Timeless and ageless eyewear

By Joan Grady

Through life’s journey – for independent opticians and consumers alike – ageing can dare you to feel and look better; to confidently accept the ‘team’ challenge. Fortunately, the stereotypes of maturing women conforming to how they think they should look and dress have effectively disappeared. Women now make their presence felt with confidence, success, motivation and recognition of ability.

Women of every age are enraptured with fashion – from clothing to shoes to accessories and, of course, eyewear. The interest in eyewear has particularly developed, as statement-making design innovations, colours and materials capture this momentum.

Contemporary women have the power and liberty to combine their personal fashion instincts and values, effectively expressing their individuality and personality. Creative eyewear designers, and companies bolstered and energised by extraordinary technological advances, offer beautiful frame options for all stages of life. And it begins with you –the experienced independent eyecare practitioner. The mature customer will appreciate your – or your team’s –suggestions for spectacle designs with fashion flair and style chic, as well as quality and comfort.

Go Graphic

Timeless design – whether in eyewear, architecture, sculpture or other artistic expressions – is created with the intention that it will endure time and trends; that it will stand in a historical context and work functionally. In eyewear design, timelessness is transcended with the advance of technology, multiple choices in shapes, colour, materials, intricate details and fascinating textures.

De Rigo’s Yalea label was born with the concept of an all-female brand plus the goal to promote today’s savvy women with frame choices that support their freedom of choice. Model VYA093 is dedicated to Nina Marie Tandon, an American biomedical engineer, and executive director and co-founder of Epibone, De Rigo’s positivity programme that supports women’s talent and rewards their uniqueness. The Yalea frame combines ease, comfort and delicate femininity with a graceful cat-eye sweep. An aesthetic, streamlined geometric flow of metal is enhanced with meticulous attention to enamel detailing.

Austrian label Silhouette is going graphic with their latest collection –La Ligne. The four-piece collection for women with generous shaping highlights a stunning colour palette that includes a charismatic azure turquoise, refreshing lime, captivating orchid pink and traditional black. Silhouette has been setting the benchmark for premium lightweight eyewear since 1964, and this new collection is a bold addition to the exquisite quality and on-trend designs that characterise the brand’s message. Effortless chic is the hallmark of Parisian women, embracing classic, trendy and vintage elements. The latest Elle eyeglasses – distributed by Charmant – highlight the designs with frames in geometric and asymmetrical forms. The assertive yet subtle features of EL13538 unite elegant simplicity and a discerning contemporary form, in key colours of aquatic blue and green, cheery red and rosé tones, and deep forest green and brown. Mixed metals and acetate ensure a distinctive look and rich texture as well as customised design elements. The Elle eyewear philosophy is to empower women to be true to who they are, with personal fashion flourishes.

BIO-BASED AND ACETATE BEAUTIES

With sustainability at the forefront of fashion, spectacle designs in bio-based and recycled materials reflect the eyewear sector’s commitment to responsible luxury. Aspinal of London from Eyespace showcases a striking design in econcyl that is sustainably crafted from regenerated fishing nets, fabric off-cuts and discarded industrial plastic. The cultivated round silhouette is artfully presented in luminous willow green, with custom hinge hardware inspired by Aspinal’s signature shield motif and self-locking screw. The iconic bee motif, delicately etched on the inner tips of each frame, is aligned with the Bee Aspinal campaign to promote environmental awareness.

Ana Hickmann is the embodiment of a successful female entrepreneur, evidenced by her career as a model and business women who has appeared on covers of fashion tomes, has a daytime TV show in her native Brazil, and designs clothing, jewellery and impressive eyewear. The latest Ana Hickmann frame designs, distributed by Go Eyewear, are true statement spectacles that include style AH6522 in a light gradient crystal pink. Strong, bold lines convey empowerment, beauty and style.

Fresh, colourful and made with traditional spectacle making skills, Radley Eyewear cat-eye model RDO 6020 features a beautiful floral design that seductively caresses this graceful piece designed by Inspecs. The Radley collection features frame designs with strong appeal to free-thinking, independent women who appreciate style, quality, comfort, fit and functionality.

Colour Creativity

Among the many and varied advancements that enhance eyewear, colour is particularly exuberant. With constantly evolving technologies, creative colour palettes expand from pale to punchy hues. Metals, acetates, sustainable elements and mixed combinations are beautifully nuanced to provide an enchanting range of soft and skilful colours to vibrant, dynamic sequences.

