Reviews | Eyestylist

Lunor I 12

1st February 2012

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

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Nine

Horde

1st February 2012

Lafont

2012 sees some new interpretations using carbon in eyewear…this material tends to have an industrial feel but Lafont has come up with something quite different to create a very chic finish. Spotted at the trade show Silmo in the autumn, (and I’ve been eager to show it), model Horde conbines carbon temples with a colourful transparent acetate…both materials are patterned but in such a way that it avoids being flashy and manages to capture an elegant feeling….and a refreshing one that moves away from classic black and the slightly overplayed geek chic formula. Lafont has also created handsome “Riviera” sunglasses using the carbon, which combine French class and a touch of innovation with the clever use of the material. www.lafont.com CN

Reviews

Blacktie 139

1st February 2012

Dior Homme

An acetate and metal combination, with an eighties square design from an established line for men. The acetate is nicely contrasted against a slim metal browbar. The temples feature the Dior Homme letters in metal, understated yet visible. Colours include gun with black, black with spotted brown, palladium and black or gun and dark havana. A spectacle design that manages to pull off the stylish simplicity of the Blacktie sunglass collection, of which the grey aviators are my preferred choice. See the sunglass range at www.dior.com CN

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Arcadia

1st January 2012

Entourage of 7

I enjoy finding new labels, and while I haven’t yet worn one of these or had the chance to see the whole line, I am very pleased it has appeared on my desktop. Arcadia is topping my wishlist for 2012…this is a bold thing in red, the slightly articulated, angular design is modified from a 60s cat shape with a lovely deep lens, and it bears no decoration or emblem which seems to serve it very well indeed. If you want your sunnies to combine a very trendy shape for 2012, and preserve a touch of vintage chic and handcrafted originality, this is a style we recommend. Made from Japanese zyl, the frame has top quality, durable 5 barrel hinges and double gradient AR backside coated lenses for a high-level UV protection. The brand Entourage of 7 is located in Los Angeles, and is run by two Danish eyewear designers, Rikke Brogaard and Jakob Talbo, who love 50s and 60s Danish design, and L.A.s laid back style, which is caught in the frames through the choice of warm, playful colours. Frames to look out for. www.eof7.com CN

January

Alexander Wang AW14C2

1st January 2012

Linda Farrow/Alexander Wang collaboration

An aviator that has caught my eye, partly because this shape defines a key mood for next year, but also because this one adds a decorative touch to the metal base with a patterned acetate. An American fashion designer of extraordinary repute who has won countless awards including, in 2011, GQ’s best new menswear designer of the year, Wang’s sunglasses have an edge that send fashion editors into a frenzy…his “extreme” cat eye sunglasses with metal corners were, and still are, a bit of a cult piece for girls. It will be very interesting to see if this one, or any of its sister shapes in the designer’s S/S 2012 range produced with the UK’s Linda Farrow, gets the same buzz this year. Coming soon to the online store at www.lindafarrow.co.uk CN