Marie Wilkinson of Cutler & Gross

Cutler & Gross "0690" in Grey Pink

See Cutler & Gross designer Marie Wilkinson talk about her passion for the legendary British brand she has worked at for thirty years (!) We love Marie's subtle retro style, she does a great job designing frames for the iconic eyewear company.

Why We Love Being Independent

Our latest Yellows Plus shipment from Fukui, Japan

At MHPE we’re standing alongside some of the world’s most revered luxury independent eyewear stores and avoiding mass produced or licensed eyewear brands currently dominating the market. 

We offer our customers something special by focusing on leading independent eyewear designers who make quality frames and sunglasses with an innovative design edge. However, like great architecture this is never about fads or fashion, rather, eyewear design that will stand the test of time.  

Providing our customers with beautifully designed and engineered frames makes us feel good and that, in a nutshell, is why we are proudly independent!

Sign Painters Screening

If you're in Auckland on September 4 you should try to get down to the Capitol Cinema on Dominion Road to view the NZ premiere of the documentary film, Sign Painters.

Traditional hand-painted signage really is a dying art. As with the majority of skilled trades, it has been taken over by methods promising things faster, cheaper ...and mass-produced (We can't help but feel their plight!) Thankfully, sign painting is enjoying a small re-emergence in the dedicated independent sector where consumers appreciate craftsmanship. The highs and lows of these artisans were documented in 2010 by filmmakers Faythe Levine and Sam Macon.

There are only a few tickets left for the screening so you better get in quick, those going will be treated to some live sign painting! You can get your ticket here.

Glasses of the Week

Looking glam in Guam! One of our favourite High Street clients Anna Sazykina sent us this image from the Pacific with her specially purchased Oliver Goldsmith Sophia's and the message "I have not enough words to describe how right my choice was, thank you." Thanks for the picture Anna, we're glad we could help - and we're not jealous of all that surf and sand, not at all!

Get The Look: Father's Day Special!

If your Dad looks like any of these fine fellows below, then you've lucked out in the gene pool. We've got the perfect way to say thanks this Father's Day - September 1st! - with a pair of sunglasses or opticals from Michael Holmes Premium Eyewear.

Paul Newman, wearing those acetate aviators like a boss.

Oliver Goldsmith "Berwick (1979)" in Black

Bevel "Marty" in Matte Black

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Gary Oldman, doing things his way since forever.

Garrett Leight "Kinney" in Champagne

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Michael Caine, making classic look criminally good.

Claire Goldsmith "Carters" in Black

Cutler&Gross "0772" in Black

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Tom Cruise, breaking hearts - and the sound barrier - while wearing his aviators.

Salt "Lawson" in Raven Black

Graz "R.A.B." in Black

Salt "Vargas" in Gunmetal

Famous Eyewear Chart

We love this! Pop Chart Lab have created a poster devoted to the adventurous stylings of the rich & famous. From Groucho Marx's fake nose-and-stache to MC Hammer's retro-futuristic shades and everyone in between, it really shows the diversity of eyewear and how iconic it can become.

Get The Look: Charlotte Rampling

 

Just look at total babe Charlotte Rampling rocking the round oversized specs look! Lucky for us, this style is still just as popular today as it was back in the 1970s. Here are some frames you can find at Michael Holmes Premium Eyewear to help give you that off-duty movie star feeling.

 Claire Goldsmith "Bailey" in Plum Royale

 Claire Goldsmith "Bailey" in Chocolate on Jade

 Garrett Leight "Hampton" in Sage

Garrett Leight "Brooks" in Java Drift

Claire Goldsmith "Rousseau" in Speckle

Handmade by Oliver Goldsmith (2012)

This little film is well worth a watch!

This short film shows our roots. Made for Oliver Goldsmith, this film perfectly captures the true essence of 'handmade'. It features one of the last British factories and craftsmen here in England where our bespoke frames are mastered. Ben Grimsey -- our head craftsman, is a rare breed! At 33 he is the youngest traditional craftsmen in Britain but he is also one of the best. His commitment and unassuming talent is implausible. Handmaking frames is a dying art and needs to be supported and we are proud to say we do. Enjoy the film and watch the process of one of the most iconic frames -- the Ogle -- being made from scratch by an artist!

Short film and description by Oliver Goldsmith Sunglasses and Claire Goldsmith Eyewear.

Glasses of the Week

We're pretty sure the Graz "DAC" was made just for Sam Boniface, he's rocking the stylish square look. 

We must say this all the time but we do have the best customers.

Blast from the Past

Today we thought we'd spread some Monday inspiration and shine a light on some of the weird and wonderful specs from days gone by. Turns out vintage dudes were pretty cool, some designs were light years ahead of their time! 

Lee Miller by Man Ray, 1929

 Glasses for reading in bed, England, 1936

Vintage sunglasses, 1943

Thelonius Monk, 1947

Reflective sunnies, 1948

Wiper glasses, 1954

Jill Kennington, 1960s

Television glasses, 1963

Ray Hein, 1968

Oliver Goldsmith "Noseguard", 1970

Visor sunglasses, 1980s

Have a great week!

Now Stocking Orgreen!

We are thrilled to welcome a new brand to Michael Holmes Premium Eyewear. Orgreen is a Danish brand of innovative titanium frames, hand crafted in Fukui, Japan (there's that name again - a testament to Orgreen's quality!) Established in 1997 by Henrik Orgreen, Gregers Fastrup and Tobias Wandrup, the design aesthetic is heavily inspired by unique cars, in particular the 1956 Corvette.

Orgreen is known around the world for its distinctive colour combinations, which are developed by their full-time in-house colourist Sahra Lysell. Her playful approach coupled with top craftsmanship means that each frame is fun, modern and extremely sturdy.

This insightful video shows the amount of work and skill involved in making an Orgreen frame.

Orgreen is now in both our Teed Street & High Street stores, drop by to see these beauties in person.

Glasses of the Week: Vintage Beauty

What a vision graphic design teacher Liz McCready is in her new Graz frames! We think Liz made the perfect choice to compliment her unique 1940s aesthetic, thanks so much for sending us these gorgeous pics of you at the zoo this weekend Liz, we love them.

Liz wears Graz J.R.G. in tortoiseshell.