Chloe Sevigny + Barton Perriera for Opening Ceremony

A month ago a box from Barton Perreira arrived and in it was....*gasp*...the limited edition collaboration with Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony. We'd ordered it back in the fall, but with such a high demand, they were instantly a back-order item.
 

The collection features three different style all of which are inspired by Andy Warhol’s superstar Candy Darling. With a 70s vibe, exaggerated, fun shapes and brilliant finishes and craftsmanship it comes as new surprise that these are quickly becoming the IT piece in fashion sunglasses.

The beautiful Candy Darling; eccentric, wild, bold, and utterly fabulous!

And ours are flying off the racks. We only have one of each of the models left. We had more, we promised we had more. If you’ve been musing over whether or not to grab up a pair of these unique frames, do it now ‘cuz they’re not going to be here for much longer. And if that’s not enough heat under your tush to get you running to the shop, I don’t know what is!

The "Darling"

"Jackie" was named for Jackie Curtis, Candy's friend and another one of the Warhol gang

"Candy"

 And for this weekend's movie night, check out the much anticipated and well-done documentary on this tragic beauty. Beautiful Darling was released this year and can be found at film stores like The Film Buff, Suspect Video, and Eyesore Video.

Summer Music Festival Guide!

It’s that time of year again…the sun is shining, the birds are singing, and music is filling the air at festivals everywhere. Whether you are planning on road-tripping to the States or staying a bit closer to home, nothing says summer time fun like crazy adventures at open air rock festivals. So toss on some fab jeans or cut-off shorts, wellies for those muddy days and some bomb eyewear, and check out some of these cool events…

June 13 – 19: NXNE, Toronto, Ontario

Iggy Pop doin' his thing on-stage with fans at NXNE

This annual festival based off the SXSE event in Texas, is the biggest festival in Ontario. Virgin Fest fell by the way-side with it’s over-commercialization, and Canadian Music Week lacks the publicity needed to make it a contender. With over 635 international, national and local acts at 50 official festival stages, this is a week of good tunes spanning every genre that you DON’T want to miss. Many of the shows are held indoors, but Dundas Square throws some great free events (like the Iggy Pop concert last year) as well as on Centre Island.

The event takes place throughout the city, so the emphasis is effortless, metropolis cool. For guys, flat-top black shades with bad-ass detailing are where it's at. Try the "G-Money" shades from Chrome Hearts...guarenteed to have chicks thinking you ARE the band!

And for the ladies? Focus on classic but unique shapes that will be effortless. Salt's "Caden" is a modern spin on Audrey Hepburne that will have you looking like a super-star.

June 22 – 26: Glastonbury Festival, Vale of Avalon, England

If you’re down for a flight and a roadtrip, don’t miss THE biggest music festival in the world. Glastonbury is turning 41 this year, and is the largest open air music and performing arts festival in the world. Located in the Vale of Avalon, an area steeped in symbolism, mythology and religious traditions, the vibe prevalent throughout the festivities is freedom and a carefree sense of awe. Roll with the mood, don’t show up with preconceived ideas or a schedule, and open yourself up to exploring all the new and fabulous things that this event has to offer.

We are loving hippie-chic frames for the chics...Our number one favorite? The limited edition collection that Barton Perreira collaborated on with Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony. "Candy" is the epitome of effortless cool which is essential at style-savvy Glastonbury.



Glastonbury is all about effortless cool with a rocker edge. Aviators are the way to go. Try Carrera's "Turbo" or Barton Perreira's "Eyston"...

August 5-7: Lollapalooza, Chicago, Illinois

This 20 year-old festival was the brainchild of Perry Farrell and was originally a musical roadshow. Now an annual festival in Chicago, the festival boasts 130 acts from a vast array of different genres (hip-hop, electronica, reggae, indie, rock, modern roots, etc).

Even the name Lollapalooza conjures up candy-coated colors swirling in our minds. We like these "Darling" rainbow bright shades from Barton Perreira's collaboration with Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony. Or for more subdued flavour, opt for Dita's "Holiday".

Aviators are a classic favorite at festivals, but Lollapalooza is similar to NXNE in that it's in the heart of the city. To give your shades a bit more of an urban vibe, the bar detailing on these Entourage of 7 PCH2 frames is exactly what you need to take this classic to the next level.

August 29 – September 5: Burning Man, Black Rock City, Nevada

THIS is THE festival in America. Nothing comes close to matching the epic size and nature of this event which is celebrated by hundreds of thousands of concert-goers across the States and Canada. Located in the stunning desert, this festival has the best of music, art, mutant vehicles, fire breathers, circus performers, performance artists, etcetera. It is a hark-back to the 60s; free love, artistic expression, and damn good music reign. Nudity is also a common sight, so seeing a bunch of folks in their birthday suits is not out of the realm of possibility. Perks: You can get an even tan! Boo yeah!

