Easy way to my heart is through sunglasses. MYKITA always has great collaborations and I’m loving the Damir Doma Spring Summer 2014 ones.
Damir Doma x MYKITA Spring Summer 2014 Sunglasses
There are two styls, Vivien and Rita. I like the combination of transparent material and wisps of colour that penetrate throughout.
Damir Doma x MYKITA Spring Summer 2014 Sunglasses
“VIVIEN†& “RITA†are a statement, the two oversized butterfly-style frames are flamboyant, eccentric and larger than life. They are awash with colours that were infused into the transparent material employed: a frozen melange of rust-red, green, aubergine and blue colour clouds.
This two new sunglasses models are available in three colour combinations: Cloudy Blue (transparent with dashes of ink blue), Cloudy Brown (transparent with rust-brown hues) and Cloudy Purple (transparent with rust red, green, aubergine-coloured and blue colour clouds).
Both frames are fitted with tinted lenses from pioneering optical solutions specialist Zeiss and will go on sale in spring 2014 at all MYKITA Shops and the Damir Doma flagship store in Paris.(source)
Feather Cat Eye Sunglasses by Charlotte Olympia x Linda Farrow
Charlotte Olympia makes shoes and handbags I really like. I guess I can add sunglasses to that list too. The brand partnered with Linda Farrow to create the Feather Cat Eye shades. She’s got a great eye for accessories which isn’t surprising because Charlotte Olympia Dellal has amazing style. These sunglasses are around $410 and available online at luisaviaroma.com, charlotteolympia.com and lindafarrow.com.
It come as no surprised to regular readers that I’m obsessed with everything Moncler. When MYKITA and Moncler teamed up in the spring I was excited. Two brands I really love coming together for a special collaboration. I’m also a sunglasses nut but the only thing preventing me from owning a pair is the cost. They are so expensive and not available in Canada! With shipping, duties and foreign exchange I’d be looking at around $1000. OUCH! I can’t justify it, even my Prada Baroque’s didn’t cost that much.
MYKITA MYLON x Moncler Fall Winter 2012 – 2013
Well, MYKITA MYLON x Moncler is back for the Fall Winter 2012 – 2013 season and I’m still obsessed.
“From mountain peaks to the city streets†was the credo this time, and with model LIONEL we’re moving a bit more into the urban context.
LIONEL is available in the following colour combinations: khaki with brown reflective lenses, brown with gold reflective lenses and black with silver reflective lenses – all three featuring mineral glass from traditional Italian manufacturer Barberini, boasting excellent durability and clarity of vision. A delicate silhouette and a further reduced weight were the defining features behind the creation of the unisex model LIONEL.
The preceding LINO model, which launched the collaborative range, will also be available in khaki for the new season. All lenses have a very special hallmark: they reveal the MYKITA & MONCLER logo when breathed on.
MYKITA MYLON x Moncler Fall Winter 2012 – 2013
MYKITA MYLON x Moncler Fall Winter 2012 – 2013
MYKITA MYLON x Moncler Fall Winter 2012 – 2013
MYKITA MYLON x Moncler Fall Winter 2012 – 2013
MYKITA MYLON x Moncler Fall Winter 2012 – 2013
It’s Moncler’s 60th anniversary and this collection commemorates it so they created a campaign video. Check it out.
I love that some PRs have caught on to the fact that I love sunglasses just a little too much. My Mom asked me how many pairs I have the other day. I sheepishly replied eight. Now most people would say that`s probably a little excessive but I have no plans on keeping my collection at 8. Marni`s 2012 Winter Edition Sunglasses are on my hot list right now. I love the colours and flower motif.
The main feature of the sunglasses from the MARNI WINTER EDITION 2012 EYEWEAR COLLECTION is the contrast between opaque and shiny used for a flower motif on relief in the upper part of the frame.
Opaline and watery colors range from bright green, pink, yellow and red to sand and brown, while temples are in contrasting solid colors.
Marni Winter Edition 2012 Sunglasses
I`m not sure which retailers in Canada will be stocking these but they are available online at marni.com and in all Marni Boutiques.
