Oliver Peoples partnered with mytheresa.com to launch 5 exclusive sunglasses, including styles from the Takahiro Miyashita SoloIst collection, in a special Street Style photo series.

For his fourth collection with Oliver Peoples, Miyashita reinterpreted classic, simple sunglass designs by applying a unique thickness and density to the frames. The designs materialized from innovative manufacturing technology in Japan. The result is three-dimensional frames with a modern, voluminous feel.

J.S.H is a retro-inspired shape with a strong end-piece and a keyhole bridge. The J.R.H is a quirky, circle shape with a saddle bridge, while the J.T.H has an angular form. All three designs feature an exclusive cut out at the temple end in different shapes – a triangle, circle and square that together represent the Oliver Peoples logo.  Customers in the US can view the original JRH (aka SoloIst 4) in the Oliver Peoples online shop.

Frame colors from crystal to solid black with custom lenses in hues from yellow to rosé, these are the ultimate festival and summer must-haves!  Street style icons were shot on location in Sydney, Australia by Melanie Galea of The Street Muse.

Alison Veness of 10 Magazine wears the J.S.H. in Dark Mahogany with Rose lenses:

Elle Ferguson of They All Hate Us and Sara Donaldson of Harper and Harley wear the J.S.H. Crystal with Green lenses:

Margaret Zhang of Shine By Three and Amanda Shadforth of Oracle Fox wear the Sofee Crystal with Green Mirror:

Tanja Gacic of My Empirical Life and Carmen Hamilton of The Chronicles of Her wear J.R.H. (aka SoloIst 4) in Crystal with Red Mirror lenses.  Find it HERE.

The theme of travel not only plays a significant role for Porter, but also serves as a perpetual source of inspiration for Oliver Peoples Founder and Creative Director Larry Leight.  Leight often collects creative influence from his surroundings in Los Angeles and destinations abroad, particularly Japan.  The partnership between Oliver Peoples and Yoshisda & Co., Ltd first began with the production of the Beck and Clot frame cases, and the two companies instantaneously recognized their shared values of brand culture, precision and quality.  They entrusted a factory in Sabae, Japan with the meticulous manufacturing process to materialize this revolutionary eyewear.  An extensive period dedicated to refining the design and technicalities resulted in a frame that conveniently folds three times, collapsing into a compact size to fit in the custom packaging.

“Oliver Peoples and Porter may seem like very different companies, but many of our goals and principles are the same,” says Leight. “This partnership has allowed both of our companies to take technology and detailing within eyewear to a higher level. Our collaborative, forward thinking has made this sunglass not only functional and convenient, but also inspiring and refined. Anyone can wear this frame and look great.”

The bold acetate differentiates this dexterous frame from any other folding sunglass on the market as most use injected molding. Substantial plastic is handcrafted with contoured surfaces in order to enable efficiency of processing and polishing, as well as a faultless fit on any shaped face.  Most importantly, the acetate material allows for effortless maintenance of the folding design, which is constructed to endure cumbersome travel or any necessary lens replacement.

This bold, yet classic style features a keyhole bridge and genuine pin detailing on each end piece and temple. True to the Oliver Peoples aesthetic, the bespoke details are discreet and fastidiously designed with titanium metal.  A gold Oliver Peoples plaque adorns the left temple end.  The coalescence of modern and vintage styling speaks to the versatility of the design, as this sunglass can be worn to any casual occasion or to the most formal, glamorous event.

The Oliver Peoples for Porter sunglass is offered with CR-39 lenses in custom colors thoughtfully selected from the finest Japanese and Italian materials: Black, Dark Amber, Dark Half, Amber and Crystal. All five color ways come with custom packaging, which includes the original Porter sleeve. A ring hangs from the sleeve to encircle the temple of the folded sunglass.

This limited edition design will be available on the Oliver Peoples website, as well as at Oliver Peoples boutiques and select North American stores in late May 2013 with a suggested retail price of $595.

The launch of this eyewear collaboration coincides with the new Maison Kitsuné Tokyo store opening.  Oliver Peoples and Maison Kitsuné propose an invitation to travel from Paris to Tokyo via Los Angeles with this made-in-Japan line. This inspiration gives birth to the frame names, Tokyo (the optical version) and Paris (the sunglass). More than just accessories, the styles offer a new perspective of the art of living around the world.

"I have always loved traveling to Paris and Tokyo," says Larry Leight, Oliver Peoples Founder and Creative Director. "They are two cities that have been truly inspiring to me. I have great respect for Maison Kitsuné and was excited to work together on their first venture into eyewear."

The Oliver Peoples x Maison Kitsuné capsule collection includes two vintage inspired styles that take cues from the 1950’s. The designs combine quality materials, fine detailing and technical excellence with a minimalist aesthetic. Remaining true to Oliver Peoples iconic styling, these re-interpreted classics enhance the ready-to-wear men's and women's looks of the Maison Kitsuné Spring-Summer 2013 collection.

