What's New in Eyeglass Frames

Release of Quiksilver and Roxy Eyewear Makes Waves

DALLAS, November 2009 — U.S. fans of Roxy and Quiksilver can now complete their sporty look with this optical frame collection. Previously available in Europe and Australia, Quiksilver and Roxy Eyewear by A&A Optical is making its debut in the United States and Puerto Rico.

Globally recognized as stylish brands for surfwear and board-sports equipment, Roxy and Quiksilver appeal to "the brand-aware youth consumer who seeks fashion-forward, fun and sporty styles priced within their reach," said Robert Liener, A&A Optical president and CEO.

Nine Quiksilver styles made of Italian acetate, metal and monel combination feature the Quiksilver logo on the temple. One style, QO3320, has a twistable temple with a rubber logo on one side and stripe on the other.

Quiksilver frame style QO3030. Click here to see closeup photos.

Designed for girls, Roxy has seven frame styles with spring hinges. These are also made of Italian acetate, metal and monel combination. Most frames feature the Roxy logo on the temple or eye rim. Style RO2620 has a reversible Roxy icon and Swarovski crystal block temple.

Shown here is Quiksilver frame style QO3030. Please click here for closeup photos from this collection.

kensie's Modern Yet Pretty Styling Moves to Eyewear

LOUISVILLE, Ky., October 2009 — kensie is a Vancouver-based apparel brand that takes femininity to a modern level. The kensie girl likes her clothing pretty, romantic and elegant, but also up to date with a lot of texture and imaginative pattern mixes. The new kensie eyeglass frames from Kenmark reflect that same philosophy.

kensie eyeglass frame styles Moment and Manifesto. Click here to see closeups.

The frames are textured and patterned with metal cut-outs, laser etchings and layering of materials. Some display the kensie logo.

Shown here is a kensie frame called "Moment," in violet. In plastic, the rectangular frame comes in two sizes and also in black or tortoise.

Also shown is "Manifesto," another plastic frame in two sizes. Shown here in black, it also comes in tortoise or violet, with stained glass patterning inside the wide temples.

The kensie collection includes playfully chic sunglasses, too. You'll find kensie eyewear in optical stores nationwide. Please click here for closeup photos of both frames.

Daisy Fuentes Eyewear

LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y., September 2009 — Modern and colorful are the two words that best describe the Daisy Fuentes Eyewear collection for women launched this spring.

The frames, mostly in modified rectangular shapes, reflect the entertainer's fun and lively style, conveyed also in her apparel, handbag, shoe and fragrance collections.

Most styles are in colorful zyl plastic, with a couple of metal styles as well.

Shown is "Juliana," a metal frame that comes in beige or claret. It has a petite fit and a pressed striped design on the endpieces and temples.

"Elana," not shown, is a modified oval frame in handcrafted zyl with a pressed swirl design on the temples. It comes in shiny black and shiny plum — both are popular accessory colors this season.

Please click here for a closeup photo of the Juliana frame.

New Sporty Prescription Frames by Umbro

Carrollton, Texas, July 2009 — The world-popular soccer equipment brand Umbro has kicked off an eyeglass frame collection for men.

Umbro frame style U107. Click here to see a closeup photo of this and another frame from the Umbro collection.

Designed for off-the-field wear, the sporty frames are lightweight for active lifestyles at all ages.

The frames feature strong lines and vibrant accents for an athletic look. Rubberized temples and built-in bridges provide optimum support, according to distributor Nouveau Eyewear.

The collection includes 12 models in stainless steel, flat metals and semi-rimless; some come in plastic or in metal/plastic combinations.

Many color options are available, including satin blue, shiny gunmetal, black crystal and matte brown. Shown here is model U107 in satin brown.

Please click here for a closeup photo of this and another of the new Umbro frames.

Retro Specs Make the Scene with the Converse Heritage Collection

SUN VALLEY, Calif., June 2009 — If you're one of those people who's drawn to the vintage frame styles you see in flea markets, these eyeglass frames were designed just for you.

Alter Ego eyeglass frame from the Converse Heritage Limited Edition eyewear collection. Click here to see more styles and colors.

The Converse Heritage Limited Edition collection includes retro-inspired frames with styling from the '70s and early '80s, which ironically look fashion-forward right now.

