Friday 17 April 2009

A new bespectacled era

Copenhagen’s Han Eyewear releases its Harry frame in Tortoise. Image courtesy of Selectism.

Some of you may or may not be aware of the fact that I should wear glasses (especially for computer work) but frequently choose not to. I just have not found a pair of frames that I've fallen in love with and want to wear day in day despite at having two pairs at my disposal. It strikes me as strange that you can now walk in to any High Street store and pick up frames with plastic lenses and the fact people treat them as a style accessory, whilst I still refuse to wear the frames I have on a consistent basis. I find the whole plastic lens thing a little strange but bespectacled chaps are everywhere (even on the front cover of the next issue of 10 Men) so for a chap who should actually wear glasses, it could be the incentive I need. Why don't I wear my glasses more often, I hear you ask? I think I was conditioned as a young child at school (when I did not need them) that glasses were a terrible thing, they were considered even worse than braces. Glasses singled out a child for much name calling and down right bullying. Belatedly the time has come for me to recondition myself and approach glasses in a much more reasoned way and this weekend will begin the start of new bespectacled era. All I have to do is decide now is decide on the frames which will take me there...

During our style stalking of Elliott James Sainsbury he treated us with a number of frames but my favourites were from SUPER. The brand apparently ignited the phenomenon of acetate sunglasses and their frames have graced the noses of Kanye West, Daft Punk and Justice to name but a few...Elliott introduced me to the brand with these chunky grey plastic frames and EJ made me fall in love with the navy version (both available from FarFetch). However much I admire these frames, my search continues...

Selectism informed one and all that Copehnhagen's Han are introducing two new frames - the Grad Danois and Harry (above) for Spring/Summer 09. Grand Danois comes in Mahogany whilst Harry, which is my particular favourite is produced in Tortoise only. I've wanted a pair of Tortoise frames ever since I was first told that I suffered from astigmatism in my left eye. John from SeventySomething let me try his pair on last weekend (apparently I looked like Buddy Holly) and this has only whet my appetite further. His pair are Anne et Valentin from Kirk Originals (apparently the same brand as Stephen Fry's new pair) and he duly pointed me in the direction of Floral Street in Covent Garden and go there I will tomorrow. The Staple has reminded me of the plentiful offerings over on Moscot which has been something of a New York institution for the last 100 years and now has a fully functioning online store (I now have my good eye on this pair). Please drop me any recommendations you might have below. I will update you all on my quest for the frames which will provide me the confidence to enter my bespectacled era and will provide you lots of pictures along the way.

9 comments:

John said...

To follow up on my glasses advice. Kirk Originals are good too - they have a store in Knightbridge but also have a concession in Bicester with quite big discounts. Obviously Oxford is a bit of a way to go if you don't find some frames, but next time you are there...

Also, try these two shops:

36 Opticians in Knightbridge - they have vintage frames and American brands you cant get anywhere else. Bit more expensive.
http://www.36opticians.co.uk/

Secondly, try Opera Opera on Long Acre. Another selection of their own brand frames, nice styles.

Last but not least Steve - remember once you take this step, there is no going back. Your eyes will keep getting worse. You will need new lenses in 5 years time. You will need regular opticians appointments. But - they best thing I think - if you choose the right pair they become synonymous with your look, your face and your style.

John said...

Meant to say "Cutler & Gross are good too". Kirk Originals frames are a bit wacky for my taste...

Matthew Spade said...

well as another glasses wearer who doesn't wear them as much as they should, i hear you! the only reason why i don't wear mine as much is that i don't like them as much as i did as when i bought them (well not really bought as they're NHS, epp). Im getting my new glasses when my student loan comes through.

Here they are:

http://www.london-eyewear.co.uk/RX5122-2000-by-Ray-Ban,1,1,8,24543,productdetail,,gbase.html

unless i find some better ones at a similar price its going to be those. not sure which colour, black or TS

Emma Homestay Bandar Tasik Puteri said...

I have a couple of pairs my self and counting (I just bought 3 pairs for approximately 5 dollars each on eBay!) but I'm still in the search for the best style that suits my face, and at an affordable price for a poor student like me of course.

In case you're wondering the degree of myopia (shortsightedness) gradually increases until one reaches the age of 24-25. After that it is unlikely that the condition will worsen. So don't worry too much and grab a pair of glasses now HAHA!

Oh yes,have you heard about Moscot New York? It's a US label.. I think they have great styles and relatively affordable price.

http://www.moscot.com/

And don't forget brands like Ditta and Tom Ford too!

mrjameskent said...

I'm going through this painful process (on the bank balance) myself - Cutler & Gross are the way to go, check their 2 stores in Knightsbridge for optical porn!

I've plumped for a pair of tortoiseshell 0692, a pair of black and see-thru 0466 and a pair of sick-ass sunglasses.

check pics:http://www.superfuture.com/supertalk/showthread.php?p=1751508#post1751508

http://www.superfuture.com/supertalk/showthread.php?p=1697198#post1697198

Syed said...

I love all of the Kirk Originals frames, and Allyn Scura do some quite nice and cheapish tortoiseshell frames. I always find it odd how people who don't need to wear glasses seem to wear those plastic lenses nowadays. But then again, your glasses can totally change a look.

I keep thinking that I should expand my collection, I rotate between some smaller tortoise ones and wayfarer style tortoise ones. I have been lusting over the small round ones that Stephen Fry wears, so I may have to invest in a pair. Oh, and you can find surprisingly good frames in some of the vintage stores in Portobello, I found quite a few pairs from the 1920/30s, beautifully crafted and in good shape.

j said...

Fortunately I don't need glasses, but I wear sunglasses a lot. The styles change so fast, so I don't like to invest heavily in them. I have one pair of fairly pricey conservative tortoise sunglasses, then I'll by a cheap pair every season just for fun.

Mouse said...

Steve, John et al. are all lucky you need glasses but aren't completely blind! I need glasses, but so badly that they surpass all stylishness and head into the realms of necessary gorkness.

Also I'm short sighted so my glasses give me pig eyes. Would LOVE to wear my specs as a stylish thing, but clear lenses are bad enough, and on top of contacts seems like a step too far...

Shady Grove Eye Vision Care said...

Contact lenses ARE available for people with astigmatism. There is considerable time and skill involved in fitting patients with these lenses but it can be done for ALL astigmatisms if the patient is highly motivated to try.

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