Eyestylist

Setting the Eyewear Pace for 2012

16th January 2012 This weekend’s show Opti-Munich 2012 launched the new eyewear year with an international line up of extremely desirable designer frames that captivated Clodagh and I. We discovered some new companies, and found great styles from our favourite designers. Pretty pastels are a welcome trend, along with shimmering acetates in gorgeous translucent tones. Vintage is fabulous and forever – Austrian designer Lena Hoschek (above – style SO11) loves vintage for eyewear, as well as her fashion collection, which graces the catwalks in Berlin this week. Watch this space for more fab frames launched in Munich that will soon be in boutiques. For more information on Lena Hoschek, visit www.robert-laroche.com JG

13th January 2012 It is no coincidence that our last two posts and this new one feature hints of pale green and jade….this is a colour that tops the bill for Spring/Summer, making a splendid entry as we look forward to the sunny seasons. These lovely Limited Edition styles from Australia’s Jono Hennessy are new additions to their Art Collection which is awash with sweet tones, from a fresh pistachio or jade, to a pearlescent alabaster, paired with bottle green and a sumptuous tortoise among other classics. For more details on the full collection by Jono Hennessy go to www.jonohennesy.com CN

13th January 2012 The coming season promises lots of pretty pale shades, and with this in mind I have been looking out for some sunglasses that reflect a new mood. Prabal Gurung’s statement piece, a sunglass produced in a brand new collaboration with the well-loved London-based Linda Farrow gives a taste of this new wave in pale tints and transparents with a hint of the futuristic, despite referencing the 1950s catseye all the way….this is an unusual show-stopper of a design that has had great success on the catwalk where they were featured with Gurung’s bold floral print dresses and lavish figure-enhancing pieces with contrasting sheer panels. Above: Prabal Gurung by Linda Farrow Projects SS’12 – for Linda Farrow visit www.lindafarrow.co.uk. For details on designer Prabal Gurung, and to see the full Spring 2012 runway video featuring the sunglasses, visit www.prabalgurung.com CN

Winning Awards – Fleye

12th January 2012 Danish eyewear company Fleye have launched the New Year with a stunning new design, an international award, and a business citation. They were named Eyewear of the Year 2012 in the category “Ladies Eyewear” at the International Optical Fair in Tokyo (IOFT). The winning frame is elegant Erna (above), with Diva details in the flowing acetate shape in Havana brown with gold dust, and gold temples in a subtle honeycomb pattern. In addition, the leading Danish business newspaper, Borsen, named Fleye as a high growth company in 2011. www.fleye.dk JG

11th January 2012 Acetate frames come in all variants…if you see as many frames as we do, then it’s obvious that there are some truly outstanding ones around, but I always think it’s a point that should be illustrated as there is so much choice these days….if you are shopping for a new acetate frame and you want a good one, then it is worth studying what’s on the shelves and comparing the colours and detail of the pattern or finish ….here I have picked out some first favourites for 2012 which have been photographed to highlight the stunning transparency and vibrancy of the material at its finest. Pictured above: La Polverosa by the Italian label L.G.R. www.lgr-sunglasses.com. This design comes in a range of beautiful acetates, including the soft horn-like tone pictured, a look that is very much of the moment.

In the industry, Italian cellulose acetates (also known as zyl) and some of the Japanese ones are considered to be at the top of the league with the Italian producer Mazzucchelli being the most popular choice for the highest quality labels…the colour tones, depth of pattern, detail and overall beauty of the material tend to be very pleasing to the eye if you choose a top-quality one, giving the frames a special lightness and luminosity on the face….see for yourselves in these elegant examples.

For more information on Oscar Magnuson spectacles visit www.oscarmagnuson.com. For further details on the Japanese brand Yellows Plus featured above, visit www.yellowsplus.com CN