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The Sunglass Survey
WWD polled top eyewear executives to find what's in, what's out and what's next for sunglasses this year.
MARCOLIN
Emilio Pucci
Fabrizio Gamberini, CEO
WHAT'S IN
Flash lenses continue to be a trend and apparent in the Tom Ford, Roberto Cavalli and Dsquared2 collections.
Women's shields, such as medium-size shields with a soft cat-eye shape, like Tom Ford, Roberto Cavalli and Balenciaga.
Most of our collections feature polarized models; it's a clear signal that consumers are more conscious, paying more attention to the technical quality of the lenses and protecting their eyes. Examples include Tom Ford, Ermenegildo Zegna and Montblanc.
WHAT'S OUT
Heavy logo applications.
WHAT'S NEXT
Textures. Balenciaga has a Gaulchat effect stingray and leather for sun and optical.
Natural materials, such as horn and wood, as seen in the Ermenegildo Zegna couture collection.
Brightly colored prints and Seventies-inspired silhouettes, as seen in the new Emilio Pucci eyewear collection.
WESTWARD LEANING
Robert Denning, cofounder and creative director
WHAT'S IN
Transparent, polished acetates in sophisticated hues that make the frames appear like water or ice that's been dyed with food coloring. I call them "crystal" or "glacial" acetates -- our glacial blue, for example, is new in our Pioneer 11 model. Basically, acetates that look like liquid cough syrup; crystal blue is basically the color of NyQuil.
Richer, non-primary colors of crystals; champagne instead of taxi-cab yellow, for example.
WHAT'S OUT
High-contrast colorblocking of mirrored lenses, especially in black frames. The days of placing the most garish neon lens you could find in a black or white frame are over. Unexpected tints are finally taking mirrored lenses beyond the ski slopes of the Eighties....Our reliance on mirrored today is to add depth and refinement, not shock value or boldness.
WHAT'S NEXT
Frame shapes will continue to get even crazier, and more innovative, unique and beautiful. Sunglasses are just emerging from the Wayfarer-based, "Ray-Ban revivalism" that's dominated the sun category. The frames we'll launch over the next six months are differentiated by a more avant-garde approach to shape and a more conservative approach...