Tortoise is refreshingly classic.
Black is the default option for the most frequently used clothing items such as wallets, shoes, belts, socks and anything that is required to impeccably look right with everything else in our closet. It’s a colour of safety that makes us feel strong and benevolent in situations where we feel most insecure. For certain items, black can be too uniform and lacking in identity for accessories such as sunglasses for which black is dominant choice of colour.
Tortoise can be an assuring but also daring colour option for individuals who want to project a warm personality without resorting to bold primary colours. From near dark brown to semi-transparent, tortoise is available in a wide variety of nuances and graphics suited for different personality types.
Recently I acquired a pair of sunglasses which had to tick all the boxes for my criteria set; the pair had to have a classic shape, suit my face, have a distinguished appearance and look right in both a creative and professional environment . Seeking something different from the standard flavour of black frames my pick became a set of handmade vintage Louis Féraud glasses with inspiration taken from 1970s. Prior to buying them my knowledge of the brand was limited. In fact I knew nothing of the French brand but my lack of knowledge was irrelevant and even fuelled my interest in sealing the deal. The rounded lenses are accented with subtle golden hinges which give the frame aspirational but affirmatively classic look.
Purchasing the sunglasses was a pleasurable experience with a line up of 8-10 different lens colours to choose from. My conservative preference fell for a dark brown lens which washes away the grey and gloomy mood with a warm amber tone. The forgone options were a dizzying tri-coloured lenses fading from green to blue and finally to purple at the bottom. Most tempting of all were the Carl Zeiss option produced by Carl Zeiss, the famous camera lens supplier for Hasselblad, Canon, Sony and other top camera manufacturers. But priced at £40 the Carl Zeiss option classify as a “do I really need it” purchases – unnecessarily luxurious but highly tempting. Nevertheless the freedom to select what coloured lens would be cut and slotted into the frame was personal enough for me to grow a strong bond the second I inaugurated them in the shop as my new head ornament.
The most recent advocate of simpleton frames of tortoise colour is famous women’s wear design Oscar De La Renta. In the highly anticipated documentary giving an insight to the professional life of fashion publishing supremo Anna Wintour, De La Renta can be seen wearing an admirable pair of glasses with prescription lens. Playfully uplifting, they underscore his critically acclaimed talent for designing exquisite and strikingly romantic creations for self-confident women who value discretion. Although his frames make a statement of they do not draw attention to the degree that they distract or compromise the sophistication of the barer.
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on Aug 25 2009 Filed under 
