frame introductions
Amy Endo, ABOM and Amy Spiezio
1 TURA
MODEL: Tura style 577
MATERIALS: Zyl front/monel temples
SIZE: 51/15-135
COLORS: Eggplant, slate gray, gold tortoise, and wine
MARKET: Women
INFO: 800-242-8872, tura.com
2 Bring on the Sun
Wiley X Airborne safety-rated sunglasses are built tough enough for work, but are also cool enough for play. From machining, to assembly, to work on an oil rig, these Rx-ready glasses are designed specifically for the special safety needs of the industrial work-place. The Wiley X Airborne glasses are ANSI Z87.1-2003 safety-certified frames fashioned from tough Triloid Nylon, so they can stand up to even the most challenging work environments. With frames available in gloss black, matte black, and metallic black, the Airborne is designed to fit medium to large head sizes. The Airborne can also be fitted with prescription safety lenses that meet ANSI Z87.1-2003 safety requirements.
INFO: 800-776-7842, wileyx.com
3 Premiere Vision
Featuring contemporary accessories with timeless style and cutting-edge technology, TAG Heuer's ophthalmic eyewear style Automatic is one of the collection's newest ophthalmic designs. It is extremely classic and sleek, but utilizes magnets to open automatically when lifted. It's a modern, revolutionary spin on a seemingly traditional frame. The collection is produced by Premiere Vision.
INFO: 800-345-3733, tagheuer.com/eyewear
4 CLEARVISION
MODEL: Cole Haan style CHF 949
MATERIAL: Acetate
SIZE: 50 and 52
COLORS: Brown horn, green marble, and wine marble
MARKET: Women
INFO: 800-645-3733, clearvision.com
5 Rockin' Looks
Lafont's latest collection of Issey & La has a distinctly urban edge with a rock and roll feel with edges and angles to appeal to modern eyewear consumers. The collection's new styles, such as Fangio and Enzo, update traditional looks with angles and architectural aspects that are up-to-the-minute. Although the frames look sleek from the outside, details inside the temples, such as dice and skulls, add a personal touch.
INFO: 800-832-8233, lafont.com
6 MYKITA
MODELS: Tim and Terrence
MATERIALS: Stainless steel
SIZE: Oversized
COLORS: Neon orange, black, concrete, and shiny silver
MARKET: Unisex
INFO: 973-669-0051, mykita.com
7 OGI
MODEL: Ogi style 9071
MATERIALS: Acetate, metal
SIZE: 53/17-145
COLORS: Black stone, blue stone, red stone, brown stone
MARKET: Women
INFO: 888-560-1060, ogi.com
8 Reptile
MODEL: Basilisk
MATERIAL: Monel
COLORS: Black on black/red and chocolate on chocolate/lime
MARKET: Unisex
INFO: 800-625-1880, reptilesun.com
9 EASTERN STATES EYEWEAR
MODEL: Thierry Mugler Eyewear style 9267
MATERIALS: Acetate with monel adornments
SIZE: 50/19-131
COLORS: Brown tortoise, blue tortoise, red tortoise
MARKET: Women
INFO: 800-645-3710, eseyewear.com
| In Person: Dana Buchman for Kenmark |
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| A member of the Council of Fashion Designers America since 1991, Dana Buchman has designed an eponymous fashion line since 1987. In spring 2009, Buchman's collection of apparel and accessories became an exclusive collection for Kohl's. The eyewear and sunwear collection for stylish, mature women produced by Kenmark is still available nationwide through ECPs, and Dana Buchman eyewear from Kenmark will be relaunching at Vision Expo East with new looks, shapes, and colors to meet the needs of today's sophisticated, professional women. In a recent interview, Buchman shared her insights on the collection and its wearers. Over the past three decades, Buchman says that shoppers have changed. “In the 80s, women bought armloads of clothes. Now, it's not the number of of things.” Instead, people buy fewer outfits and more accent pieces to change their looks. “Accessories have been the number-one purchase and we're in a long cycle. There's been such a renewal. Women really understand how to have fun with them, and they want a wardrobe of eyewear. It used to be women didn't think of their accessories as part of their their overall look. In reality, it's the first thing you see,” she says. The Dana Buchman collection is inspired by her own life. “I'm a boomer, my children are early 20s, so I live with a different point of view. It's not so much age-related anymore, it's more a mindset. I don't design for myself only…not only for a woman who lives in Manhattan, but smart, good-looking, and engaged women all over the country.” This is particularly true of her eyewear collection. “I actually wear glasses and I want to be able to do more than one thing with my eyewear,” Buchman says. “If you go to a lot of evening events, you might need a different pair than you'd wear to the U.S. Open. I like eyewear that's a little more versatile and that gives a little more lasting pleasure so you're not tired of yourself next time you pull it out.” “Another thing that's important to me is comfort and fit. The comfort is great. If it's not comfortable, it's like a blouse that pops open. It affects your day. So many women don't realize how much goes into eyewear. I try not to have things be too heavy. I want things to look important, but I don't want to it weigh you down. The temple is where I often place that special detail so it's not in your face. It's a little more subtle, but it's there.” In terms of color, her designs utilize flattering tones and textures, such as burgundy merlot and animal patterns. “There's been so much gray in apparel that burgundy can come in and look great, and I'm wearing my favorite leopard chiffon scarf as I speak to you.” Color detail, finishes, and texture play important roles in the collection. “Pieces in apparel have to have something special. Everyone has basics, and most customers are not afraid of colors. So in apparel, I'm always looking for a pattern that's new and captivating. I always play with jewels or studs and embroidery, and that's the same aesthetic I've brought into eyewear,” Buchman says. When it comes to eyewear shape, Buchman notes that she prefers to stay away from sharp angles, “I don't like hard edges—it's a hint or whisper of cats-eye—it's never costumey.” For her own eyewear, Buchman opts for Clarice (shown in portrait, left) ophthalmics, or Topanga and Lanair suns (shown below). “They fit and they cover. It's nice when your fashion functions.” INFO: 800-627-2898, kenmark.com —Amy Spiezio |
FRAME INSIGHTS: Brooks Brothers Revisited
Brooks Brothers has consistently set the standards for classic American styling for 190 years. Building on its history, Brooks Brothers continues to uphold its reputation as an institution based on heritage and value, quality, and customer relationships by refocusing its eyewear collection.
This spring, the line produced by Luxottica is introducing retro influence on the modern segment of Brooks Brothers eye-wear. This is a departure for the brand—the new collection is '50s inspired and has more of a vintage and sophisticated feel and look to it.
Previously, the eyewear line was largely metal, but the relaunched collection is adding combinations of metal and acetate. In addition, color and special detailing have been added, including the repp tie stripe pattern and the Brooks Brothers Pen treatment aesthetic. In terms of shapes, the collection is moving from smaller, round models to the addition of rectangles for a fuller variety of shapes. The revisited collection consists of several segments:
MODERN SEGMENT: Designed to appeal to a younger demographic, the Modern Segment includes updated styling for an up-to-the-minute feel with a distinctly clean execution. These styles also feature the Brooks Brothers fleece logo.
CLASSIC SEGMENT: “Gentleman” styling, such as coining detail and repp tie interpretations, comprise the Classic Segment. Three-piece mounts in titanium are updated with rich colorations.
The updated collection will also feature new ad campaigns and P.O.P. materials. INFO: 800-422-2020, luxottica.com
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