Two

Zero 2 / Rhodium

Finest Seven

This is a good-looking metal style (a look we think is getting hotter and hotter for this summer) from a brand that I am pleased to have discovered recently. The New Zealand born designer Jesse Stevens who now lives in London is dedicated to excellence. The brand name Finest Seven holds at its core that there are seven key elements in eyewear production, and sets out to incorporate the very best of these elements in every single design. Features of the Zero 2 which also comes in 24kt gold or 14k gold, are a five layered hinge for durability and strength, Zeiss lenses, metal pad arms and silicon nose pads. The frames are made in Italy by hand and come with handcrafted cases from Spain. Top notch design. CN

www.finestseven.com

EK 5055

EK Emmanuelle Khanh Junior Collection

During the 1970’s, French designer Emmanuelle Khanh beamed into the fashion limelight with her superb ready-to-wear clothes, accessories and the most exciting, super-sized frames.  Her devoted fans included Jane Birkin and Catherine Deneuve.  Ms. Khanh has subsequently retired, but her tradition of glamorous, edgy frames lives on for adults, and luckily, now for children as well. The EK Junior Collection includes both optical and sun styles, with the model above inspired from frames beloved by Mum and Dad.  Beautifully hand-crafted in France in silken acetate, this bold rimmed design is certain to be a favourite with young fashionistas.  The frames can be purchased online at Little Fashion Gallery www.littlefashiongallery.com for more information: www.emmanuellekhanhparis.com JG

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

No.1 Sun Wyatt

Mykita

Today, model Wyatt by Mykita is sitting on my desk and has caught my eye. It’s a unisex frame that has a slick shape while being as light as a feather. There are different colour options, including this gold one and the stunning black I have in front of me. Mykita’s Collection No.1 has a clever, patented “snap-hinge”. This means the hinge does not require any soldering or screws and it is therefore particularly good-looking; it adds to the design, and makes a quirky snapping sound when you open and close the temple. Sunglasses in the No.1 line come in a variety of metal surfaces, with a choice of lacquer coatings. (more…)

Paint by Numbers by KBL

New York brand KBL is relatively new in Europe. But they are already stocked by some important opticians including the Mykita Shop, Zurich (www.mykita.com), Probst Optik Switzerland and JLC Opticien in France. This is one to watch….they started in 2009 with sunglasses…now they have launched a first optical range, with a discerning approach to materials, precision milling, careful hand finishing and, they say, rigorous quality control. I may not have seen them up close but there are some cute designs and the model “Paint by Numbers” has a clever approach to vintage, combining a lovely-old-fashioned shape with fresh, hip colours and a lush finish. www.kbleyewear.com