The tri-colour Icy style from Louis Stone in Wales is an audacious silhouette with a commanding presence that inspires confidence, while effortlessly providing stylish momentum for daywear or sportswear. Luminous colour calibrations feature sweet and sour (shown) and pink pop – a frame with a dash of fun and definitely a youthful vibe.

Effective, subtle colour inserts accentuate the soft, feminine, streamlined contours in X-Eyes Lite XEL11 in acetate and metal. Available from Continental Eyewwear, part of the Millmead Optical Group, the XEL collection offers quality, contemporary frames in a variety of shapes and colourations. They are extremely lightweight, easy to wear and with a comfortable fit. The variety in the collection provides the wearer choices that navigate through daytime activities, being outdoors and smart casual evening pursuits.

A perfect fit is among the qualities exhibited in Stepper Eyewear designs. The construction of the brand’s unique bridge ensures ease and comfort for the wearer. Stepper’s streamlined titanium frame style 30198 fuses classic black and a tangy bolt of shocking pink. For more conservative spectacle wearers, the frame silhouette is timeless, and the splash of colour is energising. Nowadays, mature women radiate uniqueness, strength and openness, plus a sense of adventure. Independent opticians can tap into this potential by presenting to these clients eyewear designs that are sleek, stylish and celebrate the mature woman’s timeless femininity. ■

Preferred Suppliers’ directory tel: 01580 713698 | web: www.nationaleyecare.co.uk

ALCON UK tel: 0371 376 0017 | fax: 0871 351 1005 | web: www.uk.alcon.com

ASSOCIATED OPTICAL tel: 01628 600410 | fax: 01628 666495 | email: sales@assopt.co.uk web: www.associatedoptical.com

ATLANTIC OPTICAL UK LTD tel: 02920 362 136 fax: 02920 362 137 email: info@atlanticoptical.co.uk web: www.atlanticoptical.co.uk

BAUSCH + LOMB tel: 020 8781 2900 | web: www.bausch.co.uk

BIB OPHTHALMIC INSTRUMENTS tel: 01438 740823 email: sales@bibonline.co.uk web: www.bibonline.co.uk

BONDEYE OPTICAL tel: 0121 7723888 | fax: 0808 2801865 email: sales@bondeyeoptical.co.uk | web: www.bondeyeoptical.co.uk

CARDNET tel: 0345 604 2491 Option 2

CENTROSTYLE OPTICAL CENTRE SUPPLIES LTD tel: 01923 239267 | fax: 01923 253951 | email: sales@centrostyle.com | web: www.centrostyleproducts.com

CFH DOCMAIL tel: 07834 173 288 | email: chris.burridge@cfh.com web: www.cfhdocmail.com

CHARMANT UK CO LTD tel: 020 8992 9222 | fax: 020 8896 0287 | email: sales@charmant.co.uk | web: www.charmant.co.uk

CITATION tel: 0161 464 6731 I email: enquiries@citation.co.uk web: www.citation.co.uk

CONTINENTAL EYEWEAR tel: 0151 426 3907 | fax: 0151 426 9340 | email: sales@continental-eyewear.co.uk | web: www.continental-eyewear.com

COOPERVISION tel: 0870 9000 055 | email: enquiries@coopervision.co.uk | web: www.coopervision.co.uk

DE RIGO UK LTD tel: 01923 249491 | email: info.uk@derigo.com web: www.derigo.com/en

DUNELM OPTICAL tel: 01388 420420 | fax: 01388 810101 | email: dunelm@dunelmoptical.co.uk | web: www.dunelmoptical.com

ESSILOR tel: 01454 281281 fax: 01454 28128 | email: orders@essilor.co.uk | web: www.essilor.co.uk

EYESPACE tel: 01527 870550 fax: 01527 837012 | email: info@eyespace-eyewear.co.uk | web: www.eyespace-eyewear.co.uk

GO EYEWEAR UK LTD tel: 0800 9178270 web: www.goeyeweargroup.com

HILCO EUROPE tel: 0800 591150 | email: info@hilco.co.uk web: www.hilcovision.co.uk

HOYA LENS UK tel: 0845 330 0984 | fax: 0845 330 0977 | email: enquiries@hoya.co.uk | email: orders@hoya.co.uk web: www.hoyavision.com/uk

