FRAMEBUYER | Coral Chic

Enchantment UNDER THE SEA

The sea and its coral reefs inspire women’s eyewear and sunwear

BY AMY SPIEZIO

looking at the water, swimming in the ocean, and admiring the undersea life are elemental experiences. And one of the most wondrous parts of the world’s oceans are its coral reefs. According to the Reef Relief Environmental Center in Key West, FL, coral reefs “are the oldest ecosystem on Earth, yet they cover less than 1% of the total ocean. Corals have existed for over 400 million years and reached their current level of diversity 50 million years ago.”

Limited to a zone between 25 degrees north and south of the equator, coral reefs are living entities that host a variety of life forms and inspire poets, artists, and designers alike to share the vibrant colors, textures, and pattern play in their work.

Water and Waves

Coral reefs thrive in clear, clean tropical oceans. Clarity is key to their well-being as the sunlight powers the corals’ growth. Eyewear reflects this watery clarity with light-twisting iridescents and gradients, as well as a rainbow made up of shades of blue.

adidas Originals style Sydney

Fysh style 3520 from Westgroupe

X-ide style Assenzio

Lafont style Obsession

Kaenon style Kati-i

Kenmark Vera style Goode

L’Amy Balmain style BL10460

Color Play

For those willing to look into the water, there is a festival of color to be seen. Coral in seemingly every color of the rainbow, often in a riotous mix, is home to an equally bright blend of fish. Eyewear and sunglasses reflect this color whether in crystal looks that let the light shine through or with dashes of sparkle to catch the eye.

Marcolin/Viva style Gant GW 4024

Morel Koali style Discus

JF Rey style JF2603

Marcolin Swarovski style SK0056

Marchon Salvatore Ferragamo style SF2702

Treasures

Every diver who heads to the reef seeks natural beauty, but many also hope for a dash of treasure nestled among the coral. From rusted artifacts to glittering jewels, man-made extras make the sea a treasure hunter’s paradise. Eyewear in mixed metals, and crystal jewel tones capture the eye’s attention.

Charmant Line Art Duo style XK 2026

Tom Rebl style Rust 1

Oakley style oo4062

Mui Mui style MU 03NV from Luxottica

Christian Dior style CD 3286 from Safilo

Rudy Project style Nebula

THE NEW SCHOOL: Fish of the coral reef

The coral reefs at their best teem with sparkling creatures large and small darting in and out of their living home. According to Reef Relief, the finned residents of coral reefs thrive in their homes and don’t make the transition to captivity well: “Most tropical fish captured die within a year. Buying them at local shops only depletes reefs elsewhere in the world.”

Leaving fish where they are also helps ensure that they will go on providing inspiration for so many works of art and design.

Here, a school of fish-mirroring frames.

Claire Goldsmith’s Oliver Goldsmith Sun style Lewis’ indigo coloring shares the bright pop of the blue tang

Bold and beautiful in pink with distinctive stripes, the lionfish is echoed in the temples of Seventeen style SV53878 from New York Eye

The neutral speckling in the grouper draws inspiration from the fish’s surrounding coral and vegetation, with a similar color palette creating a rich finish for Oliver Peoples style Jardinette

Arnette style Reverb with its splashes of yellow and black echoes a pennant coral fish

The elegant sea tortoise was a source of eyewear materials for many years. While their harvesting has been severely limited, their beautiful patterning continues to inspire looks in acetate such as Electric style Detroit

Similar looks, different results, as another bestriped species, the cardinalfish, uses its colors as a camouflage, while Ogi style 3128 uses the bold coloration to draw attention