D&g Men Eyewear Collection Fall/Winter 0809

D&G: a brand that is universally recognised as young, innovative, unconventional and continuously evolving in its search for style and quality.

This season, the D&G man’s eyewear collection adds four new models, for sun and optical, distinct in their soft, oversized shapes and elegant details.

The collection is made predominantly of plastic frames in different shapes. Sun Collection: men’s acetate frame, inspired by the 1960s. The rectangular, even front is combined with highmounted, robust arms and slightly wrap-around lenses.

The D&G logo is placed on the arms with three decorative metal accents. This model is made of natural plastic and is paired with lenses that match the frame, offered in shiny black and in light and dark tobacco brown.

Class drop-shape metal model updated with design details. This model is inspired by the timeless aviator glasses. Its uniqueness is created by the use of a thin metal plate on which the rimless lenses are attached, held by four little hooks. The metal frame is particularly shiny and is available in black, silver, brown and gunmetal.

Optical collection: large glasses with a strong visual impact from the striking thickness of the plastic. The rectangularfront recalls the shapes of the 1950s, but the flowing lines give this model a modern, sporty look. Available in shiny black, red on a black base, red and dark tobacco.Plastic model with a rectangular, very even shape; its size and proportions give it an especially gutsy look.

The logo is engraved on a small metal plaque placed on both arms. The frame is available in black or in unusual colour combinations, such as red on a burgundy base mixed with black or tobacco paired with blue, or black with tobacco.

D&G women eyewear collection Fall/Winter 0809

D&G: a brand that is universally recognised as young, innovative, unconventional and continuously evolving in its search for style and quality. This season, the D&G women’s eyewear collection adds four new models, for sun and optical, distinct in their soft, oversized shapes and elegant details. The collection is made predominantly of plastic frames in different shapes.

For The women’ sun collection there are two new shapes: wide, wrap-around frame that recalls the style and taste of the 1970s, in classic black in shiny plastic as well as in burgundy and bottle green with a unique marbled effect. Or wide, rounded plastic glasses with an unmistakable glamour inspired by the stars of Hollywood, the main feature of this model is its rounded shape that gives it a harmonious, flowing quality and the colour palette includes black, tobacco, beige and purple.

Also for the optical the new shapes are two, the first has a plastic oval frame, halfway between the classic rectangle and the 1980s-inspired pilot shape.
The frames are thin around the lenses and this continues along the arms in a linear fashion. This model is available in black, white, red, iridescent tobacco and blond. The second is an oval model clearly inspired by the 1950s.

Featuring a simple line and limited size, this model stands out for its colour play created by pairing different coloured plastics, such as black with streaked ice, brown with horn and transparent crystal with streaked yellow, red and purple.

The eyes have it!

Sunglasses are not for summers only anymore. Yet, it's mostly this season when brands launch their new collections and woo buyers. This summer promises to be no different — only the collections are bigger, better and costlier! Take a look at these latest lines available in the market which may just catch your eye, literally, this season!

Choosing Choo
There is a plethora of high-end brands to choose from. Apart from usual suspects like Fendi, Just Cavalli and Gucci this season, go look at Jimmy Choo as well. Well, Choo has launched its collection of sunglasses for the first time in the country. The shades are available in various shapes, sizes and colours though, of course, the most famous styles that you could opt for may be the oversized 1970s-80s look or Choo's "Rock" model that comes in a square frame, embellished with square Swarovski crystal studs. Price: Rs 18,500 onwards.

Burgundy is cool
Fendi, meanwhile, has brought its Selleria collection available in three colours —black, green and burgundy. The glasses are available in two shapes, small and oversized. The sunglasses come packaged in special Roman leather cases. Price: Rs 16,000 and above. Gucci's summer-spring collection is also available in the meanwhile and the range starts from Rs 15,000. Just Cavalli too has launched its Aviators for men, using tones like burgundy and brown and colder hues like blue. The rims of these glasses are in gold, bronze, black and silver. Price: Rs 8,000 onwards. If you like the retro look, Bvlgari has launched its 1960s collection and old favourite Ray Ban too has launched a limited edition collection of its famous Aviators range. Price: Rs 21,000 onwards.

