Reviews

REINA

FACE A FACE

Acetate and I have a long love affair. I started wearing glasses at fourteen years old; the first pair was in basic black acetate, but the frames were comfortable and from the start, I liked the feel of acetate. And so the relationship began. Over the years, acetate has evolved far beyond basic into a very luxurious, romantic material for spectacle frames. My latest acetate love is Reina from Face à Face. The sculptured oval retro shape features a solid colour frame front with contrasting colour on the sidepieces and interior of the design. A ruby red frame front features black, sculptured sidepieces and interior. Or there is a black frame contrasted with smooth Cappuccino sidepieces on the interior. The pièce de resistance is a discreet decorative art acetate blossom on the side of the temple. A little touch that adds distinction to this elegant frame. Face à Face is a Paris based company that has been creating exciting eyewear for fifteen years. They have won several Silmo D’or awards, the equivalent of a Palme D’Or or an Oscar, for their designs. Face à Face frames can be found in London at the Observatory boutique, in Paris at Bastille Optic and in Milan at L’O on Via Giuseppe Verdi 2. Further information on stockists worldwide at www.faceaface-paris.com

MODEL 13435

TD TOM DAVIES

Tom Davies has been creating eyewear designs since he was 21 years old. Now at 36, he can claim an international following of professional luminaries and international celebrities who wear his designs.

Angelina Jolie wears this Jackie Kennedy Onassis inspired frame in her latest film, The Tourist – see the link on the Telegraph website about this at http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/columns/hilary-alexander/TMG8193628/Angelina-Jolie-wears-TD-Tom-Davies-sunglasses.html

The glamorous oval shape in polished acetate (one of his own acetate creations) is part of a Limited Edition series by the designer. Davies not only creates elegant frames in acetate, he also works in eco-friendly buffalo horn and titanium, and these hand-made masterpieces are produced in his own workshop, to ensure quality and precision. I’ve not tried on these particular frames, however, other designs I have had on fit gracefully on the face and they are exceedingly comfortable to wear. For stockists, contact [email protected] or go to www.tdtomdavies.com for more information on this enterprising designer.

MODEL S312-105

LUNETTES FREDERIC BEAUSOLEIL

The play of light on these sunglasses is beautiful, and in the sunshine, they radiate a soft glow. Thin “stripes” of gold, black, grey and crystal delicately enhance the modified oval shape. Another colour version is red, gold and tortoise. This Beausoleil creation is a fine example of the subtle, understated frames that Fréderic Beausoleil has been designing since the mid 1980’s. They are a favourite of professionals, artists and actors who demand quality and performance in eyewear. Star quality, in a refined, elegant manner is the basis of Beausoleil’s inspiration.

www.beausoleil-eyewear.com

This month’s sunglass reviews are by Joan Grady and the optical reviews are by Clodagh Norton.