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...

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

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.

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

Tod's sunglasses - one of the big styles for 2010?

Tod's has launched these great metal and acetate sunglasses - wouldn't be surprised if these are a little oversubscribed this summer...

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...

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." 

Usher wearing Carrera Endurance sunglasses in Daddy's Home video

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 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.

Valentino SS10 sunglasses