Style spotlight

What does luxury mean to you? For each person, the idea of luxury has many perceptions and fantasies – embracing anything from breathtaking gondola rides in Venice to an adventurous African safari or a fabulous, memorable concert. Rewarding ourselves is a beneficial and deserved luxury, such as a soothing massage or a culinary dining experience –or taking time to pursue a favourite diversion. Nowadays, the idea of luxury often relates to self-care, wellbeing and specific fun-filled opportunities.

Tangible objects most often linked to luxury include watches, cars, art, jewellery and now increasingly eyewear. The luxury mindset is a medley of available tactile items, influenced by personal quests and individual satisfaction. With eyewear, designers who create frames of distinction include beautiful materials with impeccable craftsmanship and the finest, refined details. These heirloom qualities are the foundation for their craft.

GLAM AND SPARKLE Falvin Eyewear by Danish designer Birgitte Falvin interlaces her elegant new silhouette –Twilight – in slim titanium with precious shiny white gold plating. Wesselton VVS diamond settings by a leading Danish jeweller artfully shimmer on the temples. Falvin fames are handmade in Japan, combining superior Japanese craftsmanship, with the edginess of Nordic architecture. Birgitte instils her personal philosophy of

Nordic elegance: Twilight by Falvin Eyewear

beauty, luxury, maximum comfort and longlasting quality in each exquisite frame.

Line Art Charmant has launched a graceful, aesthetic collection entitled Menuet, which derives from a 17th century social dance. Line Art was originally created with musical design language at the core of the lyrical frames that are a testament to elegance and lightness, as well as strength and flexibility. The square profile in XL2148 features connecting temple lines, with dual colourations and precious metal accents.

Ermine buffalo horn by Fassungswerk In a village located in the canton of St Gallen, Switzerland, the inventive eyewear brand – Fassungswerk – creates elegant buffalo horn frames in their own atelier. Designer Manuel Iten sources eco-friendly quality buffalo horn from India, then crafts contemporary shapes that are extremely lightweight and comfortable to wear. Ermine is the latest addition to the collection with elegant, natural colour intonations.

Swedish statement: Too Handsome by Anna-Karin Karlsson

Allure, beauty and statement style pervade Anna-Karin Karlsson’s luxurious designs. The Swedish designer enjoys exploring contemporary and unique silhouettes, then adding graphic elements and unexpected details. Too Handsome, a limited edition, is crafted in Japanese titanium with acetate and then dipped in 24K gold.

Silhouette’s rimless Elegance collection, designed by Sonia Setlenga, now includes new models for women called Light Facette. Three different shapes are available that complement facial features: a graceful almond silhouette, an elongated cat-eye and a striking butterfly style. The sophisticated colour combinations shimmer with Swarovski crystals, providing a glamorous finishing touch.

SPORTING ESCAPADES Outdoor winter sports provide adventure: skiing with brisk, crisp air and spectacular mountain vistas as well as vast countryside landscapes while walking, biking or jogging. A key to those pleasures is warm clothes and protective eyewear – the latter playing a vital role in the fun and enjoyment of winter sports.

Alexis Pinturault, winner of 27 French World Cup victories in Bollé goggles (photo: Agence Zoom)

It’s 60 years since the French brand Bollé launched its stylish ski goggles, and the latest designs encompass advanced features including Phantom+ lenses. The photochromic technology provides 100 per cent UV protection for maximum eye safety. Nevada Neo is a sleek goggle with a magnetic locked lens available in four vibrant colours that stays put even if the wearer is barrelling down the slopes.

Plant based frames with innovative concepts frequently highlight eyewear collections, as sustainability and preserving the planet takes on new urgency. Swedish brand Spektrum has launched an exciting new range of snow goggles – the Östra collection. Corn is the basis of Spektrum designs, with 64 per cent of the product produced with recyclable and plant based materials.

Behind the bold designs is the knowledge of snowboarders and ex-professional skiers, who possess first-hand experience about what is needed on the slopes for enhanced vision, superior clarity, comfort and safety. Östera designs are fashionably sleek and extremely lightweight. The White Line edition uses Zeiss Sonar lenses that provide a specific spectral curve in the lens,

Spektrum Östra White Line collection with Zeiss Sonar lens Dazzling colours: Orgreen’s Tamok goggles allowing skiers to read snow irregularities on the slopes more accurately.

The Arctic Circle and its glacial temperatures was the inspiration for Orgreen’s Tamok goggle, created to adapt to weather conditions that range from sunny to cloudy to ferocious. Tamok is constructed in TPU –thermoplastic polyurethane – a flexible material even in freezing temperatures, and the goggle has a thick yet very comfortable face foam that gives superb fit. Dazzling colours too.

Whatever the participant’s favourite sporting choice – on or off the slopes – the need for comfort, durability and fashion are imbued in every aspect of performance eyewear. Götti Switzerland has launched Dimension Active, utilising the high-tech material polyamide and three-dimensional construction. The streamlined design features an integrated ventilation system that enables optimum air circulation. The comfortable nose pads and temples ensure a secure fit with every movement. Dimension Active frames can also be mounted with corrective lenses – and with Götti’s patented Spin&Stow temples, the frame folds effortlessly to tuck safely into a glasses case or pocket.

If trail and running pursuits are your patient’s sporting preference, the Strack Cébé sunglasses feature Sensor photochromic lenses that provide anti-scratch and anti-fog treatment for additional protection and comfort. The styles are dashing in vibrant orange and black.

Cébé Strack sunglasses with photochromic Sensor lenses Performance eyewear: Dimension Active by Götti Switzerland Even with these challenging times, strong possibilities exist for independent practices with luxury eyewear and outdoor sports. Quality, unique creations with timeless style and high-tech performance have enduring appeal to patients who value and appreciate artisan approaches.

Sleek and practical: Read On by Sol Sol Ito Photo: Nina Maria Glahé

READ ON: A SMART SOLUTION Serendipity can often occur in the most unexpected way. A chance conversation led award-winning design duo Monika Fink and Sandra Kaufmann at Sol Sol Ito Eyewear to create Read On, a practical, functional and sleek idea for smartphone users and spectacle wearers.

How often has a misplaced smartphone and specs led to deep frustration? Read On solves the problem with a slim design – collapsible glasses that tuck comfortably into a slender, ultralight attractive phone case. With winter holidays on the horizon, Read On is the perfect gift to always have your phone and glasses at hand, and a present to be enjoyed all year long. Visit www.readon-mobile.com