STARRY EYES

BOBBI BROWN UNVEILS STERLING NIGHTS COLLECTION

The star-studded skies on a recent trip to South Africa inspired renowned makeup artist Bobbi Brown to debut the Sterling Nights Eyewear Collection for Fall/Winter 2015. The eyewear collection dovetails with a Bobbi Brown cosmetics line of the same name, which also captures the rich beauty of South African skies. Bobbi Brown Eyewear is made by the Safilo Group. (To read Brown’s tips for helping patients look their best in their eyewear at every age, see page 85.)

Featuring thin silhouettes and jewel tones, Sterling Nights includes two ophthalmic and four sunwear styles with classic, wearable shapes in both acetate and metal. The collection features rich colors, such as tortoise sapphire, navy tortoise, blush fade, pearl gray, and shiny silver. Each style is finished with a shiny metal logo plaque on the temple, another nod to the starry skies that inspired the line.

INFO: 800-631-1188, MYSAFILO.COM (EXISTING CUSTOMERS), BOBBIBROWNEYEWEAR.COM

TO THE MARKET:

The Sterling Nights Eyewear Collection was launched in October, and features classic shapes with thin silhouettes.

CANADIAN CAUSE

CLAUDIA ALAN LAUNCHES C4 LINE FOR CHARITY

Vancouver-based Claudia Alan introduces C4, a new line of high-end readers and sunwear developed with Canadian style guru Susie Wall and targeting the over-40 market. C4 stands for “Canadian Creative Collaborative for Charity,” and a portion of the proceeds from the line will be donated to the Cause We Care Foundation (causewecare.org) to benefit single mothers and children in need.

The initial release has three sunglass styles and four readers, each characterized by glamorous, strong silhouettes and neutral colors such as pearly nude, crystal grey, and ballet slipper pink. Bolder colorations include black and tortoise.

Readers are available in eight powers and have anti-reflective and scratch-resistant coatings. The sunwear styles have CR39 lenses with scratch-resistant coating and 100% UV protection.

INFO: 604-836-1967, CLAUDIAALAN.COM

TO THE MARKET:

“C4 speaks directly to a demand in the marketplace for chic, optical-quality reading glasses and sunglasses at an accessible price point.”

—CARLA D’ANGELO, PRESIDENT AND DESIGNER, CLAUDIA ALAN, INC.

INNOVATIVE ‘PATTERNS’

OVVO BRINGS TEXTURE TO TRADITIONAL STYLES

OVVO Optics releases its newest line, the Pattern Series, to retailers in Fall/Winter 2015. On trend with the fashion season’s direction toward texture, the collection features a subtle yet distinctly textured look.

Drawing on its history of technical innovation, OVVO Optics has developed a finishing pattern process that can be applied during the manufacture of its surgical steel and titanium frames. The company has employed this texturing technique to its six bestselling women’s and men’s ophthalmic styles in the Traditional line. The result: fresh looks and new colors on its most popular shapes, newly released as the Pattern Series.

The collection is made in Europe and opens with five vibrant color patterns: violet, blue, cherry, gunmetal, and brown. All OVVO Optics frames are made from a lightweight and durable steel and titanium composite material originally developed for spacecraft and military use.

INFO: OVVOOPTICS.COM, INFO@OVVOOPTICS.COM, 855-EYE-OVVO

TO THE MARKET:

Like other OVVO Optics frames, the Pattern Series styles weigh about 0.6 ounces and offer comfort and durability. The patented screwless hinge is flexible and virtually indestructible, withstanding more than 300,000 rotations in testing, the equivalent of 205 years of use.

A WINNING FORMULA

RED BULL RACING EYEWEAR REVS UP THE MARKET

Inspired by the four-time world champion Formula One Red Bull racing team, Red Bull Eyewear rolls out a new line of men’s optical frames, performance sunglasses, and goggles to the U.S. market, distributed by Fort Lauderdale, FL-based Mad Vision. Innovative materials; sleek, masculine styling; and high-performance lenses characterize this broad collection, which targets the action-sports lifestyle.

Subdivided into three groups—High Tech, Life Tech, and Sports Tech—the optical collection offers three distinct styling choices. High Tech styles are rimless and lightweight; Life Tech styles combine comfort with an innovative use of stainless steel, titanium, and aluminum; and Sports Tech features bolder silhouettes while maintaining extreme comfort and a light weight using the new material XMP (Xtreme Matrix Polymer).

Sunglass styles, too, are subdivided into High, Life, and Sports Tech categories and feature lenses made from XNL, an unbreakable material used in Formula One helmets. Goggles are made with ZEISS lenses.

INFO: 888-961-4675, MADVISION.COM/RBRE

TO THE MARKET:

“The Red Bull brand is synonymous with the action-sports lifestyle. Consumers in this category have high demands from a recognized brand with cutting-edge design, great fit, and innovative materials at affordable prices.”

—DAN PADY, VICE PRESIDENT, SPORTS DIVISION, MAD VISION

TALES FROM THE CHAIR

Makeup guru Bobbi Brown shares her insights on looking beautiful at every age in the right eyewear—and makeup. Bonus: These are great tips to share with your patients and customers.

EYECARE BUSINESS: How should a woman’s approach to cosmetics and color selection change as she ages?

BOBBI BROWN: No matter your age, I always stress the importance of not overdoing your makeup. As you age, a good rule of thumb is to stay away from dark colors on the eyes; they will only make your lids appear heavy.

Remember that light colors lift, so use a bone eye shadow all over the lid and under your brows. Also, a brighter shade of blush will take attention away from fine lines around your eyes and give your whole face a lift. Finally, don’t forget to define the arch of your brows—it will help give eyes a “lift.”

EB: How can eyeglass wearers use their glasses and cosmetics to complement their changing faces?

BB: Wearing glasses draws plenty of attention to your eyes, so it’s best to keep your eye makeup neat and simple. If you overdo your eye makeup, it will just clash with your frames and end up looking garish. Stick to neutral eye shadows and liners, and save the bright colors for your lips.

EB: How do you think an eyewear wardrobe should shift over the course of a woman’s life?

BB: Glasses and sunglasses offer an instant way to change up and enhance your look. As you [age and] change your hairstyle, cut, and color over the years, it’s natural to change your sunglasses and eyeglasses to reflect your current style.

First, decide what style you want, determine what shape to flatter your face, and then think about color. Black and tortoise shell frames typically look good on women of all ages, and nude is a modern and classic alternative.

EB: In what ways do eyewear and cosmetics work together in your own personal routine?

BB: My makeup look with glasses is one that changes depending on the situation and occasion. Most days, my look consists of corrector and concealer under my eyes and waterproof mascara. If time allows, I’ll add eyeliner to make my eyes pop, define my brow with a long-wear pencil, and add a soft nude shadow on my entire lid.

EB: Is there anything that women need to transition out of with eyewear because it’s “too young”?

BB: Women of all ages can use eyewear to enhance their best features. Age is really not an issue when choosing eyewear. It’s about finding a style you love and feel comfortable in—and when you find that style, get it in several colors.

It’s important to remember that all women, no matter their age or the trend, have the ability to look and feel their best.

—Amy Spiezio