September 2014

Autumn Eyewear Escapades…

25th September 2014

Begin here at Eyestylist, with an international optical tour throughout the month of innovative and imaginative frames to be presented at the Paris shows. Glasses and sunglass designs radiate superb styling, amazing colours and fabulous shapes. Click on all our sections – Reviews, Boutiques, Designer of the Month, and City Guides – for eyewear, fashion and cultural discoveries.

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Scene Stealers

25th September 2014

Frames That Command Attention

25th September 2014 What is going to be in optical boutiques in the coming months? Some of the most original, beautiful and innovative eyewear that we have the pleasure to see in Paris starting today. International eyewear designers bring their personal inner “vision” and creativity to frames, and the results are stunning. Netherlands based Susanne Klemm at Suzy Glam has created “Goes Bananas” – Limited Edition sunglasses with slick edginess and flat lenses. Handcrafted in Italy, Suzy Glam frames express chic individuality, with amazing attention to detail. www.suzyglam.com

Theo in Belgium loves red – it’s a favourite colour featured in the collections. Mille+13 is a great example in thick acetate with sharp, defined edges, and lots of beautiful hand polishing. The frame front has two different finishes – the upper part is shiny, and the bottom has a wooden look. Bigger and bolder is the message at Theo! www.theo.be

The ghostly beauty of the sea and its myriad of morphological characteristics influenced the new RIGARDS signature finish: Plastron. Designer Ti Kwa and his team improved traditional horn equipment and developed their own prototype hand tools, which enabled the creation of a crude, alien texture on the horn. The result is a unique design that symbolizes protecting the eyes from elements of the outside world. www.rigards.com

Tilman Sun by Shane Baum - Leisure Society — Tilman Sun by Shane Baum – Leisure Society

Leisure Society’s new campaign – The Deep Serene – continues designer Shane Baum’s dedication to escapism as the ultimate form of leisure. To celebrate there are elegant new designs including Tilman Sun, named after the English Mountaineer Bill Tilman, who is known as the greatest explorer of the 20th century. The ultra-light design is made of pure gold-plated titanium on the front and temples. www.leisure-society.com www.silmoparis.com JG

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Eyewear Gems!

23rd September 2014

Show Time Arrives in Paris

23rd September 2014 Paris is buzzing with anticipation as the city hosts numerous fashion events this week. Eyestylist has “eyes” on frame shapes that are bold and voluminous, colours both classic and vivid, and materials with a mix of classic and the unexpected. Luxury and opulence highlight Anna-Karin Karlsson’s collection. The Swedish designer’s philosophy is “more is definitely always more” at The House of Karlsson. When Trouble Came To Town (above) is ultra sophisticated in cut-out acetate. Indulge yourself! www.annakarinkarlsson.com

Clara by Sven Götti - Götti Switzerland — Clara by Sven Götti – Götti Switzerland

Gracefully feminine and elegant, Clara by Sven Götti is masterfully crafted in acetate and Titanium, and the top bar features a smooth matt epoxy finish. The Swiss-designed frame is a symphony in combining traditional design aspects with modern technology. www.gotti.ch

LGR goes Hollywood! The chic frame Alexandria, designed by Luca Gnecchi Ruscone, is the main accessory worn by Kirsten Dunst in the forthcoming Hollywood film “The Two Faces of January.” A vintage spirit highlights the honey acetate frame, with slightly upturned temples and delicate green lenses. “The Two Faces of January” opens in America on 26th September, and in Italy at the end of October. www.lgr-sunglasses.com

Intuition, imagination and cheerful colours characterise eyewear designs by Alyson Magee. The latest collection demonstrates the DNA signature details that are uniquely Alyson Magee. Volume is keynote in Nicoll with a larger, more daring shape, and a beautifully sculpted temple tip finished in smooth acetate. Luscious coral/red acetate brightens the day! www.alysonmagee.com www.silmoparis.com JG

