Eyestylist

| Eyestylist November 13th 2022

Royalty in eyewear: Oliver Goldsmith Sunglasses

With the latest series of ‘The Crown’ airing on Netflix this month, we were reminded of some of the most striking iconic frames worn by Royalty – designed by the British eyewear brand, Oliver Goldsmith Sunglasses. 

Celebrity and sunglasses go hand in hand and Oliver Goldsmith has been pivotal in framing some of the most famous faces on the planet.  The Royal Family have always played a special part in the historic make-up of the Oliver Goldsmith story; from Princess Caroline of Hanover to Grace Kelly (Princess Grace of Monaco) who famously had a vast collection of OG sunglasses, and a little closer to home – exceptional loyal support by the British Royals; Princess Margaret, Lord Snowdon, Princess Diana and Prince Charles, now King Charles III. Above: Be-Be sunglasses by Oliver Goldsmith sunglasses – as worn by Princess Grace – the sunglasses were featured in a book called ‘Grace. Princess Grace of Monaco. A tribute to the life and legacy of Grace Kelly.’ A double page spread features her Ogle (sunglass style pictured below), Be-Be and Ritva sunglasses created by Oliver Goldsmith Sunglasses

From the archives: front cover of Weekend and Titbits (1984): Charles wearing the Carl sunglasses and Diana in the oversized Berwick sunglasses by Oliver Goldsmith Sunglasses
Original catalogue entry of the Carl sunglasses, as worn by King Charles (then Prince Charles)  in 1985

Princess Diana had many defining moments when it came to her fashion choices, and even today she is referenced time and again. “Her style, vision and the brave and dynamic sartorial choices she made make her one of the most recognised women on the planet and we are proud to have framed her so regularly,” says Claire Goldsmith.  In fact, Claire (Goldsmith) regales in the stories of her childhood; her mother dancing round the kitchen in a pair of broken sunglasses; when she asked who they belonged to, her Mother replied that they were Princess Diana’s – her father (Ray) had been asked to go to the Palace to fix them!

Chas in Dark Tortoiseshell, one of the many OG sun styles worn by Princess Diana – the iconic frame is available in the Oliver Goldsmith sunglasses collection today

In 2021, Vogue (UK) wrote an article focusing on Diana’s eyewear choices and in it she is predominately wearing Oliver Goldsmith sunglasses (https://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/gallery/princess-diana-sunglasses).  They included her firm favourite, the famous white aviator, Berwick https://www.olivergoldsmith.com/product/berwick/, which is still in the Oliver Goldsmith Sunglasses collection – and coming back soon in a wash of new colours – to Nisha (designed in 1987), Monaco and Chas (an old favourite).

Diana also wore ‘Rio’, another style that will be coming back into the collection soon. Carl is available as a bespoke archive piece, but as with all the archival frames at the company, anything and everything can be made to order on request! To view the latest collections at Oliver Goldsmith Sunglasses visit www.olivergoldsmith.com – Special thanks to Zoe Cosby at Oliver Goldsmith Sunglasses for researching the Royal styles for Eyestylist.com

 

| Eyestylist November 11th 2022

3D printed: Quantum High for Autumn/Winter

Ørgreen Optics has created new 3D printed styles with beta titanium temples

The latest cutting edge frames created using 3D printing represent a new chapter in the evolution of advanced frames offering functionality, minimal design and style-driven colour, fused into one. According to the Danish designers at Ørgreen, the technology continues to offer an enticing opportunity to design frames that function differently, that change wearer experience and offer enhanced comfort and fit. With continued focus on innovation, the design company proposes new styles with 3D printed polyamide fronts paired with sleek 1.2 mm wide beta-titanium temples, developed with their own hinge design which is discreet and refined, a nod to the traditions of Danish product design.

High Life by Ørgreen Optics

Mixing a muted palette for the slightly textured polyamide with a touch of vibrancy on the temples creates a series of contemporary colour combinations – highlights include the Happy Lavender tone, close to the trending colour digital lavender – paired with matt gold and matt purple – and an “amber” green that has a brightness which is further enhanced by the shiny gold. Find out more about this special drop for November at www.orgreenoptics.com CN

| Eyestylist November 9th 2022

l.a. Eyeworks: radiating artistic freedom

The latest frames by the iconic LA designers are bold and graphic statements,  radiating artistic freedom through a palette of bright and energetic colours that denote hope and joy

The Fall/Winter collection at l.a.Eyeworks is uplifting and full of terrific surprises, achievable only with the most attentive craftsmanship and detailing alongside the traditionally creative use of colour and inventive patterns selected for the designs. Celebrating an incredible 43 years this September, the company continues to create frame designs that break rules and bring new possibilities for the wearer, with a whole new raft of shapes or details that promote individuality and creativity with a bold artistic “soul”. Above: Gai Gherardi, co-founder/designer, l.a.Eyeworks at Silmo 2022, wearing the Montserrat in a ‘glossy’ black – photography by Amanda Sellem exclusively for Eyestylist – all rights reserved

l.a. Eyeworks’ Montserrat is part of this season’s exciting graphic collection – the frame is made in Japan – combining an acetate rim with titanium