Linda Farrow Luxe Fall Winter 2012 – 2013 Sunglasses at Karir
I haven’t added any new sunglasses to my collection this summer. It’s kinda making me depressed in a weird way. Karir Eyewear is bringing some great snakeskin Linda Farrow Luxe sunglasses to the store this upcoming fall.
Linda Farrow Luxe Fall Winter 2012 – 2013 Sunglasses at Karir
The Linda Farrow Luxe collection features handmade sunglasses using high end materials like horn, leather, titanium and snakeskin.
Linda Farrow Luxe Fall Winter 2012 – 2013 Sunglasses at Karir
The shapes are classic but the snakeskin makes them different from the rest.
Linda Farrow Luxe Fall Winter 2012 – 2013 Sunglasses at Karir
It pains me to say this but I like something from Roberto Cavalli. I’m a bit shocked to admit it but these Wild Diva sunglasses are pretty killer.
Skilfully crafted on the front for a second skin effect, it expresses an impetuous temperament through bold lines and strong traits, underscored by a crocodile/ostrich/shagreen print.
Bold chromatic contrasts, from the winter colours that swing from black tobacco to purple and back, to the stronger and more extreme pink, violet, yellow and acid green colours, all with matching or contrasting shaded lenses to add emphasis to the fashion essence of these sunglasses.
These sunglasses made their debut on the Fall Winter 2012 – 2013 runway. I’ll be including these in my fall sunglasses hunt.
Leave it to Miuccia to come up with more sunglasses that I need to own. This time it’s not a pair of Prada’s I’m drooling over, it’s Miu Miu. These are from the Culte Sunglasses Collection. I love the pentagonal-shaped and brushed gold finish.
The sunglasses are also featured in Miu Miu’s latest fashion film, Women’s Tales Saga.
The film stars Italian actress Maya Sansa and is set to a haunting soundtrack, written especially for the film by electronic pop trio Au Revoir Simone.
Following The Powder Room — Zoe Cassavetes’ dreamy story of opulence and glamour, and MUTA — Lucrecia Martel’s film noir filled with mutant fashion divas — The Woman Dress is again set in an all-female world of glamour and desire. But this time fashion obsession is taken to its most extreme conclusion, in a metaphysical tale of transcendence and ritual.
I’ve been following Moda Operandi since it opened. In my mind, this is really one of the most exciting online fashion retailers. It gives the fashion lover a chance to secure those special items that you see in a collection but can never find when it hits the retail market. I’ve drooled over many of the trunk shows on the site but I finally bit the bullet when the Karen Walker Resort 2012 sunglasses showed up.
They have a purple and fluoro green acetate frame and brown CR39 coloured lens. Now the waiting game begins as the delivery window is from Aug. 20, 2011 – Dec. 20, 2011. I’m hoping it’s earlier.
I have a feeling Moda Operandi temptations will become reality much more often now that I’ve dived in.
I don’t know what it is about men that work in the eyewear industry that I find so fascinating. They always end up charming the pants of me (Well, not literally). Jason Kirk of Kirk Originals fits that mould to a T. He was so welcoming and pleasant when I met him at Karir Eyewear for the Kirk Originals media day.
Kirk Originals are known for their glittery frames and bright, saturated colours in materials like acetate and acrylic. Jason has a family history in the eyewear business so it made sense that he would follow in their footsteps. British based, Kirk Originals started in 1992. Currently, Jason and his wife Karen run the company from their home near Bordeaux, France. All frames are handmade in France also. Frames are architectural in shape and retro in design. Jason tells me that Kirk Originals isn’t for everyone and they really focus on their typical client.”The Kirk Originals wearer is creative, confident, irreverent and independent in their style choices,†says co-designer Jason Kirk. “We make glasses you can’t wait to put on in the morning.” I love that Jason understands that his product isn’t for everyone and doesn’t try to change that.
There are five lines in the Kirk Originals line up:
Kinetic – This line has lenticular images on each temple that produces a moving image effect
Kirk Heroes NG – This line takes a fun look at the Kirk’s family tree. The design is asymmetrical an inspired by a Kirk Hero.
Saturn – The Saturn line is one of my favourites. The surface has coloured crystals and the interior is covered in glitter. They aren’t for the faint of heart or wallflower.”