INTERNATIONAL EYEWEAR LTD tel: 0121 585 6565 | fax:0121 585 0954 | email: sales@internationaleyewear.co.uk web: www.internationaleyewear.co.uk

LAB3SIXTY tel: 0113 5211071 | email: Info@Lab3Sixty.co.uk web: www.lab3sixty.co.uk

LENSTEC EYEWEAR tel: 02920 857122 | fax: 02920 920480 email: eyewear@lenstec.co.uk | web: www.lensteceyewear.co.uk

LENSTEC OPTICAL tel: 02920 883009 | fax: 02920 889798 | email: LenstecCC@lenstec.co.uk web: www.lenstecopticalgroup.co.uk

LOUIS STONE OPTICAL LTD tel: 029 2073 5293 fax: 029 2073 1446 | email: info@louisstone.co.uk web: www.louisstone.co.uk

Preferred Suppliers are suppliers who, by prior arrangement, offer members of the PK National Eyecare Group preferential terms. For full details and terms offered to the membership, please call 01580 713698.

LUXOTTICA (UK) LTD tel: 0808 1658 8555 | web: www.luxottica.com/en

MARCHON tel: 0800 72 2020 | web: www.marchon.com | email: csuk@marchon.com

MARK’ENNOVY tel: 0800 3280610 fax: 0800 3280649 | email: mkservices@markennovy.com | web: www.markennovy.com

MENICON UK LTD (FORMERLY DAVID THOMAS) tel: 01604 646216 | fax: 01604 790366 | email: enquiries@menicon.co.uk | web: www.menicon.co.uk

MID-OPTIC tel: 01332 295001 | fax: 01332 295158 email: orders@midoptic.com | web: www.midoptic.com

MPG GmbH tel: 07583 076 132 | email: andrew.davies@mpg-eyewear.com | web: www.mpg-eyewear.com

NORVILLE tel: 01452 510321 email: sales@norville.co.uk | web: www.norville.co.uk

No7 CONTACT LENSES tel: 01424 850620 | email: customerservices.uk@coopervisionsec.com | web: www.no7contactlenses.com

OPTINET LTD tel: 0845 313 0233 | email: sales@optinetuk.com | web: www.optinetuk.com

PERFORMANCE FINANCE tel: 01536 529696 fax: 01536 310033 | email: info@performancefinance.co.uk web: www.performancefinance.co.uk

POSITIVE IMPACT tel: 08446 696907 email: sales@positiveimpact.co.uk | web: www.positiveimpact.co.uk

PRACTICE BUILDING tel: 0800 840 3988 | email: andy@practicebuilding.co.uk | web: www.practicebuilding.co.uk

RETAIL EXPERIENCE DESIGN (RED) tel: 024 7710 3494 | email: design@retailexperiencedesign.co.uk | web: www.retailexperiencedesign.co.uk

RODENSTOCK tel: 01474 325555 | email: sales@rodenstock.co.uk | web: www.rodenstock.co.uk

SAFILO UK LTD tel: 0800 7234 5600 | email: customer.serviceuk@safilo.com web: www.youandsafilo.com

SEIKO OPTICAL UK tel: 01452 610033 | fax: 01452 638250 | email: orders@seiko-optical.co.uk | email: info@seiko-optical.co.uk web: www.seikovision.com/uk

SILHOUETTE UK LTD tel: 020 8987 8899 fax: 020 8987 2430 email: office@silhouette-uk.co.uk web: www.silhouette.com

SPEC-CARE LTD tel: 01392 460806 | email: info@speccareservices.co.uk | web: www.speccareservices.co.uk

STEPPER UK tel: 01732 375975 email: sales@stepper.co.uk | web: www.steppereyewear.com

TANT LABORATORIES tel: 01279 653785 | fax: 01279 658308 email: TantCC@tantlabs.com | web: www.lenstecopticalgroup.co.uk

THEA PHARMACEUTICALS LTD tel: 01782 381698 | email: orders.uk@theapharma.com | web: www.thea-pharmaceuticals.co.uk

ULTRAVISION tel: 01525 381112 | fax: 01525 370091 | email: info@ultravision.co.uk | web: www.ultravision.co.uk

WINDCAVE LTD tel: 0800 088 6040 | email: sales@windcave.com web: www.windcave.com

20 20 OPTICAL SERVICES LTD tel: 01460 929 690 | email: info@2020opticalservices.co.uk web: www.2020opticalservices.co.uk

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