Eyestylist

| Eyestylist 20th January 2021

Vera Wang models own collection

Fashion designer Vera Wang steps in front of the camera in her first eyewear shoot

The optical and sunglasses collection for 2021, produced for Vera Wang by Kenmark Eyewear (USA), are worn by the designer who has a fashion connoisseur’s love for eyewear. Like her new season fashion collections, the glasses and sunglasses infuse elements of the designer’s ready-to-wear and bridal designs. From feminine to masculine, with a modern and flattering edge, and a typically wide choice of dimensions, the styles include oversized and quite petite designs with a glamorous, detail-oriented style.

Colours and materials are often mixed by lamination or with a specialised layering technique to create a palette that plays on grounded neutrals and dark floral touches. Crystal embellishments – a signature feature in previous lines, are still key and with their continued popularity are used in more prominent ways. Several styles in both optical and sun feature crystals front and centre. They are built into the shape of the frame and do not shy away from making a bold and beautiful couture statement. Above: Vera Wang wears Nija sunglasses – Wang released the images via her Instagram page at the start of January 2021.

Vera Wang wears V577: a full metal cat eye

“Eyewear is one of my favorite fashion/beauty accessories! Like a new lipstick or eye shadow, a special pair of glasses can express your own sense of style, create a new persona and most of all, protect your vision….eyewear is fun, creative, easy, personal, practical!” Vera Wang

Vera Wang wears Lilah, a model with rich Swarovski crystal trim on the brow line

The new images of Vera Wang feature frames from across the luxe, core alternative fit and VWX series.

About the brand – Vera Wang has created a unique aspirational world that alludes to sensuality and youthful sophistication. Exquisite details, intricate draping, and a nonchalant sense of style characterize the Vera Wang aesthetic. A native New Yorker, Wang understands women who embrace fashion. By age 23, she was the youngest ever Vogue fashion editor and stylist, where she remained for 16 years before moving to Ralph Lauren as a design director. In 1990, she opened her first flagship store on Manhattan’s famed Madison Avenue, introducing fashion to the bridal industry with revolutionary designs and refined detailing. Since then she has expanded her collections to include ready-to-wear, footwear, eyewear, fragrance, flowers, fine china and crystal, silver and gifts, bedding, fine papers, and her first book, Vera Wang On Weddings. To find out more visit www.verawang.com / www.kenmarkeyewear.com

| Eyestylist 17th January 2021

Hungry Eyes, Stuttgart

Thomas Hommerberg has opened a new optical boutique in the German city, with furniture sourced from old night clubs and modern design elements including a floating counter

After 14 years as store manager, master optician Thomas Hommerberg has achieved his dream in the hardest of climates. His new store in Stuttgart specialises in independent eyewear brands and design labels.

“The concept is to bring to Stuttgart real independent eyewear in a unique shop which is far removed from the mass market”, he told Eyestylist. “This is definitely missing here and this is the concept of my store. Individuality, quality, mixed with great independent styles in a modular shop system for individual people. We created a modular system with our architects and urban shop system, with some neon lights, palms and a touch of palm springs style. We are not conservative, so it was clear that we needed a name with more style than “Optik…” like everybody else. The name was found by my UX-Designer and it comes from the movie “Dirty Dancing”. For us it is an artificial word with a positive vibe. We have lots of customers coming to the store and singing softly “Hungry Eyes”!” – Above: Hungry Eyes – photo by Julia Ochs

Interior featuring a floating counter in white: Hungry Eyes, Stuttgart (Photography: Julia Ochs www.julia-ochs.com)

Despite opening in November 2020 during the pandemic, without any possibility for a launch party, the new collections are well received in the neighbourhood which is in the heart of the city of Stuttgart. Brands include Blackfin, Gigi Studios, Coblens, FOLC, ROLF Spectacles, TVR and Nirvan Javan.  “We are trying to give our customers a very good shopping experience even in this hard times,” Thomas said. “Beside the frame brands we have some accessories from Frame Chain and from some local dealers, to support our neighbours.”