Sculpture – This line combines acetate and acrylic and the result is a large and varied colour palette
Sunglasses – The sunglasses collection takes design features from the Kinetic, Kirk Heroes and Saturn lines.
The first thing I noticed about Kirk Originals were the wide variety of colours. The Kirk Originals customer definitely isn’t looking for your classic black or tortoise shell frames. Jason pulled out trays and trays of brightly coloured frames for eyeglasses and sunglasses. The second thing I noticed was the glitter on the inside of the frames. It’s such a small feature but something that makes the frames stand out in a subtle way. Of course, I had to play dress up.
I’ve been on a crazy sunglasses kick this summer but I’m already planning my purchase. I love the Nymphette style in Ochre and gold glitter. Kirk Originals are available at Karir Eyewear boutiques. The price range is from $300 to $500. If you ever are in London, you should check out the Kirk Originals store. It’s has a great eyewear presenation wall design feature that looks really cool in photos. Jason was very proud of this and showed me photos on his laptop.
See all the photos from Jason Kirk Media Day at Karir Fashion Eyewear.
I’m very, very happy with my purchase. The MYKITA’s shape is understated but it’s necessary to offset the insanely bright blue colour. The blue lens casts a beautiful light on everything. It makes me happy. I get a lot of stares with these sunglasses. Hmm, that seems to happen with all my sunglasses these days. I’m getting a MYKITA bug now and I really want the Bernhard Willhelm red metal ones.
MYKITA‘s popularity is built on the snobbery of engineers. I laugh at this statement as Moritz Krueger and Philipp Haffmans describe their eyewear company’s rise in popularity. I met them at Josephson Opticians for MYKITA media day. They were in Toronto for a personal appearance and trunk show at the store. It’s rare to hear something that honest. So that kind of candor combined with the unstoppable ooze of cool the duo resonated made me like them immediately. How can you hate on a guy who can wear knickers and not look stupid? I thought it was physically impossible. I was wrong.
Philipp Haffmans and Moritz Krueger
MYKITA is a Berlin based eyewear company. Moritz and Philipp are two of the four co-founders with Daniel Haffmans and Harald Gottschling rounding out the quartet. The Berlin headquarters serves as homebase for all steps of the business from design, production and marketing. HQ is called the Workshop. MYKITA’s snob factor is based on their patented hinge design that removes the need for screws and soldering. Individual frame elements are cut from thin sheets of stainless steel. They are then manually shaped into a functional hinge. The result is an ultralight weight hinge with a number of fitting options for comfortable wearing. The hinge is the stuff of dreams for engineers and they took to bragging.
N01 collection
MYKITA produces a number of collections per season. The N01 collection debuted in 2004 and features all metal frames. Sport casual influences like 70s style skiers and oversize frames dominate the spring summer 2001 offerings. They also incorporate some elements of the 60s Nylor frame.
Decades Collection
The Decades collection looks to women’s eyewear from the 1950s and 60s in the butterfly Nylor style. I really like this spring summer 2011 style called Holly pictured above.
NO2 Collection
The N02 collection incorporates the patented MYKITA hinge and acetate. Spring summer 2011 influences include the 30s and the feminine with cat eye shapes. Â This style called Elsa is really nice too.
Lite Collection
The Lite collection features the lightest frames MYKITA produces. The frames are made from only three pieces. Spring summer 2011 influences include cycling, 1980s and recreational diving. Â Luxe is Mykita’s highest quality line that incorporates naturally sourced buffalo horn, platinum, white gold and other high-end material coatings.
2010 saw Mykita give birth to Mylon.  It’s a patented polyamide that is moulded into any shape desired via a process called Selective Laser Sintering. Form related limitations that conventional injection moulding tools face are non existent with Mylon.  The lightness of Mylon and its unlimited design potential leads to new frontiers in size and comfort.  The science nerd in me loved listening Moritz and Philipe talk all about the technical nature of their designs.  Science and fashion combined gets me every time so it’s not surprising that I love MYKITA.
MYKITA like to collaborate and their partners are in the world of fashion, beauty and art. Â Avant-guard designers like Bernhard Willhelm, Rad Hourani, Romain Kremer and Alexandre Herchcovitch regularly feature MYKITA sunglasses in their collections.
