Eclectic eyewear has been seen as an ultimate style booster across every stalwart over the past. Framed! Contemporary eyewear in Fashion celebrates this accessory by launching a programme of exhibitions and events in the Fashion Space Gallery at the London College of Fashion where the exhibition will be celebrated from 12th September 2012 to 3rd November 2012.

The exhibition will feature over a 200 types of glasses where the curators have intricately picked up some unusual brands as well as popular brands like Chanel and Prada. But it promises to display never seen designs drawn from archives and museums- loaned from eyewear companies, private and public collections as well as bespoke makers.

The collection is set to interest all, across the girly pastel shades to the quirky oversized neon-shaded glasses. It will transport its visitors into the glamourous world of eyewear- dominated by British Brands like Cutler and Gross and Oliver Goldsmith as well as American Brands like Ray Ban, Moscot and the newcomer Stevie Boi (whom Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj are worshipping!)

The exhibition is also set to chart an interesting film reflecting upon its historical significance- through the mid twenties and the present day about how this has been affecting fashion and celebrity trends through decades (or vice versa). It will also feature the newly commissioned timeline by Emily Alston.

Creating more excitement about the forthcoming event is the experimental runway collection prototypes by  Bernhard Wilhelm, Erdem, Giles, Thomas Tait, Chloe McCormick and NODH, Edward Gucewicz, Emma Montague, SPIT Design and Studio Swine. There will also be a showcase of a giant pair of abstract frames by Nairobi-based artist- Cyrus Kabiru. Both visually – appealing and wearable art, Kabiru has worked over with his own personal narrative as well as narratives from his community.

Eyewear has risen as a solution to personal style’s dilemma after being just a practical solution to poor eyesight. Historical influences like Sir Winston Churchill, Churchill, seven Kings and Queens of England, Napoleon Bonaparte and Emperor Qianlong of China have been credited to incorporate diamond and platinum into eyewear thus getting more momentum thanks to European royalty. It has been gracing the cover of Vogue by the 40s and was accepted by the masses a decade after.

The collection will be the first of five shows exploring fashion with its imagery form. It will depict the historical influence on style we see today and try to explain the integral role it has played in this age of consumerism. To find the perfect pair for you, check out a previous post: The Perfect Pair