Eyestylist

Vidal Erkohen

22nd April 2012  Creator of RVS by V, Vidal Erkohen, first set up his business to sell rare vintage frames (www.rarevintagesunglasses.com). We asked him to model a few and here are the results…thanks Vidal! Here, as part of our Vintage series, Eyestylist asks Vidal about his passion for vintage eyewear and how it has shaped his own designs at RVS by V.

“Vintage eyewear has a soft spot in most people’s heart, whether it may be the memory of a loved one wearing them when they were a child, or the vision of their favourite actor wearing them in the their favourite movie. A piece of vintage eyewear from the ’80s may have been a hit back then, but today it may signify a whole era that will bring back hundreds of memories to its user. I believe a piece of eyewear can only truly be iconic by passing the test of time, and that is exactly why some vintage frames are particularly sought after, year after year.

Can you tell me about your own collection, RVS by V., and how it is affected by your love of vintage? “I always try to keep true to vintage style in our RVS by V. designs by keeping the updates we make to our designs very minimal. The way we use materials, our finishing (which we always do as matt) and our colours are all very important to me. I am in love with colour and it holds great importance in all of my designs. I believe the colour tones you use bring a whole new modern look to timeless styles that sometimes seem to come from a ‘black and white’ era. I think men sometimes shy away from wearing colours and this is why I try to incorporate vibrant hues with classic design; I like to help them overcome this habit.” www.rarevintagesunglasses.com www.rvsbyv.com CN  Photography by RVS by V. for Eyestylist.com.

 

Frames inspired by Dolce Vita and Federico Fellini

20th April 2012 From Australia comes another collaboration from the frame company, Colab who launch a line with the Italian illustrator Jonathan Calugi…with images inspired by Fellini. Another super retro theme for our Vintage month!

The collection includes references to the 1963 release ‘8 1/2’ and Mastroianni’s lead character, Guido. The sunglass style JCA001_8 1/2 has a trendy half bi-tone front, matte brushed gold trim and is part of a Limited Edition of 1000 pieces. The best way to order these from outside Australia is online at www.colab.com.au/shop

Kings of Past

19th April 2012 Last month I had the opportunity to meet with Kings of Past for the first time….Sebastien showed me a small selection of their latest pieces, some of which we are publishing here. I have also talked to Musadik Rajani, an expert on vintage eyewear and one of the principals of Kings of Past, the vintage eyewear retailer. Musadik has shared his insights here into this special world of glasses….and over the last weeks he has given me a really good understanding of the beauty and quality of some of the best vintage eyewear (image above, Emmanuelle Khanh sunglasses at www.kingsofpast.com).

Why is vintage so desirable? I believe fashion is always inspired by the past. The past sets a precedent for the future to follow. And ‘vintage’ is a very loose term used to describe the past. In eyewear specifically, the past is very interesting because all the designs were original. Eyewear as a mainstream fashion accessory is a 30-40 year old concept, so the eyewear from that era is largely considered to be original in design. In today’s tech-savvy world, people are really looking for originality and design. A simple branded logo on a mass produced eyeglass or sunglass is not enough.

Do you work with celebrities? Why do they choose rare vintage? 
We work with many celebrities either directly or through many of our accounts. Celebrities are constantly being photographed, and this drives a greater desire for them to look and be different. They choose Kings of Past vintage eyewear because of the authenticity, the rarity and the fact that all our eyewear is unworn. We work with anyone who has a genuine appreciation for fine and unique eyewear.

Which are your favourite vintage pieces this year? This is very difficult. I have many many favourites for different reasons. The Jean Claude Killy sunglasses (pictured above) are a favourite because of the incredible details…the hollowed carbon fibre temples, ‘wishbone’ hinges, folding temple tips, shocks in the bridge, and the lenses. I also like our vintage Ralph Lauren pieces with acetate fronts and detail engraved metal, and the Cazals are a favourite because of their outrageous designs and impact on American culture. We also do very well with Alain Mikli vintage styles at the moment. (more…)

Original Penguin

18th April 2012 Original Penguin was one of the first companies to understand the social and fashion changes taking place in America in the 1950’s. Personal freedom and personal taste coincided with the birth of Original Penguin. The buttoned-up formality of the 1940’s was gone, relaxation was the new mantra, and looking swell while you were at it. At this juncture, Original Penguin created a polo shirt that became a classic – trendy, smart and affordable. The Original Penguin polo (followed by other fashion items) emerged as the era’s most popular shirt – suburbanites to the Las Vegas Rat Pack –  were seen wearing it – and the polo became the ‘new uniform’ – making everyman feel like Frank Sinatra – cool, confident, moving and shaking. The above photo features The Doyle – in oh-so-vintage-crystal with black.

Original Penguin Eyewear is a fantastic mix of retro styling, a trifle geeky, with a bit of chic, and a whole lot of cool. The frames express high-style vintage inspiration, and they are a favourite with both men and women. The same traits that so enamoured people with the Original Penguin concept, is beautifully translated into the eyewear. The Rat Pack would love it! www.originalpenguin.com  www.kenmarkoptical.com JG

17th April 2012 These 1960s larger-than-life styles Koko and Fuz, pictured above, are by Oliver Goldsmith, and they are very much still a feature of the present Oliver Goldsmith collections in this pristine stand-out white, a colour Audrey Hepburn wore so well (in Two for a Road). It’s statement vintage styling at its best – big squares and rounds are a perfect choice as we go into spring/summer and much is owed to Oliver Goldsmith for this and many more 1960s trends in sunwear that happily live on. Square, by the way, is fighting its way back in while everyone talks about the round styles…. I expect it to grow and grow as an important, characterful trend for 2013….

I have visited the Oliver Goldsmith store in Notting Hill on a number of occasions – it is full of treasures, new and vintage, by the Goldsmith family – now also including Claire Goldsmith’s label Legacy. This is also where you can have a bespoke sunglass made up should you wish to see the full vintage collection and have one of the designs re-created. The shop is around the corner from colourful Portobello Road and near some fine cafes, delis and restaurants. One of London’s finest eyewear emporiums…CN

Oliver Goldsmith, 15 All Saints Road, Notting Hill, London W11 1HA www.olivergoldsmith.com

 

Image (top): Front cover, Vanity Fair, May 1965, provided courtesy of Claire Goldsmith, Oliver Goldsmith.