l.a.Eyeworks

HAPPY CORNU YEAR!

Here at l.a.Eyeworks, our new year is already inspired by Johanne Durocher's tale of eyeglass love, separation, and . . . well, we're not sayin' just yet. Durocher is a Toronto-based fashion and lifestyle writer, blogger, ukulele player, and fried food enthusiast.  We invited Johanne to share her story here for the readers of l.a.Eyeworks Wide World:

. . .a little story about what happened on the night of December 28, 2010, which is the reason why we're featuring eyewear today. Oh yes.

My Cornus were always on and always right. Clockwise from top right: featured (with me) in the Globe and Mail in 2009; at LG Fashion Week in Toronto, Canada; with my boyfriend Denis at Playa del Carmen, Mexico; along the shores of Halifax, Canada; and with Brenda at our friends’ foodie night dinner party in Toronto.

December 28, 2010: The End of An Era

Within hours of my birthday on December 29, I was at a friend's home celebrating the holidays, my impending birthday and all the promise that comes with a New Year.

At some point late into the night, tired and relaxed, I removed my precious iconic eyeglasses and forgot that I lazily set them down on the sofa next to me. Of course what happened next comes as little surprise: I moved and crushed them. Split them, actually, right in the centre.



Broken heart: my eyeglasses are broken mere hours before my birthday-! Seriously!! :(

The significance of what happened was more than I could bear: the l.a. Eyeworks Cornu eyeglasses was my signature pair of eyewear! They were fantastic on me and for the first time in my eyewear life (since grade 8) I felt that eyeglasses were part of me. Together we could brave the world and be a success!

How would I ever recover from this loss? Well, better to laugh than cry, and laugh we did. Actually, we could hardly stop laughing at their absurd brokenness that looked so so wrong.

After our laughter subsided and the evening ended, I came home completely down, ready to just crawl under the bed but- wouldn't you know it—my perfect boyfriend…

[cue "dramatic, soap opera-esque Wurlitzer chord swell" here]

Friends! Frame lovers! What did the perfect boyfriend do?! Can a heart broken by frame misfortune ever be mended? Would she ever SEE the birthday candles on her cake? Are eyeglass prayers ever answered? *sniff*

We won't divulge, but let us tempt you with the following clues: a Québécois taste treat and our favorite stringed instrument.

Read the stunning conclusion here, and bookmark the site for all the stylish musings on Fashion in Motion! Thanks and frame love, Johanne!

TINY HOUSES / BIG VISIONS

Get micro with us at a book signing event featuring Mimi Zeiger, author of TINY HOUSES, on Wednesday, August 12, from 5:00 to 8:00PM, at l.a.Eyeworks, 7386 Beverly Boulevard (at Martel between Fairfax and La Brea).  TINY HOUSES, published by Rizzoli in April 2009, focuses on dwelling spaces all under 1,000 square feet that challenge readers to take a look at their own homes and consider how much space they actively use.  Using a thoughtful application of green living principles, renewable resources for construction, and clever ingenuity, these homes exemplify sustainable living at its best.

 

(Mimi Zeiger)

Brooklyn-based freelancer Mimi Zeiger is the author of TINY HOUSES. She is also the founder of loud paper, an architecture zine and now blog.  In addition to her writings on art, architecture, and design, it's no surprise that Mimi is also one of our amazing "Fiction Faces."  Come meet her in person next Wednesday!

LET'S FACE IT!

Are you ready to face it? Then head to Texas before the end of May to see the El Paso Museum of Art Store's outstanding exhibition of l.a.Eyeworks' Face It! collection.  Organized locally by the museum store's principals - the amazing duo of Norma Geller and Sally Gilbert - Face it! is our celebrated, one-of-a-kind collection of l.a.Eyeworks frame designs transformed by renowned jewelers, craftsmen and artists.  28 of the nearly 100 frames that now comprise the Face It! permanent collection are on view.

Selections from Face It! will make appearances throughout the Wide World as the polka band begins to play us into our 30th anniversary year!  Subscribe to this blog at the top of the page, and you'll never miss a beat.