The Tokyo optical model is a bold design featuring a retro inspired antique gold plaque and a keyhole bridge. Hand crafted of substantial acetate, the unisex frame is available in three classic colors including Black, Golden Light Tortoise and 8108, a recognizable custom Oliver Peoples gradient hue. Unique to this design, Tokyo is offered with a removable metal clip-on sunglass that has complimentary colorful lenses. The combination of vintage
elements with the tailored design evokes images of 1950s style icons.

The Paris is an elegant sunglass featuring an upswept rounded shape and vintage pin detailing. The feminine design is slightly oversized and is flattering on many face shapes. Available in progressive color combinations, such as Dark Tortoise acetate with Green Mirror lenses, the style is a striking take on a chic, classic.

A fourth color—Vintage Brown Tortoise—in both Tokyo and Paris is available in limited edition exclusively at Oliver Peoples and Maison Kitsuné boutiques. The collection will debut on February 14th, 2013 in Maison Kistuné and Oliver Peoples boutiques, and arrive at authorized retailers in June 2013.

See photos from the Tokyo store opening on the Fashion Peoples blog HERE.

Mr. Miyashita is as particular about eyewear as he as about clothes, and his choice has always been Oliver Peoples Eyewear, renowned for beautiful filigree and design.  The technique of fine ornamental metal, the variety of materials and the balance of variety in the collection inspired the imagination of Mr. Miyashita.

The 4th Collection in TheSoloIst series is comprised of bold but simple designs.  The voluminous shape was created by shearing a pressed sheet of acetate to 12mm thick at the hinge, resulting in the frame front appearing to flow backward.  The distinctive styles boast sharp-edged beveling of varied widths along the frame front and temples.  The Oliver Peoples original corewire remains visible from the interior.  Both the Oliver Peoples and TheSoloIst plaque are applied at each temple end, which includes diamond-shaped grommets for use with a lanyard.  The left lens is silk-screened with the phrase ‘left eye’ laminated between lenses, as in the previous collection.

In celebration of the Oliver Peoples 25th Anniversary, the 4th Collection includes a large cleaning cloth adorned with TheSoloIst original bandana pattern.  The 4th collection includes three styles and will arrive January 2013.

Over the years we have discovered that numerous customers have their own unique Oliver Peoples stories.  As the digital era evolves, it has become apparent that the stylish individuals who choose to wear our brand are our best advertisements.  We are delighted to have such a sophisticated clientele who appreciate the discreet branding and designs of Oliver Peoples.  We wanted to provide a forum where fans could share their personal stories (through text, images, or video) and become a more permanent, tangible part of the Oliver Peoples history.

My Oliver Peoples will be a two-way campaign used to both enhance the content of the Oliver Peoples history and interface with clients, consumers and fans worldwide.  The site will serve as a destination for users to experience the brand on a personal level, offering images, video, and text stories of individual perspectives alongside company highlights.  User contributions will be approved by a moderator before being included live on the site.

We hope everyone will enjoy this virtual scrapbook of our heritage and look forward to receiving your images and memories!  Share yours HERE.

In addition to the submission form, users can also use the hashtag #myop to contribute  Doing so, the user agrees to the Terms and Conditions.

With the 25th anniversary approaching,  Oliver Peoples Founder and Creative Director Larry Leight was reflecting on the company’s history and the evolution of the iconic designs that define the brand’s heritage. After hours of combing his personal archive of frames, catalogs and design notes, he came across something that had been long forgotten: a sketch dated 1989, just 2 years after the original Oliver Peoples collection debuted. He pulled the goldmine discovery and instantly knew the serendipitous find was perfect to represent 25 years in the making.

“I remember when I drew these,” says Leight. “I always loved them, but they just weren’t right for our collection at that time. We had something going with our aesthetic -it was a new and different intellectual category of eyewear, and people were really drawn to it. These frames just felt a little more modern then what we were doing back then. In celebration of the 25 year anniversary I wanted to dig back into our heritage. We recently re-released some of our renowned styles from the past, but for this I wanted something different. I wanted it to be new for our consumer but still remain true to our roots. My rediscovery of these designs encompass exactly that. They combine two iconic categories that Oliver Peoples is known for: The bold substantial acetate frames like Tycoon and Sheldrake, and the refined vintage inspired looks that the brand was founded on. I’m excited to finally see them in true form.”

The celebratory styles feature strong plastic frame fronts fused with intricately filigreed metal details. The hinge features a custom scroll engraved design and the temple is adorned with an arrow plaque used for the first time on an Oliver Peoples frame. The modified paddle temple offers an additional vintage-inspired element to these beautiful designs. Both the optical and sun versions will be offered in modern neutral and classic tortoises, along with a special grey option to represent silver, a traditional 25th year celebration color. The sunglass style will be available with VFX Polarized, Photochromic or Mineral Glass lenses. A custom case, inspired by those used in the first 1987 collection, is debossed with the original Oliver Peoples plaque and completes the anniversary package.