The number one requisite for sunglasses at Burning Man? They need to be super-durable, comfortable, large for optimal protection from the sun and have kickass lenses to keep your peepers in shape while the rest of you falls apart. The Mykita "Elroy" features super-sturdy hardware and construction, and is of course polarized. Maui Jim's "Pau Hana" features the company's standard and outstanding lenses; polarized, high contrast so you'll see the festival in all it's colorful glory, and mirrored to prevent squinting. They're also very durable as the line originally catered to the sports crowd and has carried their hardy construction to even their most fashionable frames.

September 21-25: POP, Montreal, Quebec

This festival features art, music, film, conferences and workshops profiling Canadian, local and international talents. The tunes span over many genres and many of the events are kid-friendly (and there’s even some special goings-on just for the munchkins).It’s the biggest music festival in Quebec and definitely a unique and fun experience. With it’s close proximity to Toronto, this is an easy fest to make it over too, and you’ll get to feel like you’re a bit farther from home with that unique vibe that is the signature of Montreal!

Montreal is known for it's fashion-forward presence in Canada as well as it's quirky nature. For this festival, you need something a little bit different. The Benjamin "Graham" sunglasses are totally gangsta'; brushed metal front and tortoise temples give this a distinctive feel. Gals should try Initium's "Disco", a VERY unique shape, super-sized to hide those tired eyes after a long night out, and uber cool.

So what festivals will you hit up and what are you going to wear? Let us know on our facebook fan page.

Gafas Hearts You!

Everyone knows that Gafas has a sick selection of frames; fantastic brands like Chrome Hearts, Dita, Gold & Wood, Blinde, Barton Perreira, and soooo many more. We have about 2000 frames in stock and that my friends can be a wee bit overwhelming which is why Gafas is outstanding with our customer service.

Finding a perfect frame is a tedious and long process, but Gafas’ staff are dedicated to helping you find a product that fits your style and budget. We provide one-on-one service where we take into consideration what you are looking for in the way of frame style, what suits your features and life the best, and what will work best with your prescription. Seeing a client walk out the door with a smile on their face and a skip in their step is the best reward that we can think of.

Meet the Gafas Staffers....

Anna and Olivia

Tony wearing his kick-ass "Conrad"  frames by Salt

 

Tony is the MACHINE! 'Nuff said. He is the team-leader and bomb-ass stylist here at Gafas, so basically without him we can't function. It'd be like losing an arm or something.

Tony strollin' into Gafas wearing his bomb Chrome Hearts "Midnight Dip"

 

Olivia is the Gafas optician and Macgyver. This gal can make miracles happen with frame repair and refurbishment. When you're looking for optical lenses, this is the gal you talk to about what will work best for you!

Olivia is wearing the Dita Grandmaster Three (L) and her fave pair of Orgreens

Anna is the style maven and social media savante around Gafas. She's been working in fashion for years (both as a stylist and as a hairstylist) and is here to bring her knowledge of what looks good to you. Her favorite customer service quality is...honesty.

Anna is rockin' the Dita "Verve"

And to show how much we love you guys, Gafas has some special stuff in the works...some very cool, special stuff. Stay tuned and get excited!

Trend Watch: Green is the New Neutral

Are you sick of black and tortoise being your only neutral option for an optical frame? Fear not darling clients because there’s a new neutral in town. Green is the new black (and brown and tortoise) and while it may seem a bit odd to have a color as a neutral, keep in mind that green is more flexible in matching your clothes. Hate wearing black frames with a brown outfit? Green works. Does wearing brown or tortoise frames with black and grey make you cringe? Green is the perfect solution. See, it’s the perfect neutral!

Designers like Barton Perreira, Salt, Initium, and Entourage of 7 have been adding green to their collections.

Initium's popular "Bullet"

Get crazy with Barton Perreira's "Duran"

Make 'em green with envy over these Entourage of 7 "Wayne" frames

Have it your way with Initium's "My Way"

We think these great frames will have everyone turning green with envy of your kickin’ new neutral!

New in Stock: Barton Perreira

We just got a whack-a-load of new Barton Perreira stock in the shop including some pieces from the Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony (FINALLY!). These are some of our hottest pieces and our favourites from the collection. Come in and check ‘em out.

"Candy" from the Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony Collection

"Darling" for the Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony Collection (L)

The "New Romance" this season from Barton Perreira (R)

"Landon"

"Duran" (L) and "Caine" (R)

The "Bronski"

Brand Power: Barton Perreira

Barton Perreira eyewear has become synonymous with timeless glamour and classic pieces that pay homage to the past while remaining relevant in the present. The line was launched a mere four years ago by the ex-president and the head designer of Oliver Peoples. Bill Barton and Patty Perreira launched their LA-based company in 2007 and have been creating stunning handcrafted pieces ever since.

