens colour according to weather conditions. You can also remove the foam liner to give the frame a less sporty, more everyday feel for apres ski. The frame can take the Adidas prescription insert for those needing correction which I have used and find comfortable and easy for good vision during sports. www.adidas.com/eyewear

For simple styling and reliability in terms of technical performance, this wrap by Serengeti also appears to tick lots of boxes. It has a minimal unpretentious design and high performance lenses, made from a top level lens material with excellent optical quality, called NXT. Common to all Serengeti lenses, the Polar PhD lens delivers proprietary Spectral Control, designed to provide good contrast and superior colour enhancement by filtering out specific colours within the visible light spectrum. This basically means that you get crisper colour and clearer images. Serengeti lenses are also designed to block blue light, eliminating ‘blue blur’ that leads to eye strain and fatigue. And as if that wasn’t enough to ensure good protection and comfort, the Serengeti Polar PhD lens boasts an anti-scratch hard coat, seven layer backside anti-reflective coating, and oleo phobic coating technology for oil and water resistance. The Fasano is retailing in the UK at £149.00. www.serengeti-eyewear.com CN

Favourites for the slopes

5th December 2011 Through December, I plan to pinpoint a few of the best, fashionable sports pieces which would make extra special Xmas presents. To start off, we present two carefully picked designs which stand out for their combination of technical qualities with a stylish edge. This out-there goggle type sunglass (above), “Panic Station” is from the Australian brand Le Specs (known particularly at the moment for their Henry Holland collaboration) and was launched in September. The style is said to offer a good balance of protection with its polarised lenses and cool shape; I would certainly consider it as a fun, trendy look for the sunny spells on the slopes. Find Le Specs Alpine online at www.eyerespect.com. 

Much has been written about the Mykita Mylon collection, with models designed for skiing plus everyday use…the first time Mylon, a polyamide-based material, has been used to produce frames, these designs are described as stable, lightweight and very durable. Zeiss lenses, known for their excellent quality, complete the picture here, while colours vary from classic black to head-turning neon. A futuristic designer sunglass collection produced by slick German eyewear label Mykita. www.mykita.com CN

2nd December 2011 The Gloucester Road based optical store Eyeworks London, founded by Brenda McKernan, hosted a party last night to celebrate a new shop-in-shop concept launched by Cutler & Gross, which the British cult glasses company hopes to roll out to other UK based shops soon. “We have mixed ages coming to the practice and we are very successful with the brands I have picked out, which include some of the finest children’s collections as well as an interesting selection of top-quality, fashionable  European frame ranges for adults,” explained Brenda McKernan. “Cutler & Gross is very well known in London and so it’s a pleasure for us to be the first boutique offering this shop in shop experience. We want to ensure we can offer an exciting choice of  the latest glasses and sunglasses, and, overall, something different from the standard commercial brands.” Fantastic to see an optician in London with so much commitment to providing fashionable glasses to the local neighbourhood.

Visit the shop at 44 Gloucester Road, London SW7, to try on the new styles that have just come in or book an eye test by calling 0207 584 2697. CN www.eyeworkslondon.com