The sun collection
Dolce&Gabbana's new collection is elegant, and the luxury element is understated with logos hidden inside the arms. On the other hand, there are sparkling decorations that heed to the design. Six unique models for men and women are available. Distributed by Luxottica, available at all leading optical outlets.

Cool shades for summer

Latest sunglasses run from big frames and retro styles to bifocals and eco-friendly ones.

With the summer sun blazing, a new pair of sunglasses would come in handy right now. But here's a tidbit from Sunglass Association of America vice president Melanie Martin: That old pair will continue to work just fine.

Sunglasses don't lose their potency over time, so a pair that guarantees 100 percent UV protection will continue to guard against the sun's harmful rays.

Of course, practicality and fashion passion are different. Sunglasses are increasingly considered the ultimate fashion accessory.

"There's a little bit of mystery behind someone who's wearing a pair of dark glasses," said Marianne Kotzbauer, director of frames management at Sunglass Hut. "You come out of your shell a little bit when you have a pair of fun sunglasses on. It's all about attitude. You put on a pair of aviators, and it's your mood for the day. When you want to glam it up, you put on a big oversize plastic (pair). It depends on the look and lifestyle you're trying to create."

If you want to look cool this summer, try these trends on for size:

Think big
When it comes to sunglasses, everything really is bigger in Texas. Oversize frames are in, although they may look flatter and wrap around your face less than in previous seasons.

"It's the first thing people notice, so the larger, the better," said Tina Ozcelik, buyer at Eye Elegance. "If you see a woman in a convertible going down the freeway, she's not going to be wearing little glasses. She's wearing big plastic. It's more of a glamour look."

Besides making a fashion statement, oversize frames cover a larger portion of the face — a big plus for aging baby boomers. With big sunglasses, Martin said, "I feel like the skin around my eyes is more protected and I'm getting fewer wrinkles. It's a bit of an anti-aging device, and we all like that."

Go retro
Ray-Ban Wayfarers, which first appeared in 1952 but soared in popularity after Tom Cruise wore them 25 years ago in the film Risky Business, are back again. "But they're not your father's sunglasses," Kotzbauer said.

While the classic shape remains, the new Wayfarers come in a variety of candy-colored shades as well as stark white or gray and two-tone styles (black with red at the top, for example, or a purple lens with burgundy arms).

"It's a great unisex look," Kotzbauer said.

Nearly every eyewear designer is offering versions of another '80s relic — aviator specs. The gold rim look from another Cruise movie, Top Gun, remains a classic. Updated styles for men and women feature a double bridge across the top, sterling silver detailing or mirror metallics. Prada showcases a pair of aviators with red metal sides, while the Cartier Santos Dumont aviator is made of platinum and wood.

Gradient lenses, which are darker at the top and lighter at the bottom, also enhance the new look of aviators and Wayfarers. "The gradient lens softens the overall appearance, and it's very sexy," Kotzbauer said.

Note, however: The gradient lens is primarily a fashion look. While many people believe a darker lens protects their eyes, Martin says the tint has no effect on UV protection.

Stealth wealth
Texans love flashing designer names on the arms of their sunglasses. "They want everybody to know they're wearing Prada, or Dolce & Gabbana, or Versace," Kotzbauer said.

Even so, many of the new styles are toned down from previous seasons. Embellishment is more understated, and logos are often incorporated in creative ways. A pair of Versace sunglasses highlights that label's trademark Medusa figure rather than the brand name, while the Chanel logo is studded in small crystals.

"Embellishment is still there, but it's not as much over-the-top bling, bling," Martin said. "It's a little more tastefully done."

