Eyestylist

Cody and Eric Balzan at HAPTER

25th November 2014 Today Eyestylist launches a new series – Eyewear Canine Companions. We have discovered some amazing four-footers who bring joy, fun, companionship and inspiration to designers and opticians.

When Eric Balzan chats about his dog Cody, his face beams. “Cody is a rescue dog and I just fell in love with him. He’s a mixed race dog that we found at a dog shelter. We were told there were a few problems with his eyes and he doesn’t hear very well. It didn’t matter – I fell in love with that one! Once Cody was out of the shelter, he changed. I brought him up to the mountain and he walked behind me. The only problem was that he was then so tired he couldn’t walk down! So I carried him down, and he loves the rucksack.”

Balzan and the mountains are ubiquitous – it was during a mountain exploration that Balzan and his design partner Mirko Forte discovered the glacier military goggles that launched their business. Now Cody is part of the designer’s trekking and hiking. “Cody is my best design inspiration when we are in the mountains,” says Balzan,” and he really enjoys it all.

“Unfortunately, with Cody’s eye problems, when the light goes down, he would fall over. We tried different doctors, and discovered it was cataracts. We had a drive with family and friends to raise funds for an operation. The vet was an hour and forty minutes drive away, but Cody had the operation, and he has recovered his sight. He is always with my wife Antonella and I – we take him everywhere including art exhibitions. He is a very cultured dog!” www.hapter.it JG

21st November 2014 In colour psychology, green has a variety of positive attributes – green is abundant in nature, and it is connected to prosperity. It’s also linked to renewal, balance, and growth, and creates a positive sense of equilibrium. In addition, green is emotionally positive. Eyewear designers embrace this colour with an array of beautiful greens in dynamic frames. At one time, there was a belief that green was difficult to wear on the face. Nowadays, green frames are available in lustrous, translucent interpretations that enhance the wearer’s complexion. Here are several stunning ways to Go Green.

Above: Jono Hennessy in Australia takes a cue from nature in a Limited Edition design – 8302 – in acetate.  www.jonohennessy.com

Jazzy green is the theme at theo in Belgium with Move from the Shuffle collection – bright and cheerful! www.theo.be

Oriental Green and Jade mix gracefully in Harper by Claire Goldsmith Eyewear. www.olivergoldsmith.com

Rich Forest Green is the preferred choice for Zac Posen with Rita – poetic acetate sunglasses. www.kenmarkoptical.com

Marbled Green with luminous highlights is a striking new design from François Pinton in France. Coachella emphasizes sharp, strong lines with a chic, modern retro tone. The frame is available in both optical and sunglasses. www.francoispinton.com JG

Shane Baum & Anna-Karin Karlsson Select Favourites

18th November 2014 Many of us fancy having multiple selections when deciding what fashion and accessories to wear. Eyewear designers do! So how do they decide what frames they want to wear on a given day?

Shane Baum has created his American luxury brand Leisure Society in exquisite materials based on how he lives his life. Baum believes that life is about precious moments with family, friends and nature – one of his passions is fly-fishing,and skiing gets full marks too. “Today I am in a sporty mood, so I chose Trotter (above) from the new collection,” said Baum when photographed in Paris, “but for a wedding I would chose something different. It really does depend…”

www.leisure-society.com

Beauty, romance, and statement shapes are the foundation for Swedish designer Anna-Karin Karlsson. She loves to experiment and create fantasy. Karlsson says: “Sunglasses should always be ready to put on – they provide a great uplift to the face. I wear sunglasses – winter and summer – all year ’round. I’m wearing When Trouble Came To Town – my favourite right now”! www.annakarinkarlsson.com JG

Photos: Exclusively for Eyestylist by Gilles Stüssi — All Rights Reserved

with Mondelliani Glasses

14th November 2014 A new advertising campaign by Roman label Mondelliani features a community of stylish “Sapeurs” who dress with a uniquely elegant and colourful sense of style.

Photographed in Brussels, the images of the men and several women for Mondelliani are the work of Italian photographer Daniele Tamagni who has documented African communities worldwide and published a well-known book on the subject – Gentlemen of Bacongo: The Importance of Being Elegant.

Highlighted are some of Mondelliani’s most colourful sunglasses, including designs from the Eolie Capsule line, celebrating the colours and vibrance of the landscapes of the Sicilian islands.