John Galliano Sunglasses

Sunglasses are the ultimate accessory as well as the ultimate alibi. They are the status symbol that conceals the private gaze, and exposes only the glossy image you want to project. I wanted to create new glamour, and new shades, for my muses to play their part in. ’
John Galliano

As John Galliano launches his own range of sunglasses, produced by Marcollin, high fashion and function fuse. Always the storyteller inspiration is everywhere - from movie stars to make up, runway to the red carpet, eccentric heiresses to ethnic extremes – and now there is a new style to frame these unmistakable Galliano Icons. Shade and style mix with Galliano’s unique spirit of romance and innovation. Galliano girls go from backstage to centre stage, just as make-up transforms the models into creatures of his imagination, the shades can make this transformation in an instant as the painted face becomes a starting point to inspire a new Galliano face, and the spirit behind the shades.

‘We wanted to create shades that suited the Galliano Icon – whatever the occasion’.

For women Galliano goes back to his roots, his Spanish heritage, and the Flamenco to create ‘Les Biches’. Galliano dreamt of the doe-eyed girls that inspired this phrase, ‘oeil de biche’, and what glasses the beauty would wear. He created a sultry oversize dark wrap shade, inspired by the Spanish Peinetas, the intricate honeycomb fan that crowns the hair of the fiery flamenco dancers. As the dark lens veils the eye, the smoky arm fades from black through to a degradé of soft pink to create the illusion of a gentle rose blush, just like the Latin rouged cheek bone it covers.

‘I wanted every detail, every fitting to add the Galliano spirit to these frames’.

His romantic palate of smoky kohl to powdered violets and rose blush capture in every frame all the mystique and exotic elegance that hides within the vanity cases of Galliano’s catwalk heroines. Degradés of colour tint and shape the styles that, at last, frame all the elements of his imagination, and shade the face of his many muses.

‘I wanted to blend old school glamour with high-tech romance so we looked at innovations in plastics and pushed new lens techniques to tell our story. I wanted a Galliano decadence and depth of character in the personality of each of these glasses.’

For men the inspiration comes from Galliano’s favourite rebels and heroes. The ‘Beau Regard’ combines house motifs with cinematic style in a chunky plastic upper set against a fine metal lower frame, with contrast colour edging. Reminiscent of the 60s Hollywood rebels, and the infamous Rat Pack, the shades conceal the sparkle in these macho eyes, just as the tinted windows would roll up and shield the stars from their screaming fans. The design is finished with metal rivets similar to the stretch Cadillac they cruised in. The wrap pilot style gives a twist on another Galliano Guy, Steve McQueen, as he climbs onto his motorbike and speeds off into the sunset. Each design will be as modern and unexpected as the adventure you are seeking.

Male or female every shade leads to a different adventure, and a different icon. These are shades to turn heads as much as enhance the icon – overstated, upturned, or incognito. From rose tinted to black outs, Gazette print, chunky logos, or intricate filigree metal work the Galliano shades look set to become a style essential – on the runway, red carpet and in every eventuality.

‘Shades are not limited to summer and nor are the Galliano moments you can have in them’. John Galliano.

The Icon Collection will be available in India exclusively by Eternity Lifestyles.