Thursday, January 30, 2014

Throwback Thursday: Stars & Sunnies

Since the dawn of the paparazzi, celebrities have clung to their sunnies to shield them from prying eyes and flashing bulbs. Here are some shots of famous faces from the past in their eyewear - some more practical than others.


Stevie Nicks

 Audrey Hepburn

David Bowie

Jackie O

Iggy Pop

Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco

Elton John

Paul McCartney and George Harrison

Brigitte Bardot

Princess Diana






Wednesday, January 29, 2014

New Year Sale!


Monday 3 Febuary - Saturday 15 Febuary

Selected brands across both stores
2 weeks only


This is your chance to purchase beautiful quality glasses & sunglasses at discounted prices, so don't miss out!


Store opening hours:

Teed Street 
Mon - Fri    9 - 5.30
Saturday 10 - 4

High Street
Mon - Fri   9.30 - 6
Saturda  10 - 4



Friday, January 24, 2014

Happy Anniversary Day!

TGIF! Thank goodness it's Friday, we'll be celebrating Auckland Anniversary Day along with the rest of the city on Monday, which means we'll be closed on January 27. 


Whatever hijinx you get upto, enjoy the long weekend Aucklanders!


Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Opti Munich 2014

Every year there are a few optical trade shows held around the world, at which retailers can source out new brands to stock as well as catching up with familiar faces and current accounts. Unfortunately we weren't at Munich this year, but judging by the photos there were some impressive set ups, it looks like it was a lot of fun (and hard work!)

Claire Goldsmith / Oliver Goldsmith

Bevel

Garrett Leight

Cutler & Gross

Orgreen

Martin & Martin

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Throwback Thursday: Optician Signs

For today's Throwback Thursday, enjoy a visual feast of optician's signs from around the world.










Love the convex mirrors in this last image!

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Throwback Thursday: Inuit Snow Goggles

Jumping on the "throwback" wagon, we'll be posting something completely random from the past every Thursday (or thereabouts!) from the world of eyewear.




To kick things off, here's a little tidbit about Inuit snow goggles:

"The most ancient and widespread method for avoiding snow blindness was the use of snow goggles, a device known in northern Europe, northern Asia and northern North America...Snow goggles reduced harmful light and actually improved visibility. "
- Canadian Museum of Civilization Corperation

 

Inuit snow goggles were traditionally made for hundreds of years using caribou antler, with a strap of caribou sinew. More modern versions are sometimes made with wood. Soot was sometimes rubbed on the inside to help with glare. Inuits wore them to hunt as they helped with both the light from the sky and glare from the fallen snow.



Inspired by the unusual style of the Inuit goggles, Oliver Goldsmith created his own pair in 1968 he called - appropriately - "Slits". Not designed to be functional but rather sensational, the slits on Goldsmith's sunglasses are considerably shorter than the Inuits', which reduces the wearer's field of vision greatly.

Known for his humorous and avant-garde designs, Goldsmith's "Slits" sunglasses turn something that was carved out of necessity using recycled materials into the ultimate luxury. They were an alternative to functional sunglasses, and received a lot of press at the time of their release.

Oliver Goldsmith "Slits" 1968

This outrageous style developed and lingered in different forms in the sixties, popping up again in the nineties with thin plastic rave sunglasses. As we all know, fashion comes full circle so it won't be surprising to see this cropping up again sometime in the future.

1960s editorial shot by John French

Thierry Mugler campaign shot by Helmut Newton, 1990s


Get The Look: Zooey Deschanel

If you're familiar with Zooey Deschanel and her character Jess from TV show New Girl, then you will have seen her fabulous glasses. We've recreated her look here so you don't have to hunt them down, you can just drop into Michael Holmes and try them on!






Garrett Leight "Hampton" in Chestnut

Garrett Leight "Kinney" in Matte Brandy Tortoise


Sama "Federico 47" in Matte Vintage Brown


Sama "Federico" in Brown/Blue