Urban Goggles From L'Wren Scott's Debut Eyewear Collection.

Fashion designer L'Wren Scott, whose name you may know from dressing many Celebrities for the red carpet, has launched her first eyewear collection, created through a partnership with Munich-based firm Menrad.

Of the new collection, which launched this month, the most unusual are her "Urban Goggles" Sunglasses that have grosgrain ribbons in lieu of temple arms that tie around your head. The versatile style can be worn as a head band or neckpiece.




RED RIBBON/BROWN LENS
L'Wren Scott marbled brown acetate sunglasses. Brown lenses and red grosgrain ribbon tie fastening:


GREEN RIBBON/SMOKE LENS
L'Wren Scott marbled dark brown acetate sunglasses. Graduated smoke lenses and green grosgrain ribbon tie fastening:


PLUM RIBBON/GREY LENS
L'Wren Scott marbled black acetate sunglasses. Graduated grey lenses and plum grosgrain ribbon tie fastening:



Each pair of L'Wren Scott Urban Goggles is 100% UV protection and comes with case and cleaning cloth

£295 ($463.50 USD) 
 buy them here

Louis Vuitton & Andre Launch New Site For 2010 Spring Summer Sunglasses

A few months ago I wrote about Gucci's specifically designed micro site for a particular line of their sunglasses.

Well, seems that luxury brand Louis Vuitton has also decided to launch a micro site of their own for sunglasses. The site has been designed for their 2010 Spring Summer collection of sunglasses with music by Koka, photography by ©LV and ©Andre.



Graphic Studio Louis Vuitton enlisted artist/designer/photographer/entrepreneur Andre Saraiva (aka graffiti artist Mr. A) as the photographer for the 'party pics'; a collection of online photos of models/personalities (including one of himself) donning some of the Louis Vuitton sunglasses. To learn more about André, and his collaboration with Belvedere Vodka, go here.

Below are all the models of sunglasses from the collection proceeded by André's photos.


Z0052, Z0075, Z0282:


Z0105, Z0286:


Z2069, Z0255, Z2083:


Z0275, Z0276:


Z0280, Z0281:


Z0288:


Z0291,Z0287:


Z0292,Z0293:



Z0294,Z0295:


Z0296,Z0297:


Z0298,Z0312:


Z0264,Z0299,Z0300:


Z0301,Z0302:

Z0303,Z0304:


LV answers to questions you might have:

WHY DID LOUIS VUITTON CHOOSE TO DEVELOP A SUNGLASSES RANGE AND WHEN?
The sunglasses collection was launched in November 2005 with the opening of the Champs Elysées store after 2 years of design research to ensure both the highest levels of eye protection and the ultimate in design.

WHY ARE THE SUNGLASSES ONLY SOLD IN YOUR STORES?
From creation to distribution, Louis Vuitton supervises the project scrupulously, as with all its other activities, to guarantee the best product presentation and service.

WHAT MATERIALS DO YOU USE TO CREATE YOUR SUNGLASSES COLLECTIONS?
Our sunglasses are made with the best materials available on the market. The collection is mainly made of acetate and metal. Acetate is a luxury material, the only one to come from cotton rather than petroleum. It is silky, warm and unique. We have also introduced new technology involving laser-cut lens frames. The effect is very light sunglasses with a strong identity.

DO YOU HAVE AN IN-HOUSE DESIGN STUDIO AND IF SO, WHERE?
We have a design studio in Morez in the Jura where the team is able to create sunglasses in 3D and precision models.

WHAT ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE LENSES USED?
We use the highest quality lenses available on the market. All our lenses offer 100% UV protection. We also have unique LV lenses: LV Landscape and LV RoadscapeTM.

LV Landscape: these exclusive lenses offer excellent eye protection and visual comfort with two special treatments: polarisation and colour enhancement.

LV Roadscape: the LV RoadscapeTM lenses take photochromic technology to a new level.
For maximum comfort, standard photochromic lenses change from light to dark when exposed to direct sunlight (UV rays). This new technology allows the lenses to darken in all types of light. Unlike standard photochromic lenses, they are activated even behind a window or windscreen, blocking out 91% of glare. This makes LV RoadscapeTM lenses particularly suited for driving.

WHO DESIGNS THE SUNGLASSES COLLECTIONS?
As all LV products, the sunglasses collections are designed by Marc Jacobs.

CAN YOU BUY LOUIS VUITTON FRAMES FOR CORRECTIVE LENSES ?
LV's collection is a sunglass collection but the lenses on almost our models can be substituted for corrective ones by an optician.

CAN YOU SPECIALLY ORDER DIFFERENT COLOUR LENSES?
For the moment, this is not possible. In any case, we have a very impressive collection that is sure to satisfy all our LV customers.

DO THE LENSES PROTECT EYES FROM THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF THE SUN?
Of course! All our sunglass lenses are designed to protect the eyes from UV rays and the harmful effects of the sun as much as possible. Our lenses also aim to improve vision through polarisation (LV Landscape and LV RoadscapeTM models) to ensure maximum comfort.

