Frank Loves: Jack Spade's Eyewear Collection

A few months ago I posted about the latest Jack Spade campaign for the SS14 season, which conveyed perfectly the style and feel I like to go for the Spring/Summer time. Already then, some of the pieces that really stood out were the sunglasses, which the brand has launched for the first time this season and which arrived in store earlier this month.
The line is all about classic shapes made super relevant by playing with frame and lens colours, all in perfect combinations to really make you feel like summer. The campaign that accompanies the collection brings a personal angle, with shots of NYC street vendors wearing the different models proving they are also quite versatile. To celebrate the launch in London, the brand had their very own Big Apple Hot Dogs stand outside their Soho store in Brewer Street.
The collection is available at their stores worldwide and via the Jack Spade website.

Courtesy of Jack Spade

The Pharrell Williams x Moncler Sunglasses Collection

Courtesy of Moncler

Fashion is no stranger to collaborations with celebrities of all sorts. I am usually a bit weary of this as you never know how they are going to turn out. However, when I hear that Pharrell Williams was launching a sunglasses collection in collaboration with Moncler I knew it would be a hit. Forget about Kanye, if you must choose rapper to trust with style that is Pharrell who, at the age of 40, has been relevant for 20 straight years both in music and in fashion.
Like everything Moncler is a part of, this new collection blends together an understated and timeless yet contemporary style with the best materials and spot-on functionality. The 50's inspiration has been brought to the 21st century with a new modern-techno look and are perfect for use in the city and at high altitude resorts (perfect with your Moncler down jacket for skiing) and are all entirely made in Italy.
The Moncler Lunettes by Pharrell Williams are already available at Moncler stores and online.

Presenting Burberry Spark

Christopher Bailey's passion for British music is no secret. Singers and band members have often graced the Burberry advertising campaigns and the show's front rows. Their music accompanies the latest collections down the runway and, lately, live performances take place at the brand's beautiful retail spaces – i.e. last week's Kaiser Chiefs gig – and even take the shape of surprise micro-concerts during the catwalk presentations.
This season the Chief Creative Officer has found inspiration in British music for Burberry's latest eyewear collection – a stunning bright and colourful line of sunglasses and opticals in bi-colour combinations in-trend with this season's offerings but always with a modernity and timelessness only Burberry can achieve.
The new campaign features three bands Burberry is introducing this season: Coastal Cities, The Night VI and Broken Hands. A track from each band along with super cool videos recorded on set in London serve as the campaign, which also features beautiful editorial shots from members of all three bands.
Keen an eye out for the super cool new shades and remember to have a listen at the bands' singles (click on their names above), they're the ones to watch!

Courtesy of Burberry

Most Stylish of the Week: Coachella & the MTV Movie Awards

A little later than promised, but here is the post! It has been a great week for menswear style. So good, in fact, that it's taken me a while to edit down the options to just six.
Zac Efron makes an appearance again in almost the same outfit as last week. I wouldn't normally talk about the same look twice but I love how last week's school boy outfit has been upgraded with the blue blazer. Everything fits perfectly and even the flip flops add a cool Ivy League vibe to the otherwise smart look.
At the MTV Movie Awards Eddie Redmayne beat everyone on the red carpet. His head-to-toe All Saints look was manly, cool, young and quite a different vibe from what we're used to seeing from Eddie. And you can shop it all – jacket here, t-shirt here, denim shirt here and boots here.
Chris Pine was also present at the awards and gave a lesson in smart casual. He wore cropped blue suit trousers with a beautiful blue linen Mandarin collar shirt and suede navy lace-ups.
Over at Coachella, Elijah Wood went for a classic Spring look with his Lacoste grey flecked polo shirt, which he wore with dark jeans and dust dessert boots. He topped off the look with a killer pair of mirrored sunglasses like the ones I posted about recently.
Justin Chatwin was also at the music festival, stopping by the H&M section. As usual, he got the fit just right and I believe grey jeans and a denim shirt are always a winning combo. I might just have worn a different, less tough, pair of shoes.
Robert Downey Jr definitely marches to the beat of his own drum. The actor decided to give the locals a taste of their own style in German Lederhosen. Normally, I would have found this costume-y and borderline ridiculous but on Downey Jr is a big big hit – especially from the waist up!

JustJared, Getty

The Shades to Own this Season

I would have never thought I would write about Oakley sunglasses on the blog. I must admit to wearing a pair a long long time ago but they have never quite been my cup of tea.
Thanks to, or because of some fashion editors I have changed my mind. Everyone from the sartorially traditional Italians at Pitti to the über-trendy fashion directors of the womenswear glossies have been spotted wearing Oakley's Frogskin sunglasses.
While it's true that they're quintessentially a seasonal trend we will most likely laugh at in not so long I can't help but want a pair for the SS13 season. Whether you go for the more subtle (?) matte frames with blue mirrored lenses or for the bolder models they are a great way of adding a dash of colour to an outfit. I especially like them worn with a more formal look, for a nice sportswear contrast – if there was ever a season to experiment with this other trend, this is it. And, if you know where to look, you can get them for under £90, which is not a bad deal for a new pair of sunglasses (they will always be perfect for a ski trip).

