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This season’s looks, modelled by the girls on the inside

3rd May 2011 Seeing how real women wear their sunglasses is much more inspirational than looking at pictures of models in magazines. So we’ve asked our female friends in the eyewear industry to share with us the styles they are enjoying wearing for S/S 11. And while some were a bit shy, the results of our research will be posted over the next days …we absolutely love seeing how they have styled their frames, and we want more images please!!! If you are working for a frame designer and want to send us your picture this month please hurry and email us ([email protected]) – if you can send us a high quality photograph plus a picture of the frame you are modelling, we will feature you and details on your favourite design! Hurry girls… CN

Monica Chong (pictured above) is Creative Director and PR Director at the British eyewear brand Cutler & Gross. Her frame is called Blue Sparkle 1004, one of the styles in the Cutler & Gross S/S 11 Mermaid and the Office Collection.

“This sunglass style is right for me,” says Monica, ” because I love 40s and 50s fashion; I am wearing a 40s style playsuit in this picture which I designed myself for my own collection. The cardigan is a vintage 50s piece. The Cutler & Gross Blue Sparkle sums up the blue sparkling ocean on a hot summer day. The style represents pure Hollywood glamour with a vintage feel, perfect for Mermaids! I look for frames that suit my personality and style, as I collect vintage 40s and 50s hats, clothes and jewels. I have a tendency to choose cat’s eyes to complete my look, but I also love what is current and on trend. I have more evening wear than day wear; I adore the works of McQueen, Givenchy, Lanvin and Westwood.”

www.cutlerandgross.com

Floral sunglasses for Spring/Summer

1st May 2011 Florals are so much in fashion, and I’ve been looking for sunglasses that work with this trend. Nicole Farhi’s Jackie Poppy Print Sunglasses, an oversized round shape, are a wonderful choice (see picture above and below). They are retailing at £90.00 and can be purchased direct from the website. The style has appeared in all the fashion pages in the last weeks and are probably close to selling out as they combine a flattering shape with the sensuous colouring of the lavish poppy fabric ( www.nicolefarhi.com).

I have also fallen for the Shell sunglasses below by Francis Klein (www.francisklein.com), a French brand which is producing quite a few floral themed products, including optical frames…all of which you can browse through on their very enjoyable website.

Some of them have little enamelled flowers decorating the printed acetate, they are very chic indeed.

Other florals that I have found in eyewear are the new styles in the Dolce & Gabbana collection, including the DG 4111 M, which has flowers on the arms, contrasting with a single colour front such as this punchy red.

There is also the popular collection produced in Italy by RetroSuperFuture for the London fashion store Liberty, featuring the store’s famous Liberty prints. Having looked at the models yesterday in the shop, I am really impressed – the price tag at £120/£130 offers a sturdy vintage design and lovely details such as the colourful fabric and the high-quality Zeiss UV protective lenses, not to mention the very pretty matching packaging.

http://store.retrosuperfuture.com/ CN

Limited Edition of favourite 1980s styles

23rd April 2011 I have followed Cazal for years. Designer Cari Zalloni has a unique style, and is particularly popular for his very individual designs of the 1980s. So this Limited Edition will become sought after..the company is re-releasing its four top sellers of the 80s, models CAZAL 623 – 856 – 901 and 904. The drawings of the models by Zalloni are great examples of the designer’s attention to detail, exuberance and passion for eyewear.

Cazal’s 1980s vintage frames are increasingly sought after and the original editions of these models are quite rare, so collectors love them; it’s likely the new interpretations will attract excitement all over again (the rap world loves the Cazal label especially – Jay Z wears some of the classic styles – as does Usher, the R&B star).

For more on the German based Cazal brand and to view the full collection visit www.cazal-eyewear.com CN

Looking to the Future

21st April 2011 Potential budding young eyewear designers, students at London’s prestigious Royal College of Art –  www.rca.ac.uk – were invited to submit their creations for the 2011 Optrafair, held in Birmingham this month.  The participants let their imaginations flow, and used materials normally associated with eyewear, plus they experimented with the unusual – rice, twisted wire-work, silks, textured weaves and boiled wool. First prize winner Claire Zeng was inspired by a visit to London’s Gagosian Gallery to see a light exhibition. Zeng said that the architecture and colours of the Arizona dessert also tweaked her creativity. Her winning entry in acetate blends geometry and modernity, plus Zeng said she wanted some “playfulness”. UK frame manufacturers Premiere Optical Services, produced the prototypes. JG