The frames include old-school riveted hinges, vintage materials and colors, hand-applied inlays and metal eyelet temple details. Some have a chunky, nerdy look, and some feature double bridges, a distinctive style detail from disco times.

Most are made of hand-milled acetate; one style is in metal. The frames come in colors such as brown horn, gray, navy, black, olive, gold, pewter and amber.

Shown here is Alter Ego in brown horn. Please click here for closeup photos of this and other Converse Heritage frames.

Gimme That Eyewear Religion

BROOKLYN, N.Y., May 2009 — And now for something completely different, the Eyewear Religion collection offers a new approach to metal frames for women.

Frame styles RE 1002 and RE 1005. Click here to see closeups of more Eyewear Religion frames.

The fronts are spare and rectangular, in solid colors such as coppery brown, bright red, burgundy and classic black.

But the temples are another story: "a total unleashing of our creativity," according to manufacturer Kimiko Eyewear.

They feature airy, cast-metal openwork, decorated with colorful, laser-engraved, three-dimensional metal ornaments in floral, leafy, curlicue and abstract shapes.

Eyewear Religion frames are made of stainless steel, and each comes in three color combinations. You'll find them in high-end optical stores.

Please click here for closeup photos of more Eyewear Religion frames.

Chesterfield XL Collection for Larger Faces

PARSIPPANY, N.J., April 2009 — The Chesterfield XL collection is ideal for men who have difficulty finding large eyeglasses at affordable prices.

Click here to see closeups and style names of Chesterfield XL frames.

Designed specifically for bigger men, the collection features larger eye and bridge sizes, as well as longer temples, than the average frame. Four casual styles are available in masculine colors including opaque brown, ruthenium and dark ruthenium semi-matte.

The metal frames are offered in three rectangular styles (including one semi-rimless) and one aviator style. Shown here is the CH02XL style.

The Chesterfield XL collection is available at independent optical retailers and is distributed by Safilo USA.

Please click here for a closeup photo of select styles.

Sporty New Prescription Eyeglass Frames From Smith Optics

SUN VALLEY, Idaho, April 2009 — Known for high-quality, performance sunglasses and ski goggles, Smith Optics has launched a collection of eyeglass frames that combine action sports with fashion.

The frames contain premium materials such as titanium, stainless steel and handmade acetate, as well as combinations of these materials.

Click here to see closeups and style names of these Smith Optics frames.

The men's frames are bold and modern. Shown here is Troop, a semi-rimless frame in matte silver.

The women's frames are sporty and pretty. Shown here is Flirt, another semi-rimless, in brown tortoise.

All the frames come in two or more colors, in sizes for both small and large faces. Spring hinges, adjustable nose pieces and moldable temples ensure comfort and durability, and all styles feature the Smith Optics logo.

In addition, Smith Optics has added new styles to its popular Interlock Rx line, which features prescription-ready frames that open easily with a twist of the temple to let you change lens types and colors as needed. Shown here is the Mission style in black and crystal. Several lens types are available, including clear and polarized.

Click here for closeup photos of more Smith Optics prescription eyeglass frames.

Ed Hardy Vintage Tattoo Eyewear Is a Feast for the Eyes

SIMI VALLEY, Calif., April 2009 — Ed Hardy Eyewear has introduced a prescription frame and readers collection for men and women. Designed with tattoo art by "the godfather of tattoo," Don Ed Hardy, the collection features 15 frames with an array of decorative looks.

Click here to see closeups and style names of Ed Hardy Eyewear frames.

The zyl and metal frames feature tattoo art on the temples, which are embellished with clear and colored Swarovski crystals. Rectangular and oval rim styles are available, as well as a few semi-rimless.

The collection offers a mix of color options including black/crystal, pink sapphire, sumptuous red, black gun and brown pewter. Shown here is the "Eho 704" style in black.

Three readers are available in the collection with power ranges in +1.50, +2.00 and +2.50. Ed Hardy also has a sunglass collection that was launched a few years ago by distributor Revolution Eyewear.

Please click here for closeup photos of some of the styles.