Both the RX and Sun versions of the XXV will be made available for purchase on the Oliver Peoples website and at select retailers worldwide in October.

As part of the celebration, the special edition celebratory XXV frame is also being made available as a one-of-a-kind luxx sunglass in two one-of-a-kind, custom-created colors. Each includes intricately filigreed 18 kwgp (18k white gold) details, including the hinges, end piece engraved with a custom scroll design, and the retro temple plaque.  The unusual Tigers Eye pattern color is fit with Chocolate Gradient Mineral Glass lenses, while the Amethyst version includes Grey Gradient Quartz Photochromic glass.  There is only 1 of each.  Both are available on the Oliver Peoples website and retail for $1200.

With more than 60 features to his credit, Ray Liotta has starred in numerous critically acclaimed films, but was best known for his portrayal of Henry Hill in the legendary crime-drama GoodFellas and his role as Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams. Liotta can also be seen in the upcoming films Killing Them Softly with Brad Pitt and The Place Beyond the Pines with Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper.  Born in Russia and raised in Tel Aviv, Bar Paly is an actress currently residing in Los Angeles. She recently finished filming Paramount Pictures’ Pain and Gain directed by Michael Bay, in which she stars opposite Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson. Patrick Hoelck is an American photographer and director. In 2002, TAR, his first self-published book of images and short stories, served as the catalyst for his career as a professional photographer. In 2010, he made his feature film directorial debut with Mercy. He has since worked with some of Hollywood’s most famous faces including Clint Eastwood, Emily Blunt, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Ruffalo, and Katie Holmes.

In contrast with previous Oliver Peoples lifestyle campaigns, Hoelck utilized a minimalist approach to highlight and emphasize the true beauty in each piece of eyewear within the collection. The still photographs are studio shots, while the short film is set on an empty sound stage. The choice to pair actors Ray Liotta and Bar Paly was deliberate. Oliver Peoples prides itself on bringing together two distinct individuals to create an interesting combination that dynamically reflects elements of the Hollywood brand’s DNA and visual identity. Liotta’s masculinity contrasted with Paly’s irresistible appeal, work to create an enticing cat-and-mouse effect. Johnny Wujek, who can be credited with Katy Perry’s unique style and seen on next season’s America’s Next Top Model, brought a sophisticated, high fashion element to the shoot.

Hoelck says, “Working with Oliver Peoples was one of the most refreshing creative collaborations I have ever had. The concept unfolds as a classic tale of a man's interest in the opposite sex. Mystery and lure define the 25th anniversary of Oliver Peoples. It is a moment where time stops and the power of elegance and curiosity, drives a man to follow.”

Along with a unique selection of both men’s and women’s sun and optical frames, the collection will feature two commemorative styles that pay homage to the company’s 25 successful years in business. The celebratory styles were originally conceived in 1989, just 2 years after the original Oliver Peoples collection debuted. With the anniversary approaching, Larry Leight, Oliver Peoples Founder and Creative Director, was reflecting on the company’s history and the evolution of the iconic designs that define the brand’s heritage. After hours of combing his personal archive of frames, catalogs, and design notes, he came across a sketch dated 1989 and instantly knew the serendipitous find was perfect to represent 25 years in the making. The special edition celebratory frames, XXV-RX and XXV-S, feature strong plastic frame fronts fused with intricately filigreed metal details.

The Anniversary campaign photographs and the special edition 25th anniversary frames will launch in October 2012 and will be offered at Oliver Peoples retail boutiques and select stores worldwide. The accompanying short film will debut in Spring 2013.

As part of our 25-year Anniversary celebration, we are pleased to introduce a new institutional image developed to honor the original ‘Working Opticians’ campaign.  Created by Jon Manheim, son of our music director and Malibu Boutique Manager Rudy Manheim, the ‘1987’ graphic revisits the original concept of ‘working by hand.’

Says Jon: “Oliver Peoples is a company that is dedicated to the craftsmanship and artistry of eyewear. This is evident not only in the high-quality of product but in the people who work to make this company what it is. 25 years ago this concept was brilliantly illustrated in the campaign that launched the company, Working Opticians.  To celebrate the silver anniversary of Oliver Peoples we wanted to return to this campaign and re-imagine it for 2012. We stripped everything down to focus on the craft of making great eyewear. Everything starts with a human hand, from the designers who draw the glasses to the people who assemble them. Blueprints are drawn up; parts are assembled and then reassembled. And at the end of every day since 1987, a beautiful product is made.”

The numbers of the ‘1987’ graphic are each comprised of collaged Oliver Peoples and eyewear-related hand-drawn images.  Among these include the original Sunset boutique, various instruments and tools used in designing and fitting frames, iconic styles and more.    We are pleased with the eclectic and appropriate result of this initiative that plays homage to our foundation of Working Opticians.