Hasta La Ideas

Nine pairs of new shades from international designers both known and new

This season’s round of eyewear collaborations has brought some of the brightest yet. Well-crafted frames with distinct fashion sensibilities are coming down the pipeline, along with unexpected but welcomed creative match-ups and revivals of yesteryear’s iconic brands. Whether straight from the runway or made for fun in the sun, these nine pairs capture the essence of sunglasses and the upcoming summer season.

A Bathing Ape + Sunpocket

Sunpocket enjoyed massive popularity—on and off the slopes—with its foldable sunglasses during the 1980s. The formerly French brand was relaunched last year in Sweden, in sync with growing interest in vintage and niche shades. Gaining a bit of street cred, Sunpocket collaborated with A Bathing Ape for a limited-edition release in matte army green and polarized lenses. Order them from Zozotown for ¥11,340 ($142).

Barton Perreira + Giovanni Ribisi

The current face of Barton Perreira, actor Giovanni Ribisi graduates to co-designer of two styles for the optical label. Lending much more than his name, he submitted his own 3D renderings of the designs. The Ribisi is a modern-vintage take on the round frame with its sleek lines, classic acetates, and mineral glass lenses. (The other style, the Giovanni, will hit stores later this year.) In stock at Context Clothing for $480.

Richard Nicoll + Ksubi

Deflect the sun’s rays and stares with cool detachment in these mirrored shades from Richard Nicoll and Ksubi. The frames’ metallic matte finish and coordinating lanyard add an extra dose of flash. A part of Nicoll’s spring 2012 women’s collection, they’e inspired by “L’Enfer,” the never-completed French cinematic masterpiece. Available soon from a selection of to-be-announced stockists for around $340.

Mauricio Stein + ASOS

British online retailer ASOS recently unveiled its collection with Mauricio Stein, a Brazilian eyewear designer noted for his offbeat label, MauStein, and numerous collaborations. Starting at $82, each pair—like this one with teardrop-shaped lenses and cutout detailing—has the eccentric stylings of boutique frames without the sticker shock. Visit ASOS to purchase.

Finger in the Nose + Vuarnet

Parisian kidswear brand Finger in the Nose teamed up with France’s Vuarnet to create stylish sunglasses for children. The result: scaled-down versions of Vaurnet’s best-known shades just in time for summer. This includes the Cateye, as worn by ski racer Jean Vuarnet during his triumphant run at the 1960 Winter Olympics, and the Surfer, pictured here in gray tortoise. They sell from Finger in the Nose webstore for €114 ($151).

Eyebobs + Iris Apfel

Interior designer and all-around fashion icon Iris Apfel is unmistakably recognizable in her larger-than-life spectacles, so her partnership with Eyebobs makes total sense. The generously oval-shaped Iris takes after Apfel’s trademark frames and comes in three colorways and standard polarized lenses. At $99 through Eyebobs, the sunglasses are also priced to benefit Lighthouse International, a nonprofit supporting those suffering from vision loss.

Zac Posen + Illesteva

Perhaps Illesteva’s sunniest collab to date—as well as designer Zac Posen’s first venture into sunwear—these shades have created a buzz with their unabashedly retro, ready-for-the-beach vibe. Here in leopard, the cat-eye silhouette is a can’t-miss homage to the 1960s, a style Illesteva had a hand in making popular. Rumor has it they will appear at Colette, Opening Ceremony, and directly from Illesteva for $300.

Giles + Cutler and Gross

British designer Giles never shies away from the playful in his line of womenswear. He goes full-tilt extravagant with the Sonic, nodding to “a Victorian mechanical silver swan” and cygnets. Like every pair from Cutler and Gross, the hand-cut acetate fronts and temples are tumbled in a barrel for several days for just the right amount of smoothness and edges. Cutler and Gross has the sunglasses for $525.

Kris Van Assche + Linda Farrow

It’s hard to keep tabs on all of the Linda Farrow designer collaborations out there. From the look-at-me outrageousness of Jeremy Scott to the spare sophistication of the Row, the resurrected eyewear company has become a go-to collaborator for hip fashion labels. For Kris Van Assche’s current men’s collection, bold experimentation meets understatement in the form of a subtle oil-rainbow effect. For a list of retailers visit Kris Van Assche directly or see them now at Linda Farrow’s e-shop for $516.

