Eyestylist

Carine Van Bossele, Lede, Ghent

16th May 2011

Optical Charm & Chic

16th May 2011 The Flemish region of Belgium is a little jewel, with its charming canals and medieval castles. There is another jewel as well – Carine Van Bossele Opticians. Mme Van Bossele and her son, Véran Bekaert, have a distinctive boutique in the village of Lede. The interior is stunning, and Bekaert explains: “The concept was to mix modern style with the warmth of Asian art and colours.” Throughout the shop are beautiful examples of Asian artefacts – tapestries and sculptures. Visiting Carine Van Bossele is like going to a vernissage – frames are treated as art. “We chose frames because we personally love them for their beauty and colours,” says Bekaert, “and more and more, we are searching for limited series frames – the small collections that have that extra touch. It is a quest to find them! Of course, Théo, Paul Smith, Mykita and Tim Van Steenbergen are always available.”

garden - carine van bossele — Garden, Carine Van Bossele

The shop has a wonderful garden, and in the summer customers enjoy drinks on the terrace while trying on frames. “Bring the world in front of your eyes” is the boutique’s theme. This is successfully accomplished with exclusive collections in stylish surroundings. www.carinevanbossele.be JG

Boutiques

jlc opticien…

14th May 2011

…at Le Bon Marché Paris, France

14th May 2011 Le Bon Marché is the grand dame of Parisian department stores. She is an elegant lady who has reigned supreme in the chic 7th arrondissement since 1852, with the distinction of being the oldest department store in Paris. The imposing structure has stood the test of time, just like Gustav Eiffel’s magnificent tower – he also designed Le Bon Marché. The finest international fashion designers can be found here, plus marvellous accessories.

jlc - le bon marché — Interior, jlc opticien

With summer on the horizon, jlc opticien at Le Bon Marché can also meet your sunglass requirements. The Parisian based optician has a lovely boutique area on the ground floor of the store. In this gracious, spacious area, customers can sit in quiet comfort while browsing, and try on coveted names that include Dita, Salt, Barton Perreira, Oliver Peoples and other designer brands. You’ll find frames in unusual materials and distinctive frame shapes. Excellent service too! Le Bon Marché 24, rue de Sèvres 75007 Paris. jlc opticien also has other boutiques in Paris – check out www.jlcopticien.com JG

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Trend alert: show your stripes

13th May 2011

17th May 2011 Joan recently reported on a Marc Jacobs sunglass in stripes…and here is another inspired by lines that is so sweet it had to be included in our display of special sunglass designs for May…”I wanted something fresh and pretty,” explains the French designer Pierre Cariven. The shape and styling are typical of the minimal style for which Pierre has made his name; together with a purity of line and elegance which comes through in the subtle mix of colour.

We think it’s a must-have for those craving a retro, Brigitte Bardot look with nautical overtones, and a perfectly contemporary finish. The optical versions are cute too. If you want to try to find these in the UK, try Schuller Opticians or Viren Jani, or check the list of stockists on the website, www.pierre-eyewear.com CN

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Super bright shades

12th May 2011

Trend watch: fluorescent colours that dazzle

16th May 2011 This is a superb example of the bright colour palette on offer for Spring/Summer. Matthew Williamson 9, produced in collaboration with Linda Farrow (pictured above), comes in three fluorescent choices, pink (an Eyestylist favourite shade for S/S 2011), yellow or orange teamed with dark grey softly graduated lenses – there might be lots of cheap copies of these on the high street, but beware….they won’t have the quality distortion-free UV-protective lenses offered here, nor the lovely soft acetate and nuances of colour).

I’ve found this style available online at Urban Outfitter at £170.

www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk

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Reef by Whiteout & Glare

12th May 2011

A collection with a cause

May 15th 2011 While I haven’t been able to see this collection yet myself, the concept is a nice one: the creation of a sunglass range inspired by species dwelling in reefs around the world, creating awareness about coral reefs and the current threats to the marine life that live in them. Reef is a collection by German eyewear brand, Whiteout & Glare. Each product in the range is named after a marine species from some of the world’s most incredible coral reefs…these include Pterois Volitans, the red fire fish, and Solenostomus Paradoxus.

The sunglasses are made of Japanese acetate and feature a noteworthy titanium hinge design called TI22, and special PVD coatings which lend special colour finishes…dull gold, warm grey and egg plant – all rich tones with an individuality that I like very much. With 32 styles in the collection, each one limited to a production of just 100, the collection is a constant reminder of the finite nature of the world’s resources.

In support of the world’s reefs and research undertaken to monitor their condition, the company has set up a website (www.whiteout-glare.com/reef/) which will monitor the reefs and provide news, divers’ pictures and updates about them. CN

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Eyestylist

Carine Van Bossele, Lede, Ghent

jlc opticien…

Trend alert: show your stripes

Super bright shades

Trend watch: fluorescent colours that dazzle

Reef by Whiteout & Glare

A collection with a cause