Eyestylist

Shoreditch: Not Just Another Store

19th December 2017

New experiential retail space, Not Just Another Store is curated by UTTER and MARR, two independent companies, who, through creative collaborations with artists, illustrators, photographers and more, seek to break the norm of a traditional fashion store – in London.

Opened in Shoreditch in December (’17), opposite the Ace Hotel – their offering includes over 30 emerging brands across womenswear and menswear, literature, art and interiors – with eyewear launches planned for 2018.

London: Not Just Another Store, Shoreditch

With collaborations at the heart and core of the concept, Not Just Another Store will also be partnering up with various creatives and designers to curate innovative events, installations and exhibitions. The shop also includes an open plan mini kitchen offering brunch, lunch, juice and smoothies served by local independent chefs and barristas.

SILMO Paris - The Optical Fair. 25th - 28th September 2026

LOFT Santa Monica Show October 16th and 17th

MIDO 6-8 February 2027. Welcome to Eyewearland

Asked about eyewear, Buying Director Dami Akinnaike told Eyestylist that the store will stock specialist Asian brands – Rosemanclub – the Japanese eyewear label launched in 2014 – and Gentlemonster – the much hyped Korean brand – coming soon in Spring 2018. Not Just Another Store, 189 Shoreditch High Street, London E1 6HU www.notjustanotherstore.com CN

Design + Inspiration

Luxury, style and innovation at OPTI

19th December 2017

The Munich eyewear show offers an exciting platform for international designers and brands to present their luxury collections. Anticipation is mounting for the 2018 event, as a start-studded roster of creators will present their latest collections. The beautiful designs of African inspired, Italian crafted frames from L.G.R includes the elegant CECILE (Top image). Finest quality acetate is silhouetted into superb, modern and feminine sunglasses with tempered mineral lenses that offer 100%UV protection, plus they are anti-scrach and impact resistant. The complete L.G.R collection of optical and sunglass designs will be shown at OPTI. www.lgrworld.com

Eyeglass cases that are stylish, chic and easy to pop into a handbag are the speciality of ANY DI, the Munich based designer of unusually sleek cases and bags. The Sun Covers are made from genuine leather, and the interiors are lined in a Microfiber material that is soft and pliant. Case interiors are padded as well, so lenses are protected from dust and scratches. Greige Nubuck is especially smart lined with bright orange. The efficient Sun Covers also have a strap that can be linked to your handbag or belt-loop. Discover more of ANY DI’s super Sun Covers in solid and print leathers at www.any-di.com and at OPTI-Munich.

Milano Centrale by theo Belgium from the Train Stations Collection

Train Stations elicit romantic aspirations – particularly with the new interest in the splendid Venice Simplon-Orient Express. Right on cue, theo in Belgium has launched the Train Stations Collection. Curvaceous, streamlined and cosmopolitan, MILANO CENTRALE in black and apple green exudes adventure and wanderlust. At OPTI, theo will present the full range of their adventureous collections. www.theo.be

Lafont sunglasses are plentiful in character, design definition, imagination and colours. BROOKLYN from their latest collection reflects the diversity of the New York borough and the iconic Brooklyn Bridge. Acetate and metal meet in a perfectly round shape in sophisticated tortoiseshell, with a distinctive double-bridge. www.lafont.com

What could be more Parisian than an aromatic French coffee in the historic and aristocratic Marais district? The pre-revolutionary streets are bustling with art galleries, tempting “boulangerie” (bread and bakery shops) hotels, museums and trendy shops. MARAIS by KBL Eyewear in sleek burgundy acetate with a double-bridge is artistic, relaxed, and fun – just like the Marais neighbourhood! KBL launches a new website at www.kbleyewear.eu in conjunction with the opening date of OPTI. Details for OPTI-Munich 12th-14th January 2018 at www.opti.de JG

Reviews

Adaptive lenses: Transitions Fashion Chrome

18th December 2017

Light-adaptive lenses have taken a new stylish direction thanks to Transitions Optical, who continue to innovate in this specialist area.

The Fashion Chrome collection – just launched ready for SS18 – has a striking mirrored effect combined with Transitions’ XTRActive lens technology – which protects the eyes from the brightest sun and harsh artificial light. It also allows the lenses to darken behind the windscreen of a car.

The lenses have an adaptive tint that reacts to UV and visible light, intensifying when the wearer moves outside. When indoors, the lens has a chic light mirrored tint, which turns into a full mirrored sunglass outdoors, allowing the wearer to have the right tint at the right time. Available in six fashion-forward colour options from Red Sunrise to Sea Green, the new Fashion Chrome lenses provide a tonal range that is striking, unique and fresh – representing an outstanding new opportunity to complement stylish designer eyewear.

Transitions Optical was founded in 1990. In 1991, it became the first company to commercialize and manufacture plastic photochromic lenses.

