See you around: Frames go in circles for spring - March 20, 2008
Harry Potter was ahead. of his time: Round eyeglasses, the distinctive kind worn by the young wizard, are shaping up to be the next big thing in eyewear. During the past decade, myopic hipsters have favored rectangular frames. Now, design houses such as Paul Smith, Balenciaga, Lunor Eyewear, Anne et Valentin and Theo Eyewear are returning to classic round and semiround frames. "There's definitely a move to more conservative eyewear and vintage shapes," said Filipa Fino, senior accessories editor at Vogue. "For a while, everything has been oversized. It was all about overpowering the face. Now, the trend in fashion is to go back to the classics." Classic with a modern twist, that is. Paul Smith's new Boys Only collection of sleek, round frames comes in bold colors -- orange, royal blue and translucent gray. Balenciaga, which is rolling out its first line of sunglasses through manufacturer Safilo USA, is showing large, round frames reminiscent of the 1970s. Robert Marc, a New York designer, has introduced two modified round frames (a cross between round and square), called style 195 and 196 as well as a rounded sunglass frame. The frames are available in five colors including smoke gray and chestnut brown. The country's serious mood translates to a more conservative image, Marc said. "People are really thinking about things: the economy, the elections, the war, the 'green' movement." In fashion, that has translated into more retro looks. "Look at Harry Potter and Ugly Betty. We are celebrating the nerd." Celebrities are embracing the bookish look. Bono, the eyewear bellwether, was spied recently in France sporting a pair of round frames. Round eyeglasses have never been officially off the market. The Anglo American Optical Co. in Illinois and London has been making round frames since 1882. But Allan Caliman, the company's co-owner, concedes that round shapes can be a tough sell. "Round faces can't wear round glasses," he said. "You need to have a long, slim face." For spring, Anglo American has round styles in colors from red to yellow to light brown. "I think it's all a question of getting used to it," Fino said. "In fashion, there are often things we think we'd never wear again . . . and then they pop up on the runway and look new." columbusdispatch