March 2008

Eye Candy

Jag Dhillon, trend-spotter-in-chief of mini–eyewear empire Spectacle, weighs in on the future of frames By Jason McBride



Image credit: Lorne Bridgman

What’s with all the crazy eyewear out there?
Did you see the white-slatted, ’80s-style Alain Mikli glasses that Kanye West wore in his video for “Stronger”? He’s into a very three-dimensional, modern style of eyewear, lots of detailing. Gwen Stefani wore vintage Cazals on the cover of her last album. Very hard to get.

Oversized sunglasses have been hot for the past few years. Is prescription eyewear following suit?
People are moving away from a modern, laser-cut, bling-bling style. They’re saying, You know what, I can wear something bigger. I can get something more retro, something with gold, something with a double bridge, something I saw my dad wearing back in the day. Something that comes from the ’50s, ’40s, even turn of the century. Geek chic. It’s cool and very fresh.

What should we buy now, before everyone else?
There’s a new line called Barton Perreira, from former executives of Oliver Peoples and Paul Frank. It was just released in L.A., and a lot of celebrities—Jessica Biel, Justin Timberlake—are really getting into it. It’s going to be one of the hottest brands this summer.

Does your profession determine your glasses?
Absolutely. I’d show media types, directors and actors vintage-inspired Cutler and Gross glasses. Financial people like thinner metal frames, such as styles by Ic! Berlin.

What glasses should we never wear again?
I would stay away from anything that’s overly logoed or diamond or rhinestone encrusted. Also avoid small, square metal frames, which were quite the rage a few years ago.

Spectacle, 55 Mill St., Bldg. 53, 416-363-5300, plus two other GTA locations.





 
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