Designer in Focus: Linda Farrow
Simon Jablon was no stranger to the fact that his mother, Linda Farrow, had been a major fashion and eyewear designer in the ‘70s and ‘80s. But imagine his surprise when he and his wife Tracy Sedino uncovered a huge stash of mint condition Linda Farrow eyewear frames that had been hidden away in a warehouse for almost 3 decades.
It took them a year to even organise the stash, which then became the foundation of the relaunched brand, the eponymous Linda Farrow Vintage, in 2003.
No doubt you’ve heard the name Linda Farrow – it’s been on the wind since 1970 when she became an overnight success with the style-focused jet set crowd for her pioneering vision of artistic eyewear design.
What would Yoko Ono be without her signature ‘70s wraparounds? That’s right – the woman behind Yoko’s infamous shields was Linda Farrow, and that instantly skyrocketed Farrow’s cutting edge designs and unique use of shape and led to inspired collaborations with the likes of Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Balenciaga and Sonia Rykiel.
It’s hard to understand what happened to cause Farrow to put away her much loved brand almost 30 years ago. In our research articles and interviews seem to skim right over that 3 decade hiatus. What we do know is that we’re grateful that her son and daughter-in-law revived what has become a timeless brand.
The definition of chic, Farrow’s innovation lies in her ability to bridge unconventional with elegant, and range from subtle to offbeat, using resilient materials and paying close attention to the finest details to create unique, infinitely wearable pieces. The brand’s innovative collabs of the past continue to evolve even now, with collections for No.2, Matthew Williamson, Y/Project, Dries Van Noten, Alessandra Rich, Iceberg.
With this level of creative variation, even the classic frames receive new treatments making them fresh and new again. We love this season’s collection which celebrates “Life as a Circus.” Whimsical hues come to life in the form of tinted lenses, while high-shine metals create a feeling of stepping into the limelight. All the while the styles convey a modern softness.
Our current faves?
Yellow Gold & Polished Black
A minimalist, unisex oval shape, this classic is crafted from 18-22 carat yellow gold-plated titanium and hand painted black for a contemporary contrast, for an ultra lightweight and luxurious feel.
Rose Gold & Matt Brown
A slightly different take on the unisex oval, this frame has a soft, contemporary contrast of delicious, hand-painted matte brown with is 18-22 carat rose gold-plated titanium, for that signature ultra lightweight, luxurious feel for which Linda Farrow is known.
Yellow Gold & Black Epoxy
This hyper feminine cat eye silhouette, feature 18-22 carat yellow gold-plated titanium with an accent of black, high-shine 'stained glass' corners. Subtle luxury defined as a frame.
Tortoiseshell Hexagon
Exotic, glamorous, and inspired by a Far East metropolis, these oversized frames are a perfect pair in classic tortoiseshell Italian acetate and 18-22 carat gold-plated titanium. They’re the frame you didn’t know you needed but will never put down.
Gradient Lens & Rose Gold
The ideal representation of this season’s playful circus inspiration, these are a surreal, dreamlike Harlequin sunglass A detailed loop-de-loop made of ultra-fine 18-22 carat rose gold-plated Japanese frames titanium grey gradient ZEISS Pure lenses. Absolutely flawless.
When we introduce a new collection from Linda Farrow they sell out fast, and this season has been no exception. That’s why we made sure to keep a feeeeeew extra in our backroom, just for you.
If you haven’t tried Linda Farrow frames, we’d love to introduce you to them. Who knows? Maybe your next iconic frame lives in this collection...