Eco-trends
Concern for the environment is showing up in earth-tone shades like olive greens and subtle browns as well as lush, eye-popping "rainforest" colors of deep green and plum. Faux wood, bamboo, tortoise shell plastic and animal prints also reflect the natural look. But Martin said it's a little soon to find sunglasses made of recycled plastic and other eco-friendly materials. Expect such products in the next few years.

Add a reader
Maui Jim recently introduced sunglasses with built-in bifocals. The line, called Maui Readers, allows its wearers (are you reading, baby boomers?) to read or text at the beach or pool without having to carry another pair of reading glasses. What a relief!

Luxottica's Sunglass Hut Further Expands Its Global Footprint by Strengthening Presence in Southeast Asia

Luxottica Group S.p.A. NYSE: LUX, a global leader in the design, manufacturing and distribution of premium fashion and luxury eyewear, today announced that Sunglass Hut, the Group's main sun retail brand, has further expanded its global footprint by entering Thailand, a key Southeast Asian growth market.

The Group has signed a franchising agreement with the privately-held Diethelm Keller Limited that will initially add 15 stores to Sunglass Hut's global network in a new market for the brand. Sunglass Hut's growing presence throughout the Asia-Pacific region currently comprises 220 stores in markets that include Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Chris Beer, chief executive officer of Luxottica Group's retail business in Australasia, Southeast Asia and South Africa, commented: "Sunglass Hut is today the leading sun retail brand in the industry and the only truly global player. The entry into Thailand strengthens our presence in Southeast Asia, a high-potential growth region for the sun retail business. It is also an example of the significant additional opportunities for additional growth that the Group sees for Sunglass Hut both in the region and globally.

"Specifically," concluded Mr. Beer, "this transaction represents an important step in the development of the Sunglass Hut brand in Asia-Pacific, allowing us to leverage its global attributes while partnering with local expertise to maximize growth opportunities also in new markets."

Sunglass Hut is the world's single largest [premium/specialty] sun retail brand, with 1,970 stores as of March 31, 2008, mainly in North America, Asia- Pacific, UK, South Africa, the Middle East and now Southeast Asia.

Terms of the transaction announced today were not disclosed.

Luxottica Group S.p.A.

Luxottica Group is a global leader in eyewear, with over 6,200 optical and sun retail stores in North America, Asia-Pacific, China, South Africa and Europe and a strong brand portfolio that includes our key house brand, Ray- Ban, the best selling sun and prescription eyewear brand in the world, as well as, among others, license brands Bvlgari, Burberry, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Donna Karan, Polo Ralph Lauren, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo, Tiffany and Versace, and other key house brands Oakley, Oliver Peoples, Vogue, Persol, Arnette and REVO.

In addition to a global wholesale network that touches over 130 countries, the Group manages leading retail brands such as LensCrafters, Pearle Vision and Sunglass Icon in North America, OPSM and Laubman & Pank in Asia-Pacific, and Sunglass Hut globally. The Group's products are designed and manufactured in six Italy-based high-quality manufacturing plants, in the only two China-based plants wholly-owned by a premium eyewear manufacturer, and in manufacturing facilities in the United States acquired as part of the Oakley acquisition. For fiscal year 2007, Luxottica Group NYSE: LUX posted consolidated net sales of �5 billion. Additional information on the Group is available at www.luxottica.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those which are anticipated. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the ability to successfully integrate Oakley's operations, the ability to realize expected synergies from the merger with Oakley, the ability to successfully introduce and market new products, the ability to maintain an efficient distribution network, the ability to predict future economic conditions and changes in consumer preferences, the ability to achieve and manage growth, the ability to negotiate and maintain favorable license arrangements, the availability of correction alternatives to prescription eyeglasses, fluctuations in exchange rates, the ability to effectively integrate other recently acquired businesses, as well as other political, economic and technological factors and other risks and uncertainties described in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward- looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and we do not assume any obligation to update them.