Police Celebrate their 30th Anniversary

Iconic Italian eyewear house Police is celebrating their 30th anniversary this year with the launch of two special edition sunglasses. Their classic 80's aviator shape has been given a few exclusive touches with a gold or silver plated frame and leather detailing. The two chic styles will be available at Harvey Nichols from April and will retail for £240. As an aviator wearer since the age of 15 I can honestly say there is probably no other style of sunglasses as versatile and timeless as this. The silver frames and a leather jacket are all I need to get through the spring.

Also coinciding with their 30th anniversary Police have published 'Look Beyond' – a photography book shot by Giovanni Gastel featuring portraits of personalities as varied as Luke Evans, Ildo Damiano, Roberto D'Agostino or Francesco Scianna (who you can't miss in Baarìa). The book, through its different photography subjects, explores the idea of what it means to look beyond: to overcome those boundaries and filters that often prevent us from truly understanding our surroundings and our inner selves.

The whole project has been created in support of Doctors Without Borders, who will receive part of the proceeds from the sale of the book and the sunglasses.

Courtesy of Police

On my mind: (almost) Invisible Frames

Mr Porter

I have been obsessed with see-through frames for a while now. Mainly since Josh Peskowitz et al. started wearing them. I used to think they were hard to pull off but perhaps I never tried the right shape. So I have been looking around – and when I say around I mean only online. And when I say online I mean only on Mr Porter – for the perfect pair. They're a perfect choice for those people who, like me, like to wear sunglasses all year around. They block off light but the lenses are less tinted – perfect for the London winter. These above are my favourites.

From top to bottom: Cutler & Gross square acetate sunglasses, Oliver Peoples' Gregory Peck photochromic acetate sunglasses, Ilesteva's Leonard acetate sunglasses.

I'm not Frank: What I wore to Milan Fashion Week

Fashion, Frankly

I know I haven't been blogging in a very regular way over the last few weeks. I promised myself I would only ever post when I really wanted to and never just because. But I still have some juicy posts coming up from my last trip to Milan in January, especially the Ermenegildo Zegna and Z Zegna shows. So stay tuned.
Even though I didn't quite take any pictures of my looks this time my friend Giulia, who helps me out with Know Wear, emailed me this picture of the two of us she took with her iPad during breakfast at the Armani Hotel (a must stop if you're in town!). And so I thought I might as well make a post about my outfit.
It was ridiculously cold, though sunny, in Milan and even though I wasn't fully ready I managed to survive by layering good pieces. On day two I wore my most trust-worthy vintage denim shirt paired with my also very reliable +J beige blazer. I paired them up with a wool tartan Barbour tie I bought at My-Wardrobe and my amazing Lanvin mother-of-pearl tie pin from Mr Porter. I am also wearing my then brand new Illesteva sunglasses, which I also bought from Mr Porter.

He's Fly: Brad Pitt in MMM & Tom Ford

When a man gets Tom Ford freebies you know he's got style. And Brad Pitt's got plenty of both. He was one of the other male stars who received much attention at Cannes.
I've always been unsure of whether I like white suits or not because it seems a lot easier to get it wrong. But when you're Brad Pitt and you're wearing a Martin Margiela suit, slicked back hair and a half grey goatee a white suit is not something to worry your thoughts. He looked ridiculously cool during his arrival at the festival despite the tacky golden chain on his neck and the too long trousers. My favourite item, no wonder, were the Tom Ford sunglasses, which I went crazy trying to find online but could never find. I guess he gets to preview items as well...

[JustJared]

Fashion Week essential #3: the classic-with-an-edge shades

My second most important item in an outfit, after the shoes, are the sunglasses. The right shades can completely make a look, which is why I am a firm believer in having, at least, five or six different pairs in a variety of shapes, materials and colours. I am also a believer in investing on quality timeless pieces but with character. This season I am really into rectangular shapes. I love Oliver Peoples' model below (left), which reminded me of the Versace pair I bought about four years ago. Oliver Peoples' are my absolute go-to brand for both prescription (which you must consider investing on too if you have to wear them to watch the shows) and sunglasses because they have that classic-with-a-twist air. In any case, this coming LFW I will be sporting these ones below together with my collection of Ray-Bans, Hugo Boss, Ralph Lauren and Armani.

[Pictures: OliverPeoples.com, celebrity-sunglasses-finder.com]

FW007

I would have never thought I'd ever see James Bond in a shearling coat. Or a checked shirt. Or a low v-neck tee. But he isn't really Mr. Bond. Daniel Craig was papped buying a new iPhone (personally, Blackberries are that much cooler) in what could be the trendiest ensemble he's ever worn. The scruffiness of the stubble, the hair and the unbuttoned shirt mixed really well with the vintage sunglasses and the casual but stylish suede shearling jacket. This is an outfit I will definitely be replicating as soon as I can find a nice (and affordable) shearling jacket for this season.

[Pictures: JustJared.buzznet.com, Brownsfashion.com, Matchesfashion.com]