Christian Roth
Sleek, rectangular and sexy, says Christian, for your ‘Mad Men’ look. Handmade in Japan and signed with the Peace symbol, Christian Roth’s optical line for Autumn/Winter is inspired by his own vintage collection from the 1980s. This frame – Call Me Dan – has a handsome, handmade acetate rim and temple ends combined with a pure titanium chassis. The colours are soft and graduated, here, black with grey tinted crystal, and the titanium has an antique brushed finish which is super trendy for the seasons ahead. I have always loved this iconic brand and this new direction in spectacle design comes highly recommended. www.christian-roth.com CN
6000 Series
Vanni by Nico Design
Updated vintage styling, broad straight lines and a rigorous construction are all part of the mix in these new Happy Days frames, by the Italian label Vanni. What is really special here is the precious acetate inlay on the stainless steel fronts. The designs bring speckled Havana together with pearly acetate and fashionable matt metals, for a very artistic effect. There are a variety of specs shapes including unisex styles but I love the modified catseye pictured here. Vanni is the creation of Nico Design, the Turin-based eyewear design company, which is devoted to handcrafted eyewear with exceptional detailing and style. http://vanniocchiali.com www.nicodesign.it CN
4th Dimension 4663
Prodesign
This smart optical collection was inspired by the desire to create a high fashion, contemporary line of frames for the design-oriented man and woman. Even though the shapes are obviously inspired by the past – you’ll find the classic panto, the Jackie O and curvy butterfly shapes represented – the collection remains fresh and relevant, because of the cool colour choices and the way in which the acetate layers are combined. There are nine shapes in the collection; two come in two colours and the rest come in four. Suitable for progressive lenses. CN
Trend alert: new neutrals
8th August 2012 Contrary to what you’d expect, classic natural tones can make a bold statement in eyewear; they are far from being the quieter, more understated choice as they can be in apparel and clothes. For next season, it’s the patterning in the natural toned acetate specs that has caught my eye, the grainy wood-effects, the innovative new ways of representing animal prints and tortoise, alongside lovely translucent crystal-clear nudes that are both delicate and a little bit edgy for the darker winter months. I’ve picked out two frames that illustrate two of these directions for the autumn.
Dita’s Lindl is a handmade oversized acetate frame (top and above) featuring their signature optical hex screw hinges. It comes in a few colours including a grainy black and this Tokyo tortoise finish, which, as the pictures show, has character in the form of the stripy textured effect. It is perfectly in tune with new season trends. £350 available from Dita Legends, www.ditalegends.com
In contrast, this Cutler & Gross model shows how the pure transparency of acetate in subtle, nude tones can be so elegant and feminine..it is a look to look for through the winter. I’ve studied all the models in the latest Cutler & Gross collections this week and I have some specific ones to recommend; they are a delight. This model combines two sensuous and soft tones, the front in one, the arms in the other. The soft rounded eye shape is a nice take on retro for the coming season, as expected from this classic British specs label. www.cutlerandgross.com CN
For more reports on Autumn/Winter trends, written and brought to you exclusively by the Editors at Eyestylist.com, keep your eye on this space.
Goodwin
SALT OPTICS
For anyone who loves an aviator and hasn’t got a new one for the Summer, here’s a super choice. The refined Windsor-rim Goodwin is from the American label Salt Optics, a brand that we would love to see more of in Europe. Inspired by the 1920s and 30s, this strong shape has been given a lovely interpretation, using gold titanium combined with a white acetate rim. The brown gradient polarized lenses ensure tip-top protection from harmful UV rays. Handmade in Japan. www.saltoptics.com CN