HOW MANY STORES ARE THE COLLECTIONS AVAILABLE IN?
In almost all LV stores (442 stores).

CAN THE WIDTH OF THE SUNGLASSES BE ADJUSTED IN LOUIS VUITTON STORES?
If it is an acetate model, yes. As acetate is a soft material, the sales assistant can adjust the frames to fit the customer’s face.

IS AFTER-SALES SERVICE ONLY AVAILABLE IN LOUIS VUITTON STORES?
Yes. As we only sell our products in store, we only provide after-sales service in our stores where we can be sure to offer our customers the best possible service.

WHAT ARE THE INSPIRATIONS FOR THE 2010 SUMMER COLLECTION?
The inspiration for the 2010 SS collection is a blend of the natural world with myriad amazing details contrasted with the technological world of experimentation and innovation.

The women’s collection develops the Floral monogram world, taking its inspiration from nature with a language of soft, sinuous lines and volumes, appealing to different types of women: from the elegant woman drawn by the sparkle of stones to the sophisticated seductive woman to the cool, trendy woman.

The men’s collection develops the Damier graphic world, taking its inspiration from avant-garde contemporary architecture and appealing to the classic man, the casual, avant-garde man and the extravagant, egocentric man. This collection is packed with technological content with 3D hinges, original arm end details and pure lines. Colours range from black to honey tortoiseshell to lilac to multicoloured, which is where the “Rainbow“ name for the collection came from.




To learn about the Gucci sunglasses site, go here.

Shades Of Modern Luxury: Gold & Wood Eyewear

Paris-based Gold & Wood is yet another eyewear designer who creates high-end sunglasses and eyeglasses for the discerning luxury and design loving crowd. And, of course, a celeb clientele. Look out Luxuriator, you've got some serious competition.

Studded with genuine diamonds and/or gemstones and utilizing the finest materials such as platinum, 18k gold, horn, carbon fiber, titanium and exotic woods, their styles, craftsmanship and attention to detail is among the finest.




With many styles to choose from and different amounts of bling, their large range of bejeweled frames will leave you drooling.

But that's only one facet of their several collections. They have many lines and styles that include rimless, partial rim, sporty, oversized, colorful, monochrome, glam, subtle, not so subtle, modern, retro, wood and titanium, wood and carbon fiber and even more frames.

I'm going to share their newest and most drop dead styles with you, but be sure to visit their site when you're done reading this, because they have many other styles, too.

Starting at the tippy-top, the Prestige is their most expensive pair, with hand shaped horn temple stems, solid platinum accents and high quality diamond-studded temple hinges and bridge:


264 diamonds total
Carats: 2.59cts
Quality "brilliants" (round cut): GH/VVS
Quality "princess" (square cut): F/CLEAN

Made up of 253 brilliant cut diamonds and 11 princess cut ones, these bejeweled, platinum and horn rimless frames are said to have required all the considerable skill of a master jeweller in order to set the select stones with the greatest of care. And the price reflects it at $55,000.00 USD.

More images of The Prestige:



Obviously most can't afford the Prestige, but don't fret, they have other diamond studded frames in their Temptation and Bling-Bling collections. Some have yellow gold, white or rose gold temple stems with diamonds at both the temple hinge and the nose bridge and some just on the temple stems or hinges. Various colored shades and finely crafted horn or carbon fiber temple bars are also options. Take a look:

Bejeweled Eyewear


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As if that weren't enough, they are equally adept with other materials. Their modern wood, titanium and/ or carbon fiber glasses are stylish but unique. Some styles mix organic materials and exotic woods with metals and/or colors, creating a huge range. Here are just some of them:

Wood Eyewear






















In their own words:

At GOLD & Wood workshops, passion and time drive the hands of the artisans who craft each component, one by one, in the purest tradition of exclusive eyewear. Because everything here is handmade, it takes three days to craft a pair of temples of such remarkable quality. Taking the time to do it well: There lies the expression of the luxury.

Over the past few years, the artisans and designers at Gold & Wood creating ever-more successful models, slowly forging a different, exclusive and authentic collection. Their discreet and stylish looks, as well as the quality and nobility of the material used in Gold & Wood frames, give them their uniqueness. Such workmanship is guaranteed to excite the enthusiasm of buyers, connoisseurs and collectors everywhere.

Every set of frames bearing the Gold & Wood signature has received the most attentive care by our eyewear designers and craftsmen.

They are assembled and adjusted by hand then inspected and approved by an experienced controller. The tests performed on the frames – and particularly on the spring-hinges are a guarantee of workmanship and reliability.

See more styles at their site here.




If you have a thing for eyewear, be sure to see these posts:

• If You've Never Seen The Eyewear of Linda Farrow, You Could Use Some Glasses.

• Uber Luxe: Luxuriator's Diamond & 18k Glasses and Sunglasses