Deirdre Carroll: Senior Editor

 
WITH HEAVY BROW

WHO: Eyewear on and off the runways for Spring 2013 from brands like Prada, Emilio Pucci, Miu Miu, Illesteva and Cult Eyewear. Maison Martin Margiela literally just sent brow bars and temples sans lenses down the runway for Spring 2013 Ready-to-Wear; while Comme des Garçons forwent the eyewear all together and just brushed white swaths of paint directly onto models faces. Of course, it could be argued that Kaiser Karl himself kicked off the trend at his Fall 2012 Ready-to-Wear show for Chanel when he sent models down the runway wearing stone-encrusted rectangular mesh panels glued over their natural arcs in gray, green, pink and purple.

WHAT: Be it bi-colorations, decorative details, 3-D elements or bold built-up bridges the brow is the latest body part to receive serious attention from designers and the eyewear market is in the perfect position (pun intended) to make the most of the trend.

WEAR: (Clockwise from top) The Gigantor optical from l.a. Eyeworks is appropriately named thanks to the gigantic “brows” that dominate the frame front; add an attention-grabbing combo of red and orange and there is no doubt as to where people’s eyes will gravitate. The Badgley Mischka Vivianna optical frame in a mottled burgundy from the McGee Group proves that the heavy brow trend can be executed with the utmost in feminine elegance and sophistication. The Roberto Cavalli “Wild Diva” RC740S sun style from Marcolin is a slightly paired down, more wearable version of the over-exaggerated, limited edition style that walked down his Fall 2012 Ready-to-Wear runway. The Dior Demoiselle2/S from Safilo is taken directly from the brand’s Spring 2013 catwalk featuring a substantial asymmetric eyebrow that is further highlighted by the meeting of the contrasting metalized pastel rose and darker black. The Prada VPR 17P optical style from Luxottica highlights the brow with the addition of a raised acetate detail that follows the fluid lines of the frame’s browline.

WHY: Throughout the years, various parts of the human form have received their due from the fashion elite. Luckily, for the optical industry the brow is much easier for us to capitalize on than the ankle, clavicle or wrist. From the subtle to the extreme, there is really something in this trend for everyone. Be it a cat shaped Clubmaster-inspired style in a delicate hue or an ornately bejeweled browbar in outrageous colors and everything in between, the bold brow trend ensures that attention is paid squarely where it is due (and where it is most beneficial to the industry), the wearer’s eyes.

dcarroll@jobson.com