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!

Initium: Admirals Club

As anyone who keeps an eye on the blog may have noticed, we've been going on about the Initium "Admirals Club" shades for quite awhile now. Anna was lusting hardcore for the white and black pinstriped ones and everyday they'd call her from their little place on the shelf. Yesterday seemed the perfect day to end the torture. Yay for Anna!

"I love Initium's collection. The shapes are perfect for me - both for my structure and I love that very few of the peices are overtly femme. I tend to go more for masculine shapes so the "Admirals Club" was perfect...masculine but still not so thick a frame that it overwhelmes my face. The fit is very comfortable and they feel very light on my face which is great as I tend to like forgetting I'm wearing anything. And they just look super cool. Everything I own seems to look better with these babies on my face."

If you come by the store in the next few days, don't be surprised to see Anna jiving inside the shop with them on. She just can't help it. They're too cool!

Brand Power: Initium

What better brand to profile during Canadian Music Week than Initium, the eyewear label who supports independent bands and labels, and creates eyewear that melds the worlds of music and fashion.

The line is designed in Orange County, California and produced in Italy using the highest quality of materials, blending iconic design with leading technology and premium craftsmanship. The company describes themselves as a "music-inspired, fashion-driven eyewear collection crafted by artists and musicians for artists, musicians and their fans," and what could be better than that?!

LIFESTYLE COLLECTION:
This durable collection is made for life on tour and features 5-barrel stop-hinges and polarized lenses.

World Tour

Vunderground

Admirals Club

METAL COLLECTION:
This series of metal sunglasses have heavy overtones of modern-vintage and feature a variety of custom Initium cross-hinge tollings and spring-loaded hinges.

All In

Cocktails

PLATINUM COLLECTION;
These hand-made frames are constructed from Italian acetate and feature gradient polarized lenses.

Folsom

OPHTHALMIC (RX) COLLECTION:Constructed from rich acetate, this collection features strong, modern-vintage silhouettes in the optical range.

Aces High

Headwires

Hybrid Moment

Piece of Mind

Spring/Summer 2011 Trendwatch: Punk Rocker

Toronto designer Cult De Laissez Faire (available at Carte Blanche)

For those with a penchant for tough as nails stylin's, perfect tailoring, and drapey layers, the punk rocker trend is the bomb! There are a multitude of designers who are featuring this long-running trend in their collections this season: Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair, Rad Hourani (also from Montreal), Pink Cobra and Cult De Laissez Faire (Toronto based brands available at Carte Blanche), Balmain, Burberry Prorsum, and Rick Owens.

Burberry Prorsum, Rick Owens, Burberry Prorsum, Balmain

We fancy the peg leg trousers (a la Alexander Wang), chunky platform wedges and slouchy leather boots (lusting for Jeffery Campbells), tattered knits (Horace), statement jewellry layered (more is always better), and black leather envelop clutches (check out local designer Jenny Bird) topped off with a leather jacket. Pieces are suitable for both men and women giving androgny yet another moment in the spotlight!

Cult De Laissez Faire, Pink Cobra, Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair, Rad Hourani

Sunglasses are vital to finishing off this look (and hiding those eyes after a big night out). Statement frames and oversized shades are our recommendations to complete any outfit.

Blinde "Bang On"

Blinde "Born Lucky"

Chrome Hearts "Bone Polisher"

Chrome Hearts "Pussy Willow"

Dita "Insider"

Gold & Wood H07/S

Initium "Escape"

Mykita & Romain Kremer "Gordon"

Mykita and Romain Kremer "Yuri"