One of the highlights in the season’s collection is model Montserrat, a unique design which is characterised by a ring of precise perforations around the lens. The design is described by the makers as “super hypnotic” and is clearly a favourite of Gai Gherardi who has been wearing it for the seasonal shows in black.

l.a. Eyeworks model Curly is a stunning modern square-oval shape – pictured in the wonderful “Roast Carrot” orange colorway

Model Curly offers a whole new way of wearing a shape that is inspired (but just a little!) by the classic aviator; the model has charismatic curves and an eye-catching keyhole bridge and is produced in HD acetate, making it sturdy and lightweight as well as unabashedly bold.

l.a. Eyeworks’ Goodall comes in some amazing patterns including ocean-inspired ‘Barbados blue’

Patterned materials have long been a passion at l.a.Eyeworks, and their “eye-dazzling ones” are always a delight. The angular model Goodall comes in a choice of colours (we wouldn’t know how to choose between these!), ranging from fairy tortoise and Barbados blue to  whimsical ‘sparrow’ with delicate spots and feather patterns on a translucent crystal base. Find out more about all the new styles in the collection at www.laeyeworks.com

| Eyestylist November 8th 2022

‘Sleeping’ glasses by Izipizi

The French reading glasses label Izipizi has launched glasses with GoodNight© lenses, designed to encourage a good night’s sleep

The independent glasses brand Izipizi (Paris) has launched a glasses collection called Sleeping, with lenses that block artificial light and jumpstart melatonin production. The company says that if they are worn for around two hours before bedtime for 15 consecutive days, the wearer can experience maximum results and better sleep. The lenses are designed to help the body naturally stimulate and promote the production of the sleep hormone and were developed in collaboration with a researcher specialising in optometry.

Izipizi’s Sleeping glasses with GoodNight© lenses

The plano lenses are available in two of Izipizi’s bestselling frames styles – a panto and a square shape – and are made from “a bio-based material” composed of 45% castor oil. According to test results*, the Izipizi team claim that the results showed that after 5 days the time it takes to fall asleep is halved and sleep is deeper and likely to be more “restorative”.

*The study was conducted on 300 people with mild to regular sleep disturbances who wore glasses for 15 days, 2 hours before bedtime. For more information, visit www.izipizi.com

| Eyestylist November 7th 2022

Responsible design: tortoise colour variations shine

The chic finishes of the most advanced sustainable materials continue to surprise this year. We found three unique tortoise-inspired choices that we’d be thrilled to wear!

In eyewear, elegant tortoise tones are no longer the exclusive preserve of virgin acetate. Forward-thinking eyewear producers who have adopted genuine sustainable materials are creating frames with classic tortoise colours or varieties of the coloration, that have their own unique qualities and beautiful intensities and transparencies of colour. At Mykita, a company that has switched to sustainable Eastman Acetate Renew across its entire portfolio of collections, models like Davu in colour Zanzibar represent the cutting-edge of design in the Eastman material which is said to be hard-wearing and long-lasting, as well as having a good-looking finish and lots of potential for creative colour. Above: the Davu frame by Mykita in the very attractive Zanzibar colorway  – www.mykita.com

Handmade in Italy: Malta by Sea2see – a ‘seastainable’ cateye with a glossy finish, produced from marine waste

Model Malta is a new style from Sea2see, the company that collects and transforms recycled marine plastic into a material called UPSEA™ PLAST which is suitable for the production of high-quality frames with a variety of contemporary colours and finishes. Their most recent collection, which also includes marine-inspired colours, shows that the material is versatile and adaptable, as well as having practical qualities of lightness, strength and comfort. Sea2see is one of a small number of optical companies that is now BCorp certified, meaning that it meets particular standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. The company also operates its own non-profit Foundation and waste collection operation in Ghana.  www.sea2see.org / www.sea2seefoundation.org

Debbie by Paradigm in Liquid Marble, a variation on pattern in multiple brown translucent tones

The latest collection from Paradigm features the trendy square Debbie style in a selection of colours. The frame is made from ISCC-certified recycled acetate and offers an attractive modern take on colour and pattern.

To further support their sustainability mission, the producers of the Paradigm collection, Kenmark Eyewear, has pledged to donate 20% of sales from their models Sid, Debbie, and Seymour in Ginkgo from this collection to ‘Cool Earth’ to aid in the fight against the climate crisis. www.kenmarkeyewear.com /

https://www.coolearth.org/climate-change/charity