Transitions lenses are also called adaptive lenses. They are clear indoors and at night and automatically darken outdoors as light conditions change. They block 100% of UV rays and help to enhance contrast and reduce glare. Top image: the new Fashion Chrome lenses fitted in Woow Eyewear’s Super Star 1 – www.wooweyewear.com For more on Transitions on Eyestylist: https://www.eyestylist.com/2017/06/transitions-style-colours-new-experience/ For more information: www.transitions.com CN

Design + Inspiration

Luxury & Fantasy: Holiday flair

15th December 2017

‘Tis the season for dreams, winter wonderland pleasures, indulgences and luxury touches. Bask in the glow of your dreams with unique eyewear that steps up to the occasion with dynamic designs to brighten holiday events, plus add stylish flair to festive fashion. Fantasy and living your dreams is an important part of Swedish designer Anna-Karin Karlsson’s fashion and eyewear philosophy. The exotic “Panthress” (top image) shimmers with hundreds of Swarovski crystals embedded on 24K plated White Gold. The luminous eyes on the seductive feline are genuine emeralds. “I want my designs to live a beautiful, romantic life,” says Anna-Karin. The “Panthress” exudes both beauty and romance! Anna-Karin Karlsson is a luxury premium eyewear label with an exquisite range of optical and sunglass designs. The Swedish label is found in prestige international eyewear boutiques, concept shops, plus Harrod’s in London, and Neiman Marcus in America. www.annakarinkarlsson.com

Architecture is an influential source for eyewear creators, and the renowned Empire State Building in New York City inspired Thomas Lafont. The stunning, distinctive frame – a Limited Edition – effectively captures the ethereal mood of the Art Deco structure, with an expansive frame front in tri-colouration. The frame is expertly crafted in France, and destined to be a collector’s item, with its sense of history and contemporary edge. For over ninety years, Lafont Paris has been creating superbly crafted eyewear for men, women and children. The family owned company has four charming boutiques in Paris. Visit www.lafont.com for more details.

Another architectural beauty expresses itself in “Fixon” by Boz Eyewear. “Fixon” reflects the amazing Pyramid at the Louvre in Paris – a landmark in the city. The frame design is constructed from a single sheet of metal; the round eye shape and finishes in either chrome or Black Galaxy gives the design a thoroughly modern look, and very futuristic. Boz Eyewear part of the J.F. Rey label, a French brand created by Jean-François Rey over thirty years ago in Marseille. With their Mediterranean location, the brand is noted for its beautiful colours and unusual shapes. www.instagam.com/myjfrey

The legendary cat eye shape is a forever favourite in eyewear. Plein les Mirettes bring a sleek contemporary flavour to the silhouette in Hybrid II, in multi-layered acetate that is made specifically for Plein les Mirettes by Mazzucchelli in Italy. The exaggerated shape features flowing curves, and a nose bridge in galvanised stainless steel. Plein les Mirettes designs are handcrafted in France in a Normandy atelier, created by Christophe Morcamp and Pascal Guidice. The individualistic designs by the French label celebrate their 5th anniversary in 2018. www.plein-les-mirettes.fr JG

Boutiques

L.G.R Boutique Milan

13th December 2017

Italian flair, charm and charisma envelope the elegant boutique opened by L.G.R founder Luca Gnecchi Ruscone. Located in the prestigious Brera district of Milan, at 36 Corso Garibaldi, the shop features the expressive and stunning creations of the luxury eyewear company. The flagship store’s interior is inspired by the colours and shapes of Ottica Bini, Luca’s grandfather’s emporium in Asmara, Eritrea.

L.G.R boutique: African inspiration with Italian elegance

The boutique windows are inspired by neo-Gothic and Venetian shapes, using core materials that include wood and coir – a coconut fibre. This reflects L.G.R.’s distinguished heritage of African adventure combined with Italian elegance. Pale green and blue hues are used throughout the interior space, evoking the Eritrean sky and sea. Giampiero Celani Piendlbach created the beautiful, flowing renderings on the walls exclusively for L.G.R.

Gothic influence for the windows and interior display

“Milan’s international presence and undisputed reputation for luxury and lifestyle makes the city a natural choice for our first store in Italy,” says Gnecchi Ruscone. The entire collection of superbly crafted L.G.R frames – optical and sunglasses – is on display in the new Boutique. Luca Gnecchi Ruscone noted that the opening of the Flagship Milan store is the first step in an expanded retail strategy. For more discoveries about the creative universe at L.G.R visit www.lgrworld.com JG

An iconic eyewear edition: MOREL x Constance Guisset

Eyewear collaboration: OKUDA x Nina Mûr

Mik Somers, theo eyewear: “Vision empowers creativity”

OTIS Eyewear: style with substance

Trends for summer 2026: sculptural oval sunglasses

Trends update: sport inspired eyewear, a continuing theme