Arts & travel

Eyewear and an Avant-Garde Art Collector

20th September 2014

Safilo Celebrates Anniversary and Peggy Guggenheim

20th September 2014 The launch of a new limited edition of the legendary glasses worn by Peggy Guggenheim celebrates the 80th anniversary of Safilo. Edward Melcarth, an American artist and friend, originally designed the sunglasses for Guggenheim. She traversed Venice’s Grand Canal in her private gondola, wearing the eccentric sunglasses surrounded by her beloved dogs. Peggy Guggenheim was the last private gondola owner in Venice, and onlookers were astonished as they watched the charismatic mistress of modernism float along the canal that she loved.

Truly Original! Peggy Guggenheim Glasses

Guggenheim was a renowned collector of 20th century art and gave enormous support to artists that included Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollock. Her early childhood was marred by the death of her father on the Titanic, in which he perished. She grew up to live an unconventional, bohemian life filled with artists and travel. In the late 1940’s she bought the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni on The Grand Canal, and made Venice her home for the rest of her life. The Peggy Guggenheim Collection is located in her former residence. Safilo had already drawn inspiration from Guggenheim’s sunglasses in 1994, when it first produced and distributed its Peggy Guggenheim model. Like the pervious version, the sunglasses are on sale exclusively at the museum.

Peggy Guggenheim in the'barchessa' o fPalazzo Venier dei Leoni with her collection of African sculptures; Venice late 1960's — Peggy Guggenheim in the’barchessa’ of Palazzo Venier dei Leoni with her collection of African sculptures; Venice late 1960’s

Behind the project is the bond that links the Safilo Group to Venice, where the first eyeglasses were born, and capital of the Veneto, the Region where Safilo was established in 1934. Safilo is further celebrating its 80th anniversary by joining the Intrapresae Collezione Guggenheim, a group of leading Italian and international companies that support the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, promoting the education potential of art, with the conviction that art can inspire business to embrace change and to face global challenges. A gala event to celebrate Safilo’s 80th anniversary was held in the Peggy Guggenheim Collection museum’s delightful gardens. www.safilo.com www.guggenheim.org/venice

Top photo: Peggy Guggenheim with her Lhasa Apsos terriers on the terrace of Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, Venice 1960’s Photo credits: Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, photo Archivio CameraphotoEpoche, gift Cassa de Risparmio di Venezia, 2005

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New to explore

19th September 2014

Paris preview 2

19th September 2014 Ahead of the Paris eyewear fashion fair, Eyestylist has an eye on some of the independent labels attending. Danish label Kilsgaard Eyewear launches a cool campaign and several new frame shapes, in a brilliant warm palette with maximum impact. Jacob Kilsgaard told Eyestylist: “Our SILMO launch this year contains three petite female shapes -very small specs with a feminine, elegant and classy design. We are also adding three larger males shapes to this launch along with one unisex style. We are keeping it slim and conservative with our unique urban touch of coolness. Three new temple colours will ensure a new sensation when you see them!” www.kilsgaard-eyewear.com

Kilsgaard Eyewear, coming to Silmo Paris

For women, at Vera Wang, colours are soft and translucent with pretty layering. Zlata (below) has the quintessential soft cat eye shape: an interpretation that underlines the femininity of this classic in eyewear. Zlata is created in fresh leaf green – billed a key colour next season – and tortoise on a pearly lapis. www.kenmarkoptical.com

Zlata in leaf green — Zlata by Vera Wang in leaf green from Vera Wang

And for an inspired interpretation of the classic shapes, we also take a look at RES/REI. Just in late last night is this delightful trio with double bridge – Luciana, Giulio II and Lupo (below)!

In finest Mazzucchelli acetate, inspired by traditional tortoise patterning of vintage spectacles, these handmade Italian frames revisit the beautiful things in classic eyewear design with a new, seductive elegance. See you in Paris! www.resrei.com www.silmoparis.com CN