Play It Again, Glam
Optical is making history by updating classic looks with a fresh new spin
by Amy Spiezio
stardust memories
A dusting of glamour and glitter keeps Pucci style EP2621 from Marchon alight
PHOTOGRAPHY:
Peter Baker
MAKEUP AND FASHION STYLING:
Leslie Stoeffler Antiles
HAIR:
Milexy, Hair of Fairfield
MODELS:
Alicia Chouinard Melissa Ré, Gilla Roos
History repeats itself; one need not be a scholar to realize that. And whereas some lessons of the past may not be pleasant, reviving fashions is often an exception to that rule.
In a time of political and financial uncertainty, people tend to reach to the familiar and long for the comfort of an idealized past. The world of optical, in particular, is renewing its love of the classics this season with shapes, colors, and sentiments drawn from the past. However, thanks to technology—and the customization-focused consumer demand—today's eyewear is not simply a replay of designs from the past.
Instead, styles have a pleasing harmony of history's best with a uniquely contemporary flair. Right now, eyewear is reaching back for its favorite tunes and then putting in a fresh new spin. A P3 may be in a thoroughly modern color. A cat's eye may be constructed in the latest lightweight titanium, which keeps the upturned look from falling too deeply into the past. Overall, there is a more formal, elegant look that reflects a desire for order in concert with a demand for style.
Following is a look at classic optical looks that have been retuned for today's audience.
singing sensation
In tune with the times is an updated look from Viva, Tommy Hilfiger style TH3392
a new look
Dior style CD3156 from Safilo adds an elegant finishing touch
| MID-CENTURY EYEWEAR TIMELINE |
|---|
| 1920s: The Jazz Age offered a launch into colored frames as fashion entered the eyewear equation. However, small, round, unisex eyewear still ruled the day. 1930s: Saying goodbye to the Depression and hello to World War II, the 1930s optical world continued to develop with the introduction of the harlequin upswept frame, which earned designer Altina Sanders an American Designs award in 1940. 1940s: Celebrity licensing featuring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall from Shane Michael highlighted molded cellulose acetate. 1950s: Blending acetate and metals and charming, feminine styles rule the day. Plastic usage increases and embellishments add elegant touches. |
in tempo
A rounded retro revival from Modo Eyewear in tempo
| NOSTALGIA |
|---|
| The nostalgia that inspires retro fashion revivals may have its roots deep in the psyche of our culture. In an academic paper, "Irony, Nostalgia, and the Postmodern" by Linda Hutcheon, she notes that times when nostalgia rules "usually point to a dissatisfaction with the culture of the present—something that is then either applauded or condemned." While sometimes a retro look can be ironic, this latest trend looks back with more wistfulness than cheekiness—comfort is a call that the consumer will answer. According to the blog fashionworlds.blogspot.com, the cycle of fashion trends has history that is documented through the 13th century. Through the centuries, trends have gradually built up, reached crest, and faded away. But lately that ebb and flow has been less clearly demarcated. While there used to be a clear flow of hemlines and silhouettes, increasingly, designers are consistently offering a blend that pulls from a full spectrum of styles. Now the question at hand is: Is the trend of not following trends actually a trend itself? |
round tones
Sleek circles from Lafont's Reedition collection style Arman
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