Eyestylist

I am one of the first lucky customers to try this frame, thanks to Sven Götti who has me wearing it just weeks after I’ve viewed the new Spin & Stow collection at the optical exhibition in Paris. This is a 100% titanium frame with temples in epoxy, a material that is soft to the touch and anti-allergenic. Götti has developed a matt finish for the epoxy which adds to the sophistication of the design. I’ve chosen a lilac front, always a good one for me given my pale complexion, teamed with neutral arms.

Apart from its streamlined elegance, the innovation that makes this frame special is the Spin and Stow mechanism which allows you to twist the temples around so that the frame can be super thin when you want to put it away in its case. It is a perfectly executed detail which you can really only appreciate if you take one in your hands and give it a go. Götti is a Swiss brand www.gotti.ch that is hard to come by in the UK but if you are in London I know that the 20/20 Optical Store (www.20-20.co.uk) on Tottenham Court Road is a stockist. CN

Elton John is an inspiration for many people, not just for his music, but also for his energetic fundraising pursuits. One of his most exciting projects is the annual Black & White Tiara Ball. This gala occasion fired the imagination of fashion designer Tim Van Steenbergen who collaborates with the eyewear label. The result is White Tie, a Limited Edition line of stunning sunglasses that are seductive and mysterious. Precision crafting in luxurious, over-sized acetate with metal side inserts ensures glamour and panache, plus the frames fit perfectly.

Antwerp based Theo is an experimental eyewear company that produces truly innovative and unique frames: www.theo.be

OG Icons by Oliver Goldsmith

This is an iconic brand that I was writing about in the 1980’s, and then it disappeared from the eyewear scene. However, in 2006, Oliver Goldsmith’s great granddaughter, Claire Goldsmith, re-launched the brand. With her finely honed entrepreneurial skills and marketing know-how, Oliver Goldsmith sunglasses are now back in the limelight, and sold internationally, much to the delight of former fans and a host of new ones.

The sunglasses that so captivated wearers like Michael Caine, Grace Kelly, Princess Diana and Audrey Hepburn, are as much in demand today, as they were over fifty years ago.

Ms. Hepburn wore “Audrey” in Charade, the 1963 film in which she starred with Cary Grant. These elegant frames in fine quality acetate, hand made in Italy, are now in demand globally by style aware women.

The fit of these frames is superb – they are designed to offer incredible comfort, and the high quality lenses offer protection from the sun’s invasive rays.

The frames can be found in the recently opened Oliver Goldsmith Boutique in London, just a few steps from lively Portobello Road. I have also seen OG Icons in the Marais in Paris at Les Lunettes d’Also www.leslunettesdalso.com, and at Oogappel Optiek www.oogappel.com in Amsterdam. For more stockists check out the website www.olivergoldsmith.com