Eyestylist

Summer Stunners Available on Line!

9th August 2013 Don’t leave home without your sunglasses! Two designs we’d definitely love to tuck into our suitcases include these sensational frames in gorgeous blues. Anna-Karin Karlsson’s über sleek acetate creation has a bold structure in rich turquoise, and is graphically enhanced with gold inlay on the frame top and sides. A unique frame destined to be a collector’s item. www.annakarinkarlsson.com

Christian Roth magically captures the Azure blue of the Mediterranean with this striking design – Pop Power. Translucent acetate is spiked with dabs of colour, and the retro inspired voluminous shape not only offers sun protection, but great style too. www.christian-roth.com These stunning frames can be ordered on line at www.eyestylist.com – click on BOUTIQUES to easily place your order. JG

6th August 2013 Minute, handfinished detailing showing authentic artisanal skill is where things are going this year in spectacle-making. It is like we’ve come full circle.  This is thanks to a handful of independent labels who are passionate about upholding traditional traits and techniques typical of quality vintage eyewear, and exploring them in the new world of high-tech materials and technology….but still using real “work by hand” to do a variety of the production steps, and sometimes all of them. (Image above: handcrafting in England, Oliver Goldsmith bespoke, read more here: https://www.eyestylist.com/2013/04/bespoke-at-oliver-goldsmith/ www.olivergoldsmith.com).

References to vintage design include both new interpretations and designs featuring actual vintage elements. Antique pins, metalwork or filigree – the Japanese label Matsuda produces some very fine examples – nose pads or arm ends with tiny embedded initials – for example, at Oliver Goldsmith they are using some of their original OG buttons in their re-released aviators, Colt and Wiseguy – and other exquisite detail work are on a par, once again, with fine jewellery making. You will also notice that the materials in these collections are far from ordinary…..custom glossy acetates – we love the Italian Mazzucchelli ones as do many of the top eyewear designers, traditional luxury metals such as gold that hark back to old-school elegance, and a rise in buffalo horn and handmade works of astonishing precision in wood – Rolf Spectacles (www.rolf-spectacles.com). There are also new designs produced in pretty vintage materials that have been salvaged from former workshops; we’ve seen nice examples of vintage materials in new designs by Thierry Lasry, BlueMagicEye, Nine Worthies / FAN Optics (https://www.eyestylist.com/2013/06/summer-stories/) and Res/Rei (www.eyestylist.com/2012/04/trend-watch-new-frames-vintage-materials/)  – and there are more out there if you search them out. CN

Matsuda Eyewear www.matsudaeyewear.com

Oliver Goldsmith Sunglasses www.olivergoldsmith.com

Rolf Spectacles www.rolf-spectacles.com