15th March, 2011 The eyewear company Theo has given a whole new meaning to the word round….with these adventurous collectible spectacles…known as theOphabet, featuring capital letters….it’s an irrestistible design which we love for its eccentricity combined with technical prowess. For more awesome, eccentric styles from Belgium and lots of wearable styles too, go to www.theo.be
13th March, 2011 Green is an up and coming colour, and I’ll be keeping an eye out for more and more of it next season (A/W 2011/12)….but for now, I have picked out this refreshing Spring green in high-quality acetate from the UK’s Cutler & Gross. Their ‘Mermaid and the Officer’ collection for S/S 2011, which is inspired by “a beautiful seductive sea siren” includes this classic shape (model 1009) which gets a makeover in translucent seaweed green. It’s a fresh alternative to more traditional tones, and a perfect transitional style to take you from Spring into Summer. For more information (and for the relaxing sound of seagulls on the beach when you click onto the site, part and parcel of the ‘Mermaid and the Officer’ story), visit www.cutlerandgross.com CN
9th March, 2011 – Thirty-one prestigious eyewear designers will present their newest collections this weekend – 13 and 14th March – in the elegant Théatre La Fourmi in Lucerne, Switzerland. The international line up includes TD Tom Davies from England, Götti Switzerland, Blue Magic Eye from Italy, Americans Paul Frank and Barton Perreira, Face à Face Paris, Rolf Spectacles from Austria and Lindberg from Denmark, among others. The show is open to eyewear professionals, and organiser Nathanaël Wenger says, “We love independent designer glasses, and this passion is the reason that we organise this show.” JG www.hallofframes.ch
HOF – Hall of Frames, Théatre La Fourmi, Tribschenstrasse 61, 6005 Lucerne
London 7th March, 2011 The German brand REIZ, which specialises in handmade acetate frames, has launched a new line, Lovely Streams, a selection of very refined, very light designs in transparent smoky hues. These are at the top of the league if you want a comfortable, timeless yet contemporary acetate style that feels soft and luxurious making it pleasurable and easy to wear. The colours of this line are indicative of the key colours for Autumn 2011/12. Model Neckar (named after the German river in Baden-Wurttemberg) in the stunning light amber shade pictured has a very 1970s feel about it in keeping with clothing trends and the tan/mustard colour palette. If you want to find REIZ in the UK, try Auerbach & Steele (King’s Road) www.auerbach-steele.com and Spex in the City (Covent Garden) www.spexinthecity.com. www.reiz.net CN
Milan, 6th March, 2011 When I lived in Canada, memorable artistic moments included the discovery of the country’s Native design. The extraordinary totem poles, particularly outstanding in Vancouver’s Stanley Park, are the inspiration for wood frames by Spectacle Eyeworks. Each frame is crafted from sustainable, certified Canadian maple wood. The frames are amazingly lightweight, as they are placed on a rimless wire mount behind the wooden front piece. Expertly carved fish, miniature Indians and other motifs from authentic totem poles are replicated on the temples, sculpted, and then the wood is polished. The frames truly are a work of art! JG www.spec-eyeworks.com