Eyestylist

| Eyestylist 26th February 2020

Art in store: Les Belles Lunettes, Réunion

The independent store is showing an exhibition by talented young watercolorist, Pauline Bachel

‘Portraits v Self-Portraits’ is an exhibition created especially for the independent eyewear boutique, Les Belles Lunettes – located in Réunion, a French island in the Indian Ocean close to Madagascar. As admirers of the subtle and unique work of the artist, Les Belles Lunettes has selected Bachel as the muse and face of their new campaign. “We then asked her to interpret the images in the campaign in her own style,” explain Karine Chane Yin and Patrice Fuma Courtis, art directors for Les Belles Lunettes, who currently produce 4 campaigns for the store each year. “Portraits v Self-Portraits is a two-tiered experience for the artist : she is both the subject of a series of portrait photos, and then through the projection of her interior world in the form of self-portraits created after we had shot the campaign photos.” Art Direction / Photography / Styling : @kplusp_art_direction – (the works of art featured in the exhibition are available to purchase.)

Les Belles Lunettes x Pauline Bachel: images and watercolours

Les Belles Lunettes is located in St Pierre, Réunion and stocks a selection of fine eyewear brands including Gamine NYC, Anne et Valentin, theo and Andy Wolf. Two further stores are in planning and will open on the island in the near future.

Les Belles Lunettes featuring Pauline Bachel

About the artist: Pauline Bachel studied applied Arts and Textile Design at the Lycee Ambroise Vollard, St Pierre, Réunion. Her first exhibition at ‘Cafe Social Club’ launched her career as an illustrator/artist and brought her recognition – with clients who include Apple. Inspired by the Creole culture, simple pleasures and travel, her beautiful works of art embody an idyllic tropical picture of nature with subtle references to a deeply personal focus on femininity.

34, Rue du Four à Chaux, St Pierre 97410, Réunion – Visit the website for more details: https://www.lesbelleslunettes.re/ – Campaign created by www.kplusp.com

| Eyestylist 25th February 2020

3D Printed Exclusive: Gotti launches model Ahlf

Known for an elegant lightweight minimalism in acetate, titanium, and buffalo horn where exceptional comfort and durability pair with fresh, modern design, Gotti Switzerland has fast become an innovator in another specialism in eyewear design: the world of 3D printed frames.

Fresh for release this season, a new statement design – model Ahlf – has been added to their advanced repertoire – fashioned as a statement piece with a bold and futuristic style.

Futuristic style from Gotti Switzerland – Ahlf in colour Slate-G
The oversized visor-like curved frame front features a layered effect (in 3D printed Polyamide achieved via laser sintering) to create depth and provides a startling contrast to the narrow metal temples (produced in this line in Sandvik stainless steel). The frame can be created in progressive colour schemes which include the option of a two-toned effect.
Gotti Switzerland first launched their 3D printed collection DIMENSION in 2018, and since that time they have been able to explore and evolve the possibilities of 3D design in the context of luxury eyewear. The 3D printed ‘screwless’ frames are typically lightweight, flexible with interesting surfaces and a very wide choice of high-quality colours and semi-matt finishes. For more details visit: www.gotti.ch

| Eyestylist 24th February 2020

Milan Fashion Week – February 2020

Anything goes is the mantra for 2020 in the women’s sunglass collections. In Milan this weekend, blue skies brought out plenty of eyewear chic on the street outside the shows, and a pleasing breadth of designs to pair with outfits and accessories with pride, purpose and precision. Popular styles included the large square-ish tortoise frames, a variety of mini and maxi rimless styles, very large iconic visors, and a consistent fondness for the 1990s looks. Above: Outside the shows at Milan Fashion Week: Mandy Bork wears oversized visor / Fendi FW20. Photo: Gennaro D’Elia / Eyestylist

Vintage-love: Chloe Lecareux in rimless butterfly sunglasses with black tuxedo suit – photo by Gennaro D’Elia /Eyestylist

Vintage-infused styles were popular paired with miniature bags, and a predilection for boyfriend shirts and suits came dressed up with a variety of sunglass statements, from very feminine cat’s eyes to 90s micro “blackouts” which shield the eyes with purpose from the sun (and the cameras).