Pictured: upper left, Thomas Mann, Untitled, 1987; lower right, Bill Gale, Star, 1974

Cathy Gets Crafty

 

Echo Park enthusiast, colorful Californian, and fastest Glue Gun in the West, Crafty Cathy made her debut appearance on the Martha Stewart Show.  Cathy schooled the perennial homemaker on how to create flowers out of raffia ribbon, while dazzling the audience with a gift.  Cathy has been a fan of l.a.Eyeworks for some time now, and made sure to send us the great news.  Check out heaps of Cathy's inspiring creation on her website.  Thanks Cathy!

These Frames Were Made For Walking!

l.a.Eyeworks put the finishing touches on John Bartlett's Fall 2009 runway presentation during New York Fashion Week. Styled by creative consultant Robert Bryan, frames such as Minnow, Chunny, Kilgallen, and Bodhi 2 perfectly accented Bartlett's 1920's and 30's inspired designs. Check out the video above to see l.a.Eyeworks in action. For more high resolution images from Bartlett's show, take a peek inside our l.a.Eyeworks in Fashion photo album where you can browse through snapshots of other runway collaborations!

Put Some Spring Into It!

Spring has sprung, and l.a.Eyeworks welcomes the coming season with a sunny disposition all its own: just look at our new window installations!

At l.a.Eyeworks on Melrose Avenue, we take a swing at the recent gloomy economic mood, and knock it out of the park with wiffle ball sculptures!  "FEDERAL WIFFHOLDING" is a reminder that sometimes a good pun is the best silver lining.  After all, you can't take it wiff you!

Check out our magnificent "towers of scour" at l.a.Eyeworks, South Coast Plaza.  Artist-designer Mark Adley's magnificent columns of multi-colored scrubbie sponges, and the "SWEET & SCOUR" message, just go to show there are two ways to look at everything.

Give your eyes a well-deserved rest with our stunning window at l.a.Eyeworks on Beverly Boulevard.  Artist Liz Young has made a cozy poem, "LAY YOUR EYES ON ME," with pillowed lettering made from vinatge fabrics.  But be warned: laying your eyes on l.a.Eyeworks' latest collection could lead to infatuation...maybe true love!

Totally Tubular & Hearty Felt Gifts

At l.a.Eyeworks, we see holiday gift-giving a little differently.  Our holiday store keeps people talking, with such gab-worthy delights as a custom set of treats in tubes: savory pastes that will spice up that sauce or marinade!

Is the wintry weather nipping at your nape?  Nifer Fahrion's hand-made felt scarves and brooches make for a hot topic.

Transform your nearest and dearest with an l.a.Eyeworks gift certificate, and if that weren't sweet enough already, la.Eyeworks is adding extra sugar to your gift certificate purchase through the holidays!
Stop in any of our three stores to check out these great gifts!

Divine Sight

Every year, l.a.Eyeworks is part of the Los Angeles holiday shopping extravaganza, Divine Design.  This year, from December 4^th-8^th, l.a.Eyeworks made a splash with an iconic collection of eyewear, to the appreciation of the clamoring crowd.

Traditionally, dozens of Los Angeles based designers get together and donate clothing, home furnishings, cosmetics, and accessories and more, with one hundred percent of the proceeds going to Project Angel Food, which provides meals for people living with AIDS.

It is always an honor to give back to the community in such a great way, and we are already looking forward to next year’s jubilee!

Get Wired

Since 1993, WIRED magazine has been the cutting-edge journal for the discussion of technology's relationship to the economy, politics, and culture.  The December issue of WIRED features a profile of Microsoft's chief software architect, Ray Ozzie.  Known as the person who holds Microsoft's competitive future in his hands, what is Mr. Ozzie's frame of choice?  Baker by l.a.Eyeworks, of course.  Check out the l.a.Eyeworks Gets Exposed photo album for all the latest editorial and print coverage of our fantastic frames.

"Scene-Stealer"

With enduringly cutting-edge frame designs, l.a.Eyeworks remains one of the names on everyone's lips in respect to great looking eyewear.  That must be why l.a.Eyeworks' Beverly store was named as one of the hottest places around to grab a fresh pair of sunglasses by Los Angeles magazine.  Dubbed the "scene-stealer", the Beverly store is the best place to see l.a.Eyeworks' most current collections.  Check out the photo above to see just what Los Angeles magazine had to say!