mido report

More and More: Mido's Rx Roll-out

By Amy Spiezio

This year, Milan was home to a crop of eyewear that offered more colors, more styles, and more options. Offering a taste of what's to come for the fall in frame fashions, more than ever, suppliers will be offering something for everyone. The styles of the day featured at Mido followed several distinct trend directions.

SIZE: With a nod to the baby boomer population, eyewear is getting deeper B-measurements and more progressive-friendly without losing its style. Eyewear is bigger and more dramatic. Although it's not to 1980s largeness, it is certainly a response to the subtle rimless eyewear of recent years.

COLOR: The color palette is more flattering than ever with burgundy and purple providing compliments to the skin.

Nature also dominates the color scheme in eyewear with earthy greens and browns joined by a new hue on the scene—creamy, bright, and golden tones of yellow.

Color was on display at the show, with gradients, contrasts, and solids providing highlights in hues in virtually every color of the rainbow. Shown top to bottom: Shades of red in Just Cavalli style JC125 from Marcolin; a passion for purple in a Nike style from Marchon; an updated history lesson from Lafont with styles Providence and Principe

Patterns continue to catch the eye, but subtly. Inspired by nature and technology, decorative elements hide inside the frame, peek through crystal top layers, and make a splash on the frame fronts. Styles that seem to be over-the-top on the frame board—wild animal patterns or disco-ball glitter—are actually very wearable and flattering on the face.

RETRO-SPECTIVES: When it comes to frame construction, retro inspiration continues to power the trends of the day. Every decade of the 20th century is covered with P3s, wayfarers, and navigators in the spotlight and details such as filigree and keyhole bridges making a comeback.

OPTIONS: In tune with the 21st century, eyewear manufacturers are providing wearers the opportunity to be unique by creating their own frames. Temples and bridges that can be clipped, clicked, or snapped on and off to create a variety of styles from one chassis were spotted throughout the showfloor. EB

Mido was a showplace for colors, patterns, and eye-catching options. Shown clockwise from top: United Colors of Benetton's latest offers snap-on options; a keyhole bridge adds retro flair in Modo style 205; a splash of glitter in Kirk Originals style Wilbur Jet J206; purple and patterns from Alain Mikli's new purple Pact collection. Shown is style A0777-97