Eyestylist

Trendsetting Sunglasses….

14th May 2013

…Available online!

14th May 2013 Sunglass variations abound this season – and here we feature two designs that you can shop for immediately online via Eyestylist…click on BOUTIQUES to place your order!

British brand Fan Optics launched last year, and their frames take inspiration from old English regional names. Ailen, meaning made of oak, is luxuriously fabricated in amber toned acetate (above, Ailen in tortoiseshell). Handmade crafting ensures fine detailing and superb quality. www.fanoptics.co.uk

Gatsby Inspiration: Peace and Love by Christian Roth

Christian Roth captures the spirit of summer, the luxurious mood of The Hamptons, and the feel of “The Great Gatsby” with Peace and Love (above). The pearl acetate frame is highlighted with a sunny yellow trim on the lenses – both front and inside – and a whimsical touch of green and yellow on the end tips. Cool and refreshing! www.christian-roth.com

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Boutiques

Eyewear Presentation with Artistic Flair

13th May 2013

Anne & Valentin in New York and Paris

13th May 2013 French eyewear creator Anne Valentin’s two boutiques resemble stunning art galleries. The frames are displayed as works of art, which they are! The Toulouse based designer discusses with Eyestylist her shops in Paris and New York.

When did the Paris shop open? and New York City? “We opened the boutique in Paris…I think about 2001. In New York, we finished the shop just before the last MIDO. It is very beautiful and we are delighted with the result.” (above)

Both Paris and New York are frequent travel destinations for visitors and professionals worldwide. Did this influence your choice of location? “Why New York? Because everybody comes to this city. It is very interesting to come and confront the diversity that makes up the population. You know, for the entire world, this city in the US is a reference. It is full of contradictions and full of possibilities. Like all the French, I love to wander in Soho in New York; it’s not very original I concede, but good! And the area always provides many surprises; with its organisation, but a neighbourhood where you can still find surprises. Also, it is charming, and then there are trees, flowers and birds – life is very bohéme. Our commercial proposition is a true proposition; it has a root identity, value and commitment. We are, in this way, a beautiful surprise for everyone, tourists or not. Our clientele is educated, curious, cultivated and sensible, whatever country they come from.”

Anne et Valentin Boutique in the Marais Paris

Does Anne et Valentin have any plans to open additional stores in different countries? “Maybe……one day…..”

Any additional comments you would like to add? “I want to thank you for this interview, and I hope that our efforts for creating refined, fresh and thoughtful designs for life, permit our dear clients and opticians to have has much pleasure as we have in making them.” Anne et Valentin 4, rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie 75004 Paris and 2 Prince Street New York, 10012 www.anneetvalentin.com JG

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Sunglasses series continues…

10th May 2013

A stylish illusion by Grey Ant

10th May 2013 This label knows how to do things differently. Proof comes in this one-of-a-kind sunglass style, ‘Inbox’, designed in tortoise – and a gorgeous ivory – with smart silver (or gold) flash lenses -four to be precise. The illusion of a 1950s frame built into a much larger pair of lenses is unusual, quirky and, in our minds, an admirable achievement. The styles are designed in New York and made in Italy in small quantities; they are available worldwide from the Grey Ant online store. Overall, the collection offers a new take on tradition, with the additional promise of quality in the design and making; take a closer look at www.greyant.com and see their celebrity favourite, The Foundry, featured here: https://www.eyestylist.com/2012/05/my-favourite-sunglasses-5/ Now available in London at Liberty’s. CN

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Ultimate Elegance

7th May 2013

Sunglass Glamour from Vera Wang

7th May 2013 Harmony, beauty and style are the foundation of the superbly elegant fashion and eyewear designs from Vera Wang. She has an innate feeling for movement in beautiful fabrics, and in the fine crafting of eyewear materials. Two designs are particularly luxurious – Meila (above) in Italian acetate and stainless steel. The voluminous shape is highlighted with a metal clip above the nose bridge.

Aldora - elegance in crystal by vera Wang — Aldora – Crystal Elegance by Vera Wang

Another of our favourites is Aldora – a refined, sleek design in crystal acetate. Crystal against the dark lenses has an aura of mystery and surprise – a definitive diva design! www.kenmarkoptical.com JG

Boutiques

Accessorise with creativity

1st May 2013

Wolf & Badger, Mayfair

1st May 2013 If you appreciate emerging independent labels and new designers, Wolf & Badger is a world you should walk into. I have known the Notting Hill store for some time, but I recently visited the new location in Dover Street, on recommendation from our friends at Heidi London, the British based sunglasses label. Opened in 2012, the store showcases some remarkable jewellery labels, fashion collections, and a few select homeware pieces, in a refined setting that is chic but not formal. “We have the best of each designer that we profile, with up to 20 pieces per label. We are always on the look out for the next big thing; our selection of men’s labels is growing following our successes in unique womenswear,” explained Constanza Di Gennaro when she showed me around.

Heidi Chan’s sunglasses have been available in Wolf & Badger since she first launched in 2011, and the Dover Street store is currently showcasing her floral line where delicate petals are embedded in transparent acetate. “I fell in love with Wolf & Badger when I first visited the Notting Hill store. It’s like a gallery full of wonderful treasures..modern, unique, fun, and the people there are very friendly, they love what they do too. I can spend hours there with the beautiful designs on the shopfloor.”

The collection is also about to launch online with Wolf & Badger https://www.wolfandbadger.com/category/accessories-all/women/ – next to some other one-of-a-kind accessories and fashion pieces that you won’t find anywhere else including one of their bestsellers, Pinghe. www.wolfandbadger.com www.heidilondon.com CN

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