Friday 26 February 2010

It's no yolk: 2010 is the year for big, round sunglasses

Big, white, round sunglasses

This picture was taken in Mississippi by Jellymon. Not sure who the sunglasses are by, but they're 2010 alright.

Thursday 25 February 2010

Zippy or pointy? Linda Farrow sunglasses for Alexander Wang

Can't quite make up my mind which of these two I prefer, the exagerrated cat's eyes below or the zip above. Both are Linda Farrow for Alexander Wang.

Wednesday 24 February 2010

Kirk Originals glasses walk on water - the 2010 Sculpture collection

Kirk Originals Sculpture glasses - Otis grey and scarlet

...Well perhaps walk is an exagerration, but these glasses from Kirk Originals' Sculpture range, to be released in Milan in two weeks, are pretty miraculous. This one is Otis, in grey and scarlet but there are six new shapes in nine new colourways. The fronts are acetate while the temples, which appear to be textured yet smooth, are acrylic. Take yourself off to Kirk Originals' site (always fun) to find out more.

Apropos of something: Propo Design spectacles from Japan

Propo Design spectacles from Japan, great acetates and metal frames. Propo has a boutique too, in Osaka.

Tuesday 23 February 2010

Oscar Magnuson: 2010 sunglass campaign and handsome Damien specs

Oscar Magnuson has some great new campaign images for its 2010 sunglass collection - which looks terrific.

All pictures are taken sideways on which leaves you wanting to find out more, which you can here.

Below, a handsome pair of Oscar Magnuson optical glasses called Damien.

I love the slight keyhole bridge and the strong rectangular shape.

And below that, Santi, another great shape, in a beautiful transparent colour. Oscar Magnuson will definitely feature again.

Thanks to Åsa for alerting me to this great Swedish brand.

Eldridge Optician, established 1870, in New York's Lower East Side, has recently re-opened, dealing exclusively in Oscar Magnuson. Find out the great story of why here.

Oscar Magnuson glasses. Model: Damien


Monday 22 February 2010

Sunday 21 February 2010

Herrlicht handmade wood glasses: walnut, maple or pear?


I've raved a fair bit about my love of wood. As a material for glasses that is, as well as for fuel, furniture and its structural strength. Here I present Herrlicht: brilliantly handmade in Germany, wooden glasses made in different natural colours of walnut, maple and pear. More brilliant images follow...

Why wear one pair of sunglasses when you could wear two? D&G doubles up

These are DG4069 sunglasses from Dolce and Gabbana. Explain the idea to me and I'd have said no. But having had a look, I'm surprised how well this concept works. More colourways follow...

Thursday 18 February 2010

Wednesday 17 February 2010

Tuesday 16 February 2010

Mario Testino wearing L.G.R Tripoli sunglasses

Here's a man who knows a thing or two about good lenses - fashion photographer Mario Testino wears L.G.R sunglasses - the Tripoli model to be precise.

Read my previous post on L.G.R sunglasses here, including a video on the great glass lenses and the malleable temple tips.

Saturday 13 February 2010

Wednesday 10 February 2010

Tuesday 9 February 2010

Derome Brenner - more handmade glasses, this time from France

Derome Brenner Folk glasses

Realised it all got a little black and white since the Thierry Lasry post so here is a little more black, but then some colour from Derome Brenner. Above are Folk spectacles and these are Clyde sunglasses...

Derome Brenner Clyde sunglasses
Fait main en France, bien sûr!

Monday 8 February 2010

Rapp up warm in these cosy Canadian handmade frames

Discovered a great little frame factory in Toronto: Rapp Optical stocks a tonne of great frames including its very own range of handmade Rapp frames...



Let's take a closer look at some of Rapp Collection 3.0...

Sunday 7 February 2010

David Yurman Buckle aviator sunglasses - not a pair you'd lose in a hurry

David Yurman's Buckle aviator sunglasses

I'm still of the opinion that aviators simply don't work on some people. These, however, look great. They're Buckle aviators by jewelry designer David Yurman.

Fancy a pair? Be warned - they're made of silver or gold, so they'll set you back.

Thanks to Ximiei for alerting me to David Yurman's eyewear.

Saturday 6 February 2010

Balmain with Oliver Peoples limited edition 2010 sunglasses

French design house Balmain has teamed up with Oliver Peoples to create this great pair of shades. I love the the way the eyeshapes are so separate from the brow bar - almost floating.

We don't just do fashion here...


Now these are a pretty good pair of glasses, clearly helped along by a brilliant photograph: thanks to dp Chaigneau fotos

Thursday 4 February 2010

Factory900 - high-quality Japanese acetate glasses with a difference






Am always on the lookout for great glasses brands that aren't necessarily available in Europe and the US so I  was pleased Mireito recommended I look at Factory900, a Japanese outfit with these exciting, futuristic designs.

Many of the best Western brands manufacture their frames in Japan, mainly because of the quality of the acetate finish available. Unsurprisingly Factory900 appears to have mastered the perfect finish.

New styles are due out in April so I'll keep checking back...

Wednesday 3 February 2010

More Mykita Lite glasses - talking 'bout two generations

Firm followers of EWG will recall my love for Mykita. There are four big reasons why its glasses are some of the best:
  1. Style - tonnes off great eyeshapes
  2. Comfort - the glasses are extremely light and slight.
  3. Ingenuity - their hinges technoligical masterpieces. Like an Audi car door, you can open and close them for pleasure
  4. Durability - they stay looking great and fitting perfectly (I've had my Nils five years)
Mykita has also always made glasses for everyone: young or old, man, woman, daring or shy, cool or square.


Now, leaving Mykita for a moment, I came across this picture last summer but have been unable to reproduce it here, so click on that link you just went past.

I never heard back from the owner so I don't know if the woman pictured - "Lupa" - usually wears them. I think they look wonderful and demonstrate how stylish this style of metal aviator spectacle can look.

These glasses are fairly ubiquitous of course, mainly on the faces of middle-aged men.

Last year, the Mykita Lite series set a new standard of light eyewear design. The stainless steel frames have a newly enhanced screwless mini-hinge (see previous post where I raved about them last).

Now two new designs, Oda and Ulf, below, bring this aviator style to the more discerning glasses wearer, one who appreciates quality, ergonomics and fashion.

As Mykita explains, Oda and Ulf are "aimed at two target groups: the over-60s, who have always worn such frames; and wearers two generations below them who are now reinventing the similarly styled old glasses they were fascinated to discover in grandpa’s desk drawer [like Lupa perhaps?].

"The younger group are the driving force behind the renaissance of this design. The frames are striking but laid-back, akin to a slightly smaller version of a hip pair of sunglasses." 
Mykita Lite: Oda glasses - truly lightweight
Mykita Lite: Oda and Ulf glasses - truly lightweight

Tuesday 2 February 2010

Usher wearing Carrera Endurance sunglasses in Daddy's Home video

Carrera Endurance sunglasses as seen on Usher's video Daddy's Home directed by Chris Robinson and produced by Sony Music
Carrera Endurance shades as seen on Usher's video Daddy's Home, directed by Chris Robinson. Taken from the album Raymond v. Raymond.

Thierry Lasry - beautiful colourful acetates for the summer

Thierry Lasry sunglassesThierry Lasry sunglasses
Thierry Lasry is one of those modern designers brave enough to really tackle vintage influences and bring them into modern styles. I love the Mazzucchelli acetate on these two styles above. Lasry, based in Paris, only launched in 2007 but he has already established a brand to watch. Below are Spready 00 (left) and Spready 101 (right), and above are Asphexy (top) and Nylony.

Thierry Lasry 2010 sunglasses