Stainless steel sunglasses by two Berlin-based brands

Experiments in production techniques and material selection drive the latest Berlin-based collaboration between MYKITA eyewear and womenswear designer Kostas Murkudis. The stainless steel frames from the Spring/Summer 2012 collection comprise two distinct models, the oval-edged Elektra and the more square Phineas. A former assistant to Helmut Lang, Murkudis brings to the eyewear brand a similar affinity for innovation and clean design. Each individual frame is laser-etched to give the cold material a mesh-like surface, which, along with the oceanic colorways of the collection, signals the textures and hues of summer. The silhouette and technology exclusive to this collaboration incorporate MYKITA’s patented hinge, which removes screws and soldering at the joints to further streamline the ultra lightweight frames.

The artful shades are now available at Andreas Murkudis, a Berlin boutique opened by Kostas Murkudis’ brother in July 2011.

Four gifts she’s sure to love from vintage-inspired watches to handcrafted scarves

Men often wonder what women truly want. Love is definitely on the top of the list, but a gift once in a while wouldn’t hurt. Here are some ideas to inspire a surprise for your lady.

Timex Traveler Watch

For their most recent collaboration with iconic American watchmaker Timex, J. Crew has just launched their first ladies wristwatch inspired by 1960s. The Timex Traveler watch will wear well on a laid-back, well-heeled woman, incorporating contemporary crafting techniques with vintage details. This watch has no age or occasion, it fits in anywhere at anytime. This item is currently available at J. Crew for $98.

Band of Outsiders scarf

Shield her from the cold with the Wool and Alpaca scarf by Band of Outsiders. Practical and pretty—we love the handsome gray-on-white pattern—this is a wrap to ensure a pleasant entry into winter. The triangle scarf is made in Italy and is available at Band of Outsiders for $180.

Warby Parker Shades

For a gift that will make her feel good for both its style and charity—and one that won’t break the bank—Warby Parker sunglasses are a prime pick. The high-quality shades come in a range of styles, and for each pair purchased, a pair of optical glasses goes to a person in need. Find all women’s styles at Warby Parker’s website.

Lomography Bundle

If your woman is a photography lover or just loves the way the Plastic Fantastic cameras look, the Lomography Standard 2 Bundle is the ideal gift for her. The Bundle includes four of their most famous cameras: Fisheye No.2, Supersmapler, Colorsplash and Holga available online at the Lomography website for $224.

German craftsmanship meets Japanese technique for the most impeccable wooden glasses yet

Shedding the chrome-cast cliché of futuristic style, many designers have turned to creating modern products from natural materials. A mix of high-tech techniques with artisan hand-craft has resulted in creative twists ranging from leather iPhone backs to flax bicycles. Always a medium for innovation, eyeglass frames have seen an explosion of materials both simple and complex. There’s something wonderfully tactile with wood frames, and recent designs by Drift to Shwood offer great style at a reasonable price. A recent discovery, Herrlicht‘s hand made wood frames have upped the ante, defining the epitome of craftsmanship in wood eyeglass frames.

Advancing the accessory beyond novelty, Berlin-based designer Andreas Licht spends about a week handcrafting each pair of eyeglasses—from the lens holder to the signature four-pronged pin that enables the ease of swapping out lenses. Sculpted from several thin layers of wood and assembled using Japanese joinery techniques, the Herrlicht collection comes in maple, cherry, walnut or fumed oak in a variety of retro-inspired styles—every element of these frames (including the screws!) is made from wood. Quite durable, the frames have a slight flexibility and light weight that make them effortless to wear.

Presented in a handmade cylindrical wood case stylized after a seed pod, Licht underscores his attention to detail and distinct environmental influences; a mark that has earned him the SILMO 2011 award for excellence. As a skilled woodworker—previously working with wooden bicycles and furniture—Andreas cuts, sands and polishes each wood layer. Due to the labor-intensive integrity of the process, the Herrlicht line produces only 200 to 250 pairs of each model every year.

Due to the high demand and limited run of the collection Herrlicht is exclusively sold at 1010 Optics in New York City and Brillenschneiderei Yves in Berlin. Each pair is pressed to indicate style, wood-type and serial number. Prices start at $1,500.

Customizzatevi un Rodoli. Frame stile Aviator, materiali e assemblaggio di altissima qualità tutto made in Italy, oltre 2500 combo disponibili: montatura, lente, terminale.
Come dire…poca spesa, tanta resa.