“We love good design, but we always keep the most important thing in focus: our products and our customers” Thomas Hommerberg, Stuttgart

Interior: Hungry Eyes – design details include suspended lamps, an illuminated mirror and parquet flooring – Photography by Julia Ochs

The interior works with a modular system, with grey tones, natural surfaces and green plants. The furniture was sourced from old nightclubs in Munich (Thomas describes them as “Freddy Mercury” era pieces from the 1980s-90s) creating an interesting eye-catching contrast to the stone wall of glasses. The palms and cacti have been added to bring the atmosphere to life. “With the neon lights we have an exciting mixture of palm springs, 80s and very modern elements,” he tells us. “And the floating counter makes the store interior complete.”

Rosenbergstrasse 76, Stuttgart, Germany

www.hungry-eyes.de

| Eyestylist 14th January 2021

The lure of acetate: RES/REI Essences

New models in fine Mazzucchelli acetate
Almond, Calendula, Blackberry, Lavender, Rosemary and Eucalyptus. Each of the models in the Essences Collection by RES/REI is inspired by nature’s bounty: uplifting natural fragrances, details, textures and rich variation in the colours of familiar plants, fruits and herbs we associate with goodness and wellbeing. Particular to the styles is a special design: a diamond-shaped core inside the temples: decorative and feminine, the frames are reimagined to create a look that is contemporary and refined. Above: the round model Eucalyptus in the Essences collection by RES/REI – the colour pictured is grey/pink/shiny rose gold – a combination that highlights fine double lines in the upper section.

Blackberry in the Essences collection by RES/REI – in dark havana, purple and red

Each model shows a delicate balance of transparencies and harmonious colours, with two or three different hues blending in one design. Deep berry tones of blackberry, purple, deep red and havana through to very light crystal tones of grey/white, mixed and matched, to reinvent each shape in each exclusive palette.

Rosemary in the Essences collection by RES/REI – chic modern colour variations

RES/REI is one of Northern Italy’s prized artisan labels. Their commitment to and passion for handmade spectacle making and exquisite, creative details has been at the core of their work since they first started in 2011. Read more about the frames on Eyestylist: https://www.eyestylist.com/2020/10/res-rei-the-essences-collection/ See more collections at www.resrei.com

| Eyestylist 11th January 2021

Pursuit of the senses: Padma Image

The Japanese label by Meiji Hasui adds new colours for the asymmetrical ‘Shichisan’

Simplicity. Artistry. And a delicacy of style. The Japanese label Padma Image first appeared on Eyestylist in 2014 and is gradually growing, under designer Meiji Hasui’s careful eye.  Breaking with conventions and traditional design features, the label’s new collection (available in Japan and local markets to Japan) includes one of the classic styles in the Padma Image repertoire – the asymmetrical model Shichisan, inspired by a traditional Japanese hairstyle – a Japanese ‘look’ characterised by a parting to one side. Above: Shichisan frame on model. The design was first introduced on Eyestylist in 2015: www.eyestylist.com/2015/06/eyestylist-talks-to-yuuki-hasui/

Shichisan by Padma Image: made in Sabae

“Like an asymmetrical and natural side parting, I thought that even if the upper half of the glasses were asymmetrical, there would still be an elegant harmony with the eyebrows,” says Hasui, who has produced several asymmetrical style frames in the last years, including the Ue-Shita and the Moku-Moku, featured on Eyestylist. “We work with a small factory in Sabae which uses advanced technology and skillful craftsmen for absolute quality design.” To read more about Padma Image in English click on the link: https://www.eyestylist.com/2019/12/ue-shita-by-padma-image/   For more about the brand visit www.padmaimage.com

| Eyestylist 8th January 2021

Jean-François Rey’s 2932

Jean-François Rey highlights a fresh, colourful style in this ladies’ design exploring architectural volumes.

Geometric, lightweight and colourful, the JF2932 has all the signature traits of a design by Jean-François Rey, the Marseille-based eyewear designer and a trend-oriented attention paid to details and distinctive design. The inventive work with the metal material is achieved through the skill and expertise of French manufacture while the creative colour pairings are  applied by hand.

JF Rey: 2932 – a modified cat’s eye design

The JF2932 – an elegant woman’s cat eye shape, comes in several colour combinations, from gold with black and gold with blue to the vibrant red and turquoise – pictured above. Creative director and colour specialist Joelle Rey describes the colour pairings as an effect that looks as if two frames have been fused into one, in tones established through absolute creative freedom and a dedication to elegance and quality. To find out about more of the latest styles in this French design collection, launched for 2021, visit www.jfrey.fr