Three | Eyestylist

Gemma

1st October 2011

Kirk Originals

Just checked this one out in Paris…the brand new Beam Collection from the British cult brand Kirk Originals is made of acrylic, an unusual choice in eyewear, that innovator Jason Kirk has been using for temples combined with other materials since the late 1990s. The result is beautiful, as the material has a lovely shine when polished, similar to that of glass, and the intensity of the colours is striking. Handmade in France, the frames are unusual in that they do not need re-enforcing wires in the temples, so the lines remain pure. Shapes are oversized as is typical of the Kirk Originals brand, and a new colour process allows bright hues to merge and separate in tones of fluo orange, yellow, pink and acqua. RRP 420 euros. Available immediately at the Kirk Originals flagship store in London. www.kirkoriginals.com

LOFT Santa Monica Show October 16th and 17th

MIDO 6-8 February 2027. Welcome to Eyewearland

Reviews

Xaver

1st September 2011

Mykita & Bernhard Willhelm, The Mirrored Collection

This collaboration is into its third year, and the metal styles in the A/W 2011 Collection maks a brow-raising statement as is typical of this German-born fashion designer, whose gold aviator sunglasses shot to fame in 2009 when worn by Sarah Jessica Parker for Sex in the City. Since then the collection has a total of four models, Franz, Sepp (copper/mint above left) and Andreas (red/red flash above centre), and a new one, Xaver, top right in gold/gold flash. This is a 1980s design, with sharper contours that its predecessors. The frame’s dimensions mark another new aspect – measuring 14 mm these are the widest temples featured in the metal collection. As well as the colour combinations above, you will also find silver, matt black and pink, a top 2011/12 colour for fashionistas. CN

www.bernhard-willhelm.com

www.mykita.com

August

Fluffer

1st August 2011

Chrome Hearts

I confess to a passion for voluminous frame shapes, so Fluffer is definitely a design with great appeal – I loved it the moment I saw it. The details are intricate – it’s a classic retro shape, with a 3-dimensional titanium punch-out frame front. The “floating” lenses are securely held in place with nylon wire. Leather simulated enamel inlays accent the top portion of the frame front above each lens. A sterling silver barrel with the Chrome Hearts “plus” motif marks the point where the temples make the transition to Tegu leather – the hide from a Tegu lizard. The end-tips feature the Chrome Hearts motif in sterling silver. Fluffer possesses distinguished characteristics. For further details, visit www.chromehearts.com JG

July

Toluca

1st July 2011

l.a. Eyeworks

The epitomy of eccentric eyewear, I am very delighted to be able to present l.a. eyeworks’ fabulous Toluca sunglass. This chic cat, a must-have shape this summer, comes in a very lush striped acetate, a colour referred to as “Blue Purple Friends”. A typical feature of the plastic frames by this company, Toluca features clever milling (the technique used to cut away layers of the acetate material) to give a contoured brow and a decidedly flirtatious design. A frame to make heads turn “from Hollywood to St. Tropez”. Also available in some other imaginatively named colour choices: “wine and grapes”, “nut butter”, and a real stunner for the ladies, “girly pinks”. www.laeyeworks.com CN

Reviews

No Mercy 740

1st June 2011

Intrigue NY

This is a real New York collection – spirited, sharp and sleek – created by a real New Yorker, Jeff Royce. I haven’t seen this collection yet, but a chat with Jeff and studying photos confirm his goal to design eyewear with flair, precision and superb craftsmanship. Royce works in beautiful Italian and Japanese acetates. No Mercy, shown above, illustrates acetate’s flexibility, with the front colour contrast giving a robust quality to the modern retro shape. This frame is also available in black and tortoise – stunning! Intrigue NY frames are not yet available in Europe, but we hope they will be soon. www.intrigueny.com JG