Bernhard Willhelm’s spring summer 2011 collaboration with MYKITA make use of the newly developed Mylon material.  Sausages and vintage scuba masks were the inspiration.  Moritz explained that Bernhard had a thing for the sausage shape and he really wanted to see that influence in the designs.  The result is some crazy oversized and super light sunglasses.  The scuba influnce on the collection continues right down to the model names. The three models in this collaboration are named after the famous french trio of divers, Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Frederic Dumas and Philippe Tailliez. They aren’t my style but I kinda like the black ones.
Bernhard Willhelm and MYKITA also created metal based models. You might remember the gold aviators worn by Sarah Jessica Parker in the Sex and the City 2 movie. Well that’s Bernhard Willhelm x MYKITA . I initially thought they were kinda tacky, then I saw them in person and tried them on. Oh amazing. I love the totally not street legal red pair.
The MYKITA x Rad Hourani sunglasses were fun. They looked so much better on than I expected.
I got Andrew Sardone of Now Magazine to try on the Romain Kremer sunglasses. They looked great on him. I love the boxy shape of these and Rad’s.
I really loved the Alexandre Herchcovitch x MYKITA collection. They had the snob worthy metal hinge and bright colours. I ended ordering a pair at media day. They were too good to resist.
MYKITA and cosmetic company Uslu Airlines started collaborating in 2006 with their style of choice being the aviator. The names of the models are based on airport codes. The travel theme continues with the small suitcase packaging. The collection has three colour options: grey-brown, neon yellow and lilac. The Uslu Airlines x MYKITA collection also includes matching nail polish.
The sunglasses use the theme of iconic monuments. She used a fine line of gold paint to either draw the skyline of New York or pyramids of Giza horizontally across the lens. The collection is limited to 200 pairs. I really, really considered getting these but I felt the line would eventually drive me crazy.
The Prada Minimal Baroque sunglasses have been my obsession since the spring summer 2011 collections hit the Milan runways last September. I originally wanted the crazy blue and white ones. They’d make a great addition to my crazy sunglasses collection.
It didn’t look like the blue ones would be coming up to Canada in any major quantities so I decided on the tortoise shell Minimal Baroque sunglasses instead.
My favourite Prada SA John helped The Oracle and I decide between the two offerings, black and tortoise. I liked the lens shade better in the tortoise and they were a bit more exciting than basic black.
The cat eye sunglasses will always be my favourite out of the Alexander Wang Sunglasses collection. They are so much fun. I was playing around during his visit to Holt Renfew and played a little dress up.
I’m totally loving MAYFOURTEENTH sunglasses. All their eyewear is shaped and polished by hand in their Buenos Aries factory. The MAYFOURTEENTH blog has a great post about a recent visit. It really gives you a feel of how much works goes into them.
MAYFOURTEENTH is an independent eyewear brand, committed to creating quality, handcrafted products that blend vintage glamour and contemporary culture. all products are made with careful hands and designed with sophisticated style.
Prices range from $180 – $240 for this San Francisco based company and they can be purchased on the MAYFOURTEENTH website.
I love the fluorescent green Postcard Sunglasses by Prada. They really were made for me and they match my Blackberry case.
They come in six colours that are dedicated travel destinations: Milan: green sunglasses dedicated to Forte dei Marmi; Los Angeles: light pink sunglasses dedicated to Santa Monica; Manhattan: transparent sunglasses with pink lenses dedicated to Montauk; Paris: transparent sunglasses with light grey lenses, dedicated to Biarritz; London: transparent grey sunglasses with orange lenses, dedicated to Cornwall; Lisbon: matte black sunglasses with black lenses dedicated to Setùbal.
I’ve seen these sunglasses at Holt Renfrew and Spectacle in the city. You can purchase them online at Prada.com or Sunglasses Hut
I have to admit the Balmain x Oliver Peoples collaboration is pretty nice.