Off Road Eyewear Offers Rugged Styling for the Masculine Man

LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y., March 2009 — Young men seeking masculine eyewear at an affordable price need not look further. The new line of Stetson Off Road offers an authentic, rugged look for the budget-conscious man.

Click here to see closeup of this Stetson Off Road frame, style 5003.

The collection is designed for the new "Stetson generation," or the American man who values a modern look without the trendy attitude. This free-spirited man "wears Stetson like he wears his independence, with comfort and confidence," according to the manufacturer Zyloware.

Stetson Off Road is designed for long-lasting comfort and durability for work or play. Each frame has adjustable nose pads and comes in a variety of sizes and colors, such as gunmetal and antique bronze. Designs are available in metal, zyl, full-rim and semi-rimless.

Stetson Off Road frames are sold in optical stores nationwide.

Click here for a closeup photo.

Michael Stars Eyewear Released for Fun-Loving Women

LOS ANGELES, March 2009 — Known for T-shirt designs well favored by celebrities, Michael Stars has released its first eyewear collection. Inspired by the beachside lifestyle, Michael Stars offers "casual couture" for the fashion-conscious woman who is young at heart.

This is the Inspire style. Please click here for closeups of the Michael Stars eyeglass frame style Journey in three colors.

The innovative designs and colors "fuse fashion and eyewear as one," according to manufacturer Signature Eyewear. Eight frames are available in a variety of modern and vintage styles in metal and zyl. Some of the frames include spring hinges for greater comfort and functionality. Each frame has a Michael Stars logo plaque on the left temple tip.

The colorful collection has unique island flair, with colors including sienna sea, wild grape, fig, violet creme and tort aqua. Shown here is the "Inspire" style in garden.

Michael Stars Eyewear, including both frames and sunglasses, is sold at optical stores; major department stores such as Nordstrom and Bloomingdales also carry the sunglasses.

Click here for a closeup photo of the "Journey" style in three colors.

Junction City Eyewear Matches Economy With Style

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y., March 2009 — A new Junction City eyewear line matches sensible pricing with varieties of styles appealing to young professionals with their "hearts in the city."

Nine styles for men and women include angular and geometric shapes. Bold touches such as multiple color tones are designed to appeal to straightforward personal styles of people ages 18 to 35.

Click here to see closeups and style names of these Junction City frames.

Junction City designs are available in straight acetate or metal-acetate combinations, including semi-rimless metal styles. Each frame has a recommended retail price of $99, providing career-minded professionals with a classy alternative to high-end, expensive frames.

The manufacturer's brand manager, Cathy Kaye of ClearVision, described the new Junction City eyewear line as a "stylish, on-trend collection that is sensibly priced" for modern, budget-minded buyers.

Each frame purchase will include a hard case made of beveled clam shell, silk-screened with the Junction City logo.

Please click here for closeup photos.

Dynamic Italian Frame Collection Debuts Spring Styles

CALALZO DI CADORE, Italy, February 2009 — The new Wasty eyeglass frame by Immagine Design Eyewear is among 13 styles in the X-IDE collection for 2009.

Please click here for a closeup photo of these frames.

The styles will launch in March at Mido, the vision exposition held each year in Milan, Italy.

Voids and cut-outs, especially on the temples, as well as the intricate pairing of various metals and acetate plastic, distinguish the new frames.

The Wasty comes in steel, with tips in acetate and a silk-screened logo. It has a "floating lens" and dynamic shape, with streamlined screws and hinges.

You can find the Wasty and other frames in the collection in high-end optical stores.

Please click here for closeup photos.

Hollywood Chic Infuses New Jee Vice Prescription Frames

LOS ANGELES, December 2008 — Known for celebrity chic in women's sunglasses, Jee Vice has entered the prescription frame market with three new collections, called Desire, Hollywood and Vintage Revisited.

Please click here for closeup photos of these and other eyeglass frames from Jee Vice.

These hand-made frames for women contain Italian acetate (a type of plastic), titanium or stainless steel, with inspirations from Jee Vice founder and designer Philippe Vergez.

The Desire line has semi-rimless styles in six color schemes: cool silver, gold, blue, black, red and eggplant.

The Hollywood line has the dramatic, oversized frame appeal of similar Jee Vice sunglass styles, with prescription eyewear names such as Premiere, Soiree, Festival and Matinee.

