Eyestylist

with the new trio: yellow, black and white

1st January 2015 A hint of Spring colour is on the way, and new combinations are on the rise. The classic monochrome black and white pairing sees a new influence: canary, acid or mustard yellow tones. In eyewear and accessories, these colours pop up in inspiring interpretations, retro tinged and perfectly glamorous.

Velvet Valerie in the “theo by Tim Van Steenbergen Hollywood Classics” collection is our choice in black for those coordinating this colour combo. Inspired by Hollywood diva Valerie Stanton this is a glossy acetate design with matte detailing and a wonderful classically inspired voluminous shape. www.theo.be

Team the above with diva heels: Si-V’s Scarpa 6 is part of the Italian label’s New York School Collection SS15, a line that explores several trios of colour in shoes and bags. Designer Sivan Shraga, who we met last season at Tranoi embraces a colourful world of artsy Pollock inspired prints, block colours, prints and polka dots for this new elegant Made-in-Italy collection. www.sivmilano.com

Envol by Face à Face is the sweetest most feminine version we found of this three way colour trend in eyewear: the miniature houndstooth print in classic black is trimmed with an uplifting coloured eyebrow. www.faceaface-paris.com

Barbara McReynolds of l.a.Eyeworks has long been a proponent of bright hues such as yellow in eyewear and wears this colour herself – see the Eyestylist Designer of the Month feature in October 2014 (www.eyestylist.com/2014/10/l-a-eyeworks/). The stylish sunglass Gigantor is the label’s latest design on the theme in acetate/metal, with subtle graduated brown lens. Team with the dazzling l.a. Eyeworks polka dot pattern case  –  releasing as part of the 2015 collection in the deliciously zingy canary/black matching colourway.  www.laeyeworks.com CN

Handcrafted Miniature Decorations

19th December 2014 The magical little Christmas tree, nestled on a counter in London’s Fortnum & Mason, was an eye-catcher – with decorations that resembled noted landmarks of international fame. Here was a charming Big Ben, transposed into miniature, with markings as its glorious original. Britain’s iconic black taxicabs and red post boxes added more luster, and the recognizable double decker buses.

The man at the counter, Michael Peterson, turned out to be the designer of these delightful petit tree decorations. “Well…it really is a love story,” said Peterson, “as at the time, I was dating a Polish girl, Zaneta, and we went to visit her family in Poland. I was a design student and love all kinds of design. Zaneta’s father suggested that we visit a glass making concern, and this sparked the idea for me to become a specialist in miniature decorations.” The result of the visit was the creation of Bombki, and Zaneta is now Peterson’s wife.

“As I was born in London,” continued Peterson, “we started with symbols that are recognised in London – Big Ben, The Queen’s Horse Guards, the black taxi, plus Christmas highlights with a manger, and a mince pie and Christmas cracker. Then we decided to focus on different cities – with little miniatures of Paris, New York, and Moscow symbols. We’ve also added a Little English Cream Tea Set, and the Little Royal London Set that includes a corgi, a golden carriage, a crown, the Union Jack Flat and Buckingham Palace.”

Bombki is now a family enterprise that includes sisters and cousins – “lots of family members”, says Peterson proudly. He creates each design – which takes approximately four months. The precision is extremely exact, and is transformed into mouth-blown glass, which is then hand decorated. One of the highlights for Bombki was when Sarah Brown, the wife of the then British Prime Minister Gordon Brown ordered a design. “It was very exciting,” recalls Peterson, “as Sarah Brown commissioned a design of the front door of No.10 Downing Street. We also designed their Christmas card.” No. 10 Downing Street continues to be available in the collection.

In addition to the Little sets, Peterson has created several of the designs in large sizes, including Big Ben, a red post box and others, which he personally signs. For more information on Bombki artisan Noël decorations, visit www.bombki.com JG

Eyewear Excellence in Germany

16th December 2014  The forthcoming OPTI Munich eyewear event in January already promises to be an exciting show to launch the 2015 calendar. Eyestylist has been given a peek at some of the beautiful new designs that will be presented in Munich.

Berlin based ic! berlin debuts the New Year with an ingenious concept – Plotic frames. Designer Ralph Anderl commented; “We’ve mastered acetate. We’ve mastered steel. Now the next frontier. ic! berlin presents plotic – 3D printed eyewear by Selective Laser Sintering. Plotic makes the impossible possible, and paves the way for designs and shapes that until now have been impossible using traditional manufacturing techniques. After several years of research and development, ic!berlin is excited to launch Plotic and Plotic-hybrid eyewear for OPTI 2015 in nine rich new colours.”  Above: Im Dol from the Plotic collection. www.ic-berlin.de

Matthieu Lafont at Lafont Paris, who will present their eyewear collections for men, women and children, observed: “OPTI is an important show in Germany and it’s historically one of the biggest markets in Europe in terms of business.” Lafont is spot-on trend with Piana and the importance of camouflage for eyewear. www.lafont.com

Adrian Marwitz, who will launch his new Titanium collection noted: “The Munich show has great organisation, and of course, the city is amazing, and it is important for the international market.” www.adrianmarwitz.com

Acetate, Titanium and a new genuine horn collection are on the agenda for Götti Switzerland’s presentation. “We have been showing our product in Munich every year since the first OPTI in 2000. For 2015, Götti will present acetate and Titanium news, plus a genuine horn collection, including a presentation that shows how these masterpieces are produced.” www.gotti.ch

Rolf Spectacles highlights their new “evolved collection” that includes frames designed from four different wood combinations. The Austrian based company is celebrating their fifth anniversary of creating ultra-light, delicate wood frames with sophistication, the finest quality and elaborate finishing. www.rolf-spectacles.com

Italian designer Oliviero Zanon will arrive in Munich with a stunning range that includes chic sunglasses with two-tone black and tortoiseshell glossy acetate, and a distinctive flat double bridge. Like all Res/Rei eyewear, Guilio 11 is handmade in Italy by local artisans. www.resrei.com

All roads lead to Munich 9-11 January 2015! www.opti.de JG