@mascarada.paris in vintage-look tortoise sunglasses

Fashion blogger “Mascarada Paris” wears quirky oversized sunglasses, a multi-colored top and super baggy boyfriend trousers. (Photo by Gennaro D’Elia/Eyestylist).

Oversized acetate or the classic round and rimless

A good mix of classic eyewear or vintage-infused shapes in Milan suggests that anything really goes this season! See more of our photos from Milan, Italy on our Instagram page @eyestylistmagazine. Photography by Gennaro D’Elia exclusively for Eyestylist. All rights reserved.

| Eyestylist 22nd February 2020

Japanese craftsmanship: TVR® Arnel® Alumi

A Japanese Eyewear Edition by the exclusive Fukui label

TVR returns to Milan this month with all kinds of new eyewear treats for special release. They include the Arnel® Alumi Bespoke series, the first vintage style model in the line with Alumi (aluminium) temples combined with a 6mm Zylonite front. The Arnel® Alumi design has a three-dimensional line effect on the temple which  also offers lightness and corrosion-resistance. Above: Alumi Bespoke in matt marmalade with light grey Alumi.

TVR® Arnel® Alumi: green crystal with dark green Alumi temples

Frames featuring aluminium were popular in the 1940s and 1950s. TVR® has perfected the material by adding an additional coating, ensuring it is scratch-proof and elegantly finished with vivid colours. The aluminium construction makes the frame extremely durable and tough while providing a sleek all-metallic look.

The Alumi Bespoke frame, the shape of which is inspired by the classic James Dean horn-rim shape,  is available five colour combinations and a new greenish-blue clip with polarised sun lenses. The design is the exclusive work of the master craftsman Sawada Yaemon from Sabae, Japan. www.tvropt.com

| Eyestylist 21st February 2020

Savile Row, London

Eyestylist returned to Algha Works, London – the home of classical British eyewear

Behind the memorable doors of Algha Works, an historic artisan eyewear factory now surrounded by new builds and wastelands in the East End of London, are some of Europe’s most highly skilled craftsmen and women, making spectacles the traditional way, through years – in some cases decades – of dedication to the meticulous craft.

The building itself has stood the test of time. In 1940, a bomb exploded just outside on Smeed Road and it was described as a miracle that Algha Works – and its extraordinary collection of German-made machinery and specialised tools survived. Today, within the factory’s distinctive graffitied walls, lies a complex artisan operation that remains much as it was in the ’30s, historic and infused with a deep heritage which has brought it consistent recognition and loyalty from customers around the world.

Classic Savile Row: The Beaufort with Windsor rim

Preserving the most classical forms and constructions, delicately tweaked for the contemporary wearer, each of the Savile Row rolled-gold styles today continues to be produced in the old fashioned manner with numerous steps to achieve a final “bespoke-finished” product. Model Beaufort exemplifies the ultimate signature panto shape of the Savile Row collection, worn by a host of well-known faces such as Harrison Ford (as Indiana Jones) and Johnny Depp. Typical of the styles in the line, the frame comes in a choice of gold or rhodium with a choice of colour for the Windsor rim, typically black, chestnut, tortoise or blond. https://savileroweyewear.com/retailshop/beaufort

Elegant, distinguished style: The Panto gold

The Savile Row Panto is unequivocally a star in the collection, worn famously by John Lennon as well as Eric Clapton (the Diaflex Panto version). Engravings, which elevate the unique finish of these retro-infused spectacles, can be applied to parts of the frame such as the bridge (illustrated above) – the operation to create such a delicate and ornate patterning is precise and requires particular expertise – using the very same machines that were brought from Germany many decades ago. Link to The Panto online: https://savileroweyewear.com/retailshop/panto For more details about Savile Row Eyewear visit www.savileroweyewear.co.uk

Eyestylist returned to Algha Works in January 2020. For further details about previous visits to the factory, visit https://www.eyestylist.com/2014/01/british-eyewear-heritage/