Linda Farrow is often credited as the designer who made sunglasses fashion, elevating the accessory's functional SPF status to new style-centric heights back in the early 1970s. Forward-thinking sunglass devotees like Yoko Ono were the first to adopt her styles, and the British-based label still has one of the most marvelous archives in the business. LF just launched its online store, and witnessing the madcap creations under one cyber roof is, quite frankly, kind of breath-taking. Collaborators include Raf Simons, Henry Holland and Walter Van Beirendonck whose wavy pink frames look like they just slid off the nose of Sponge Bob. The now legendary Mikey shades worn by Lady Gaga and Beyonce are also up for grabs, as are other frames by designer Jeremy Scott—his TV specs pictured here are also a riot.
Bernhard Willhelm has styles made in collaboration with Linda Farrow that are as weird as they are wonderful. Complete with nose peek, one pair in particular looks more like a face mask than a pair of shades. Of course there are plenty of classic, wearable styles in the mix too, like Alex Wang's highly anticipated collection for example, and some of the sweetest joints come from Linda Farrow's own luxe range. The point is, you'll be hard-pressed to find pieces as marvellous, or as playful, or as beautifully impractical anywhere else. Every pair of Farrow specs comes gift-wrapped when you purchase from the new web-store, and some of the pieces are so artful, they probably should come with a glass case too.
