Reviews

Brighton

Leisure Society

Timelessness, durability, craftsmanship and luxury all come together in Shane Baum’s Leisure Society eyewear collection. The designs are a tribute to Shane’s attention to detail and desire for perfection. Each frame is created as an heirloom piece, individually numbered and handmade.  Brighton is a particularly debonair men’s frame, a dashing aviator, in pure titanium that is then plated in 12k, 18k, or 24k gold.  Enamel touches are finely etched on the nosepiece and temples. Shane is a Southern California based designer with a very international outlook on style and design.  Find out more at www.leisure-society.com Or view these frames which are new arrivals in the UK – exclusively at the Kirk Originals store, 6 Conduit Street, London, W1. JG

Attic Safari

Lumete Eyewear

New York based Lumete Eyewear is a newcomer to the eyewear scene. Clara Herrera has had a life-long passion for eyewear, and Barbara Warren harboured entrepreneurial dreams.  So last summer, they joined forces to create Lumete Eyewear, a luxury, handmade brand for women, by women. The collection is crafted in beautiful materials, and colours with mystery and allure.  My favourite is Attic Safari in Turquoise Coast, a curvaceous acetate frame in gracious tones of turquoise and bronze.  Lumete’s signature symbol, a silver lily icon, is embedded into the temple. These frames are a welcome addition to  eyewear and we eagerly await future designs.  They are not yet available in Europe, but we hope they will be – soon! Styles can be ordered  online at www.lumete.com JG

Bone Polisher

Chrome Hearts

Aviator shaped sunglasses are experiencing a renaissance this season in exciting materials with luxurious embellishments.  A perfect example is Bone Polisher from Chrome Hearts. A 3D titanium punch-out rim front highlights the fluid aviator shape. The glossy black acetate front and tortoiseshell sides are accented with sterling silver, including a wrapped cross silver motif on the temple tips.  This frame is extremely chic with its understated, intrinsic beauty. Chrome Hearts is an American brand with a strong European following, and  their frames can be found in Paris at Les Plus Belles Lunettes du Monde www.lesplusbelleslunettesdumonde.com and in Rome at Monocle Vergerio, Via de Campo Marzio N. 13. www.opticalshopinternational/com JG

Katya

Götti Switzerland

Separating me from acetate requires a really amazing frame.  Sven Götti did it! The moment I tried on the Katya sunglasses, I realised the enjoyment to be found in wearing titanium. This is a feel-good frame – the high square shape is extremely graceful, and the lenses are a delicate shade of violet. An additional asset is the magical “Spin & Stow” temple, with its fully integrated hinge that can spin. A simple movement to revolve the temples, and the sunglasses become extremely flat and readily slide into a case or your pocket (see our January reviews, where we feature model Larry, we are both fans!). These frames are so enjoyable to wear, that getting accustomed to a new lens prescription was achieved without problem. Götti frames are available at the sleek, chic Lucerne boutique Götti & Niederer www.gotti-niederer.ch and in Barcelona at Soler Centre Visual www.solercentrevisual.com JG

Götti Switzerland www.gotti.ch

Factory One

Anne et Valentin

Specs with round eye shapes have been enjoying a revival and continue to do so this Spring, and this pretty shape from the French label Anne et Valentin shows how fun and contemporary they can be. All my choices this month are based on the classic round vintage shape (also known as a P3!)  that has an intellectual yet playful design and works just as well for women as for men.

The Factory models from Anne et Valentin are inspired by Andy Warhol and his New York Factory studio. This particular acetate design has a round shape that is slightly flattened at the top; the design has a nice handmade quality, adding to the vintage note. Colour choices include black, a rich red and a lovely classic tortoise. CN

www.anneetvalentin.com