And the Vintage Revisited styles are a "fun with flair" journey back to the '50s, with glamour touches such as polka dots and cat-eye shapes.

The frames in these three collections will be available in early 2009.

Please click here for closeup photos.

Eye-Catching Patterns Embellish Emilio Pucci Frames

MELVILLE, N.Y., November 2008 — Stunning color combinations such as grape and pink, combined with elegantly patterned Swarovski crystals, embellish three new Emilio Pucci frames released this fall.

Various signature Pucci prints, such as tropical, are entwined in grape, teal and ebony colors in the EP 2109R frame, which has a fun, flared wave shape at the temples.

Please click here for closeup photos of the Emilio Pucci eyeglass frames.

In the semi-rimless EP 2107 style, the tropical print theme continues in one golden color pattern. Other color themes include gunmetal and chestnut in their own distinctive patterns.

Vivid colors of grape and pink combine in the EP 2610 style, which includes 1960s prints in translucent plastic and the Pucci logo at the temples. Other color combinations for this style include sand, ebony and chestnut in various prints.

The eyewear collection is named for the late Emilio Pucci of Florence, Italy. Pucci was a fashion designer noted for his eye for color and abstract patterns.

Please click here for closeup photos.

Crystals Adorn Holiday Edition Eyeglass Frame

GREEN ISLAND, N.Y., September 2008 — Just in time for the holidays, Daniel Swarovski crystal eyewear has introduced the limited edition Crystal Holiday Star eyeglass frame to help you celebrate in style.

Please click here for closeup photos of the Swarovski Holiday S633 eyeglass frame.

Designers have added at the temples eye shields embossed with glittering stars of varying sizes, all made of Xilion Chaton crystals.

Each crystal has 58 facets displayed in a white or yellow 23-karat gold setting.

Variations of the new rimless, holiday line include a soft rose tint, clear eye shield option and a sunglass version.

Daniel Swarovski brands of luxury eyewear (distributed by Silhouette) use high-quality crystals as the theme of all eyewear designs.

Please click here for full closeup photos.

Giorgio Armani Eyewear Creates Gold-Plated Frame

MILAN, July 2008 — To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Giorgio Armani Eyewear, a new gold-plated frame has been introduced at a suggested retail price of $1,000.

The exclusive, limited edition Anniversary frame is billed as "avant-garde," with a design of curved lines and sophisticated simplicity.

The recently launched GA 634/N model has finely crafted, flexible temples and transparent endpieces. The new frame is available only in a light gold color.

Please click here for closeup photos of the Giorgio Armani 634 eyeglass frame.

The new Anniversary design also includes a sunglass version (GA 646/N/S) with a gold-plated frame that includes a Giorgio Armani logo on the front, as well as a GA monogram on the right side. The sunglass version also includes delicate, decorative flourishes on the nose bridge, hinges and frame surrounding the two circular lenses.

The sunglass frames, which also can be fitted with prescription lenses, are offered in palladium/white gold. Green glass sunglass lenses are available, along with transparent endpieces. The sunglass frame also has a suggested retail price of $1,000.

Please click here for full closeup photos.

New Sophia Loren Frame Combines Contemporary and
Feminine Touches for Women Over 55

Please click here for full closeup photo of the Sophia Loren Beau Rivage 44 eyeglass frame.

LONG ISLAND, N.Y., March 2008 — The latest Sophia Loren frame style combines popular trends of more narrow, rectangular shapes with wider temples where ear pieces connect to eyeglass frames.

The Sophia Loren Beau Rivage 44 is designed for women over 55 who need a more subtle rectangular shape that is deep enough for progressive lenses, which provide different zones for seeing at all distances.

Floral accents cast in metal add a contemporary look to the zyl plastic frame. With spring hinges and a floating lens front, it is available in rose and beige. Sophia Loren Eyewear is distributed by Zyloware.

Please click here for full closeup photo.

Newest Bed Head Eyeglass Frame Styles Include
"Hook Up" and "Dumb Blonde"

RONKONKOMA, N.Y., January 2008 — Fun, individualistic geometric shapes and neon colors help distinguish this year's newest releases from Bed Head Eyewear.