Eyestylist

Baby R01

Zoobug

29th November 2011 If there is a little girl on your holiday gift list, here is an ideal present for a future fashionista – colourful sunglasses from Zoobug. Created by eye surgeon Dr. Julie Le, she is very aware about eye care for youngsters, and she has an instinctive feel for what appeals to the young set. The Mini frames (above) feature UV 400 polycarbonate shatterproof lenses, and rubber tips ensure that the frames stay put on little faces. Children will love the variety of cheerful colours! Available in London at Harrods and Marie Chantal, and at www.littlefashiongallery.com / www.zoobug.com   JG

Introducing Res / Rei Eyewear

Adriano

28th November 2011 A friend in Italy has suggested to me to have a look at this brand….Res / Rei Eyewear, Handmade in Italy with Love. From what we hear, their first collection in acetate is rather lovely. Named after Roman emperors, the spectacles are inspired by these characters and their different personalities – pictured above, Adriano, in the elegant colour ‘Gladiator Red’.

The design of each frame has been realised to balance the weight of the frame on the face so it rests less on the nose and more on the ears, creating a design that can be worn throughout the day, without causing any discomfort, and ensuring a constant feeling of wellbeing. The brand is currently available at Gaillard Opticiens, Chartres, France, and Capello Centro Vista in Castelfranco Veneto, Italy, among other stores around Europe. We hope to have more on this soon. For more information visit  www.resrei.com CN

Orgreen
VAVA Eyewear
LEINZ
LAMARCA EYEWEAR
MOREL
Article One

 

Cult Eyewear – An Author’s Passion

Eyestylist meets Neil Handley

25th November 2011 If you are an eyewear devotee and curious about social history, The British Optical Association Museum in London is the place to visit.  A personal tour by Curator Neil Handley adds richness and revelations to the experience. Handley is the author of the highly acclaimed book Cult Eyewear, an intriguing perspective on the iconic brands who redefined eyewear (image above, l.a. eyeworks “The Beat” 1980.) Fate has had a strong hand in Handley’s career – as an art historian with an Oxford degree, he took a temporary position with The College of Optometrists. “It was to be for twelve months,” recalls Handley, “and now it is thirteen years! I wasn’t in the eyewear field, so this has been amazing. The Museum was founded in 1901 – so it is 110 years old.  I feel that I am the temporary custodian of the collection, and it’s my job to keep it going, and lay the seeds for the future. The Museum is a cultural home for eyewear to which people can gravitate. We have fashion, art and design students who visit, and we encourage them to get involved. In 1997, we moved to this great building on Craven Street, an historic area in the heart of Charing Cross. Benjamin Franklin lived just a few doors away.

RVS by V. Robin. Photo: The College of Optometrists/Elliot Franks

“Working on the book required a lot of research with many discoveries. The first spectacles were not worn on the face, they were held in the hand, and designed to wear with a wig, the fashion of the time. Your character is brought out with what is on your nose. We found one box marked ‘junk’, and inside were the most incredible items – original, vintage frames and much more. Eyewear started as a craft, and the manufacturing techniques remain largely unchanged. The future lies in continuing good craftsmanship and quality.

Oliver Goldsmith 1985

“Britain is living up to its design standards today, but the manufacturing is being done elsewhere, as I’ve noted in the book. I hope it’s an eye opener! However, things come in waves, and there are high and low points in every story. There is always space for mavericks, but there are also lessons of history. There is no guarantee that certain companies will be around in two or three years; an awareness is needed to get through the hard times.” (Oliver Goldsmith image above: The College of Optometrists/Elliot Franks-Courtesy of Oliver Goldsmith).

Handley clearly enjoyed his research for Cult Eyewear. “You should have seen what was left out! Unfortunately, everything could not be included, but perhaps one day, there will be another book. The collections that we have here are certainly inspiring.”

Article One
Loft. New York. March 14-17
LEINZ
Look
VAVA Eyewear
Götti Switzerland
TVR True Vintage Revival
Lafont 1970's acetate: O.PH.L-Lafont

With Handley’s meticulous eye for details and love of his subject matter, a sequel to Cult Eyewear is already eagerly anticipated. Published by Merrell www.merrellpublishers.com.

Museum visits by appointment only. Telephone +44 (0) 207 839 6000 www.college-optometrists.org/museum JG

Cambridge

Collegiate Chic from Leisure Society

23rd November 2011 California based Leisure Society endorses the enduring appeal of collegiate style with a collection of frames named after prestigious universities. One of my personal favourites is Cambridge (above), Shane Baum’s refined, preppy and superbly crafted frame in 100% titanium. The gold plates are available in 12k, 18k, or 24k, combined with Japanese cotton-base acetate temple tips – pure luxury! In addition, little details are precise with intricate multi-dimensional laser etching applied to the titanium and rim wire, with beautiful enamel insets. Twelve layer anti-reflective lenses, coated with Diamond Cast anti-scratch material, are state-of-the-art. Each frame is individually handmade and numbered in Japan by experienced artisanal craftsmen. www.leisure-society.com JG

BLACKFIN
ROLF Spectacles
JISCO
MOREL
Götti Switzerland
Loft. New York. March 14-17
Look

Wowzers from Martyn Bal

22nd November Recently announced, Cutler & Gross have partnered up with Martyn Bal to produce Wowzers, a new sunglass collection. Bal says that he wanted the glasses to be “cool, neat and sharp”. I like the look of the crystal and also the version in “Ink Dream”. There are four colour choices in all.

Sunglasses by Martyn Bal

 

Available now from Cutler and Gross stores and the online shop http://shop.cutlerandgross.com/

JISCO
Look
TVR True Vintage Revival
Götti Switzerland

For more details on Wowzers go to www.martynbal.com CN