For the 2010 season, Paris couture house Balmain collaborated with Oliver Peoples to create its first eyewear design. This Limited Edition sunglass, named simply Balmain I, is a bold, unisex style that reflects the edgy aesthetics developed by designer Christophe Decarnin on the runway. Featuring an exaggerated teardrop lens shape in a form-fitting wrap, the Balmain I is a mixed-media style, crafted with a metal top bar and temples, and an acetate eyewire. Unified with four screws along the backside, the frame also features a flexible hinge for added comfort. Two color options are available: solid black and a black/silver combination.
EDIT: I’ve discovered a Canadian retailer. Unfortunately it’s only in Toronto, Spectacle.
I love this collaboration of Linda Farrow and Roisin Murphy. It’s part of Linda Farrow’s Projects. They have joined forces to create two pairs of sunglasses sold that can be found at Colette. The sunglasses come in two options: 24 carat gold plated or silver plated.
Sunglasses made of wood, that’s Shwood Eyewear. I was first visually taken with these classically shaped sunglasses. I loved the use of wood as the medium. It’s not used for sunglasses often, so it’s a bit fresh feeling. The price was reasonable too, $115 US for polarized lens (shipping to Toronto makes the price $141 approx).
Canby Shades with East Indian Rosewood and polarized grey lens
East Indian Rosewood – Wood tone varies from very dark brown to black with fine, closely spaced dark veins and white lines. Grain structure is straight and tight.
Canby Shades with Zebrawood and polarized grey lens - Shwood Eyewear
Zebrawood – Wood tone varies from light golden-yellow to pale golden-brown, with narrow veining of dark streaks giving the wood a zebra-stripe appearance.
Shwood Eyewear is handcrafted. The gorgeous wood comes from various plantations across Africa that are using sustainable methods.
A simple experiment with nature. Born from the limb of a Mandrone tree, a rusty pair of cabinet hinges, and lenses from the corner store, Shwood has been a curious endeavor from the beginning. An endeavor to create a product that encompasses the individuality and uniqueness that can only be found in natural surroundings. A desire to experiment with design, materials, and aesthetics in the search for something that works. Free from passing trends, the brand’s focus remains that of its roots, innovation and creation. Long live creativity.
Shwood’s in-house manufacturing process merges precision technology with classic skilled craftsmanship to create a timeless art form. Every step from veneering and precision lens cutting, to shaping and finishing is conducted in our own Portland-based workshop to promise an entirely handcrafted eyewear piece. Wood manipulation is kept to a minimum in order to showcase the medium’s natural and unique splendor. All models are accompanied by 100% UVA/UVB protection Carl Zeiss lenses imported from Italy. Polarized lenses are also available.
I’m very impressed with the branding. They also have a blog that updated consistently. They’ve also made some video. This first one is an intro to the company and one of its founders, Eric Singer.
I had a pair of Frogskins in 1987, I loved them to death. I thought they were the coolest thing ever. They got scratched and then lost. They came back into my life in 2007 when Oakley decided to bring them back from the dead. I have to admit, I’m loving them to death all over again.
Be a part of our history with a new spin on a pop culture classic, the Oakley Frogskin®!
At Oakley, we’ve spent decades creating original works of art that reinvent both technology and style. To celebrate the rich history of our brand, we decided to re-release a ground-breaking style that can be traced back more than twenty years to our “garage†company roots.
First introduced in 1985 and originally available in over 50 colors, the Oakley Frogskin was a part of the 80’s pop culture, a time like no other. Ronald Reagan was in the White House. “The Terminator†was in the box office and Run-D.M.C. was in certified gold. We have resurrected the original tooling from the early ‘80s to produce new limited editions, giving today’s culture a chance to own a piece of history.
WHY NOW, IN 2007?
The answer is simple: sometimes, amidst all the Mad Science here at Oakley, we get to waxing nostalgic. So we wanted to give you a chance to channel a core piece of our brand, circa 1985. Far from just reintroducing an older sunglass model, this limited, tiered release applies to those who appreciate the fine art of innovation; people who are setting the pace in today’s world of style.
For each original color combination of this coveted style, only 3,000 Collectors Editions will be produced. This is an opportunity to own a rare retro classic, and once supplies are gone, the window of opportunity will be closed forever!
There might be another pair at Ilori where I got mine. If you want to drool over expensive sunglasses, this is the place to be. So many gorgeous styles!!!!
95A Bloor Street West
Toronto
416-928-9385