Each piece is meticulously hand-crafted in Japan and inspected by Perreira at each stage to ensure that perfection is achieved. All the lenses used for the sunglass collections are of the most superior CR-39 optical-grade plastic and mineral glass which offers 100% protection and comfort. The lenses and plastic zyl colors are custom designed and created to flatter a broad range of skin tones.The collections are manufactured in small quantities which gives the brand a feel of exclusivity.

Sunglasses:

Go with a bad-ass aviator shape, "Brasco" (L); A sleek titanium frame for the ladies, "Vionnet"  (R)

We "Suspect" that these shades will get you noticed (L); A "Demure" classic wrap to keep your peepers protected from that mean old sun (R)

Optical Frames:

Bigger is better with "Sebastian" (L) and "Sintra" (R)

Unique, old-school styles are where it's at: "Percy" (L) and "Hanson" (R)

An ode to the days of glamourous style: "Chelo" (L) and "Kelley" (R)

Celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Marcia Cross, Ben Affleck, Kate Beckinsale, Angelina Jolie and Selma Blaire have all jumped on the Barton Perreira bandwagon and are seen flaunting their fabulous eyewear all about town and you can be too. We have a large selection of optical and sunglass eyewear in the store and are expecting new stock soon, so come on down to the shop and we will be happy to show you this incredible brand.

Time Warp: 1950s

The 1950s were an era of neighbors who said "hello", TV-perfect families, cocktail hour, and some damn fine dressing. With all the chaos in our world, harkening back to a time when life was slower, simpler and people dressed up for dinner seems like a fine idea.

Mad Men - television's hottest show

The world of fashion and film have been paying homage to this innocent time for the past few years and show no signs of stopping. TV shows like Mad Men have created crazed fan-bases, burlesque has come back into the spotlight world-wide with legends like Jo Boobs, Dirty Martini, Dita Von Teese and Gentry De Paris shimmyin' and shakin' on the world stage.

The runways are covered with vintage-inspired garments that will make every man feel like Don Draper and bring that coquettish vixen out in the ladies. In ladies wear, Dior was one of many designers who drew inspiration from the era and pin-up bombshells. Key peices to snatch up are pin-up dresses (maxi or mini), rompers/play suits, and high-waisted wide-leg trousers. Menswear musts are the iconic perfect suit, cardigans, and Oxford shoes.

And eyewear? Well, there are plenty of vintage-lookin' frames in every designer's collections which are sure to suit your fancy.

We heart Buddy Holly and Marilyn Monroe's frame styles

Whether your're going for a Buddy Holly look with oversized black frames or want to steal Marilyn Monroe's style from How To Marry a Millionaire, Gafas has you covered. We have a wide range of both optical and sunglass frames to choose from.

For the ladies, we are loving the cat-eyed styles which have flooded the store in a myriad of finishes...

Add a pop of red (matching lipstick optional) like Barton Perreira's "Kelley" frames.

La Font Reeditions are re-released styles from their original collections. Get a little wild with some cheetah print, perhaps with the " Constance" frame.

Hot LA label Dita is on the vintage action with "Svelte".

Go for a spin on the traditional tortoise-shell with Salt's "Annabel".

Or do it up in the sun with retro-lovely shades.....

Creamy goodness with yet another great frame from Barton Perreira's collection, the "Nicole".

Pastels rule and are WAY more interesting than a neutral. Grab up Barton Perreira's "Spellbound".

Buddy Holly made the over-sized frame his iconic look and men everywhere are bringing back the nerdy-sexy with horn-rims and thick frames...

The Dita "Statesmen" goes quickly, so run over and get it now before it's too late.\

Initium's "In Dreams" features glossy, wood-look temples

"Sexy nerdy, please be here to stay. I rather fancy you" says Anna at Gafas. Loving these Mykita "Hermann" frames.

Instead of rimless, go clear! An instant update and a huge trend in eyewear. Spectacle Eyework's "Anisa" is a great choice.

When you need to protect those pretty peepers from the UV rays, go for a classic aviator a la James Dean...

You can't go wrong with this classic. Salt's "Lester".

Make everyone green with envy over these "Brasco" frames from Barton Perreira

Whether or not you commit to a full 1950s look, injecting a shot of this retro trend will liven up your style with a fun twist. And don't forget, mixing eras is where it's at!

ELIZABETH TAYLOR

Rest In Peace

Liz Taylor telling the Papparazzi just what she thinks of them...all while looking great in her cat-eyed shades. We love her take-no-bull attitude!

In remembrance of a very great lady who entered the spotlight in the 50s, we salute Elizabeth Taylor. A beautiful, witty, powerful, strong woman who passed on yesterday, March 23. We send our condolences to her family, friends, and those whose lives have been touched by her.