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BLOGGED: The Poetry of Beauty

Diego Dalla Palma is one of the world’s most renowned image and style expert. Find out the secret behind true beauty in his interview with Silhouette.

People know you as an image consultant, make-up artist, author, artist, entrepreneur and star on Italian television. Who is the real Diego Dalla Palma?
I see myself as a person who excitedly looks forward to what life holds in store – completely detached from all of these roles. On a professional level, I feel a greater bond with writing, because it best corresponds to my curiosity and my quest to find the essence of life.

You have dedicated a large part of your life to the quest for harmony and elegance. What is the secret behind true beauty?
True beauty knows the bright side of life just as as much as it knows the dark side. I believe that painful experiences actually enrich our lives and form us into interesting characters, for it is only through suffering that we can appreciate the poetry of beauty.

What does eyewear tell us about the personality of the wearer?
A woman’s eyewear and shoes tell us whether or not she has style. Eyewear reflects the aesthetic sensitivity of the wearer. For example, I like simple, reduced designs, whilst others prefer patterned rims with plenty of detail. Everyone has their own perception of beauty and the way in which we express our personality.

You have just launched your new book “Diego per te”. Could you briefly tell our readers what it’s about?
“Diego per te” sings the praises of little imperfections; however I prefer to refer to them as special traits that make our personalities unique. Drawing on years of first-hand experience, I describe how to learn to love these character-defining traits as well as how to play them down in such a way as to emphasise our individual charm.

I believe that we should give a flaw much more emphasis, instead of hiding it, so that we can highlight what makes us the unique person that we are. This is a very subjective decision though because there isn’t a valid rule across the board. I see the book as a useful guide that provides several suggestions and solutions to find exactly the look that matches one’s own character traits.

If we are to believe international trend experts, we are living in the accessory age – would you consider this to include eyewear and how many pairs of eyewear do you think we should have?
There’s no formula to determine how many pairs of eyewear someone should own. Sometimes, one particular style can become someone’s trademark. I personally wear a lot of white in the summer, which is why I choose lightweight, palecoloured rims. In winter I like to go for darker styles as well. I think it is fairly easy for men, but women, on the other hand, have a thousand opportunities to use eyewear as a fashion statement. They can play with the contrasts between complementary colours, for example.

BLOGGED: LET IT BE LIGHT: The new age of lightness

Jeroen van Rooijen speaks off the cuff

I have made a resolution: I will lose weight over the coming months. Not so much physically as losing some of the ballast that tends to get carried around through life. Lightness is good. My jackets have been as lightweight and comfortable as my jumpers for a while now, due to my avoidance of padding and lining. I am now also waiting to get an ultra-light Smartphone that won’t make my trouser pockets look quite so big.

I was a little taken aback when I looked at a display recently and was faced with unsophisticated, thick and heavy glasses – in true Woody Allen style. And I asked myself, do these really hip (alas), thick-rimmed glasses truly belong to the spirit of our times, in which we are striving to reduce excess weight and ballast? When you take a close look at what designers are doing, lightness is the order of the day. (The Age of Lightness).

All of Audi’s models in their new generation of cars are almost 100 kilos lighter than their predecessors, despite the additional burden of increased customer expectations of comfort and compliance with safety regulations. Although aluminium is almost a classic lightweight construction material…
… new, super-light composite materials and synthetics are receiving increased attention. Carbon fibres are the promise of great things.

That is all very well, but what I really want in a car is one – like our former 2CV – that is so light that I, together with three chums, can simply pick it up and put it somewhere else. Cycling is a sport that has been obsessed with lightweight construction for a long time. This is a sport where every gram makes a difference because a cyclist is the power behind a bike, not an engine. The most radical bike on the market in this respect has to be the Japanese Zerobike, which was designed way back in 1988.

The fashion industry has also recently made spectacular progress where lightness is concerned, with the introduction of new fibres and weaving techniques. If you look at the new summer collection for 2012, you will notice a move in this direction – new materials that are as light as nylon and feel as nice as cashmere, whilst looking beautiful too.

Lightweight construction already has one interior design icon: the Bionic Bone Chair by Joris Laarman. It is based on the principles of bone growth, allowing a minimum weight of material to cope with a maximum load. The paper chair by Tokujin Yoshioka is also quite a masterpiece. So too is the radical Gaudi chair, with a nice-looking lightweight construction and weighing in at just a kilo. The same also goes for the lightweight aluminium profile table with thin layers of wood that is designed by Basel-based Alinea. Another example is Allumettes, the spectacular-looking filigree-construction furniture system from Atelier Oï. An Air Vase, which, as its name suggests is virtually nothing but air, is placed on this table.

1951 saw the arrival of Wire Chairs by Eames, which are still being produced today and which Alfredo Häberli honoured as a classic icon with his wire chair, “Nais”. The only chair that gets even more radical is the Web Chair by Jun Hashimoto.

Classical watches are also becoming flatter again. The new Swatch Touch is lightweight, ultra tech and looks really cool, too. This is the first time that Swatch has made a digital watch, and it’s going down well. In the meantime, Rado has made the thinnest ceramic watch of all time.

And now, moving on to glasses. Up until quite recently, it was ultra-chic for very beautiful women, like our former beauty queens, to wear those thick, oversized librarian-style glasses. But now times are changing. Glasses are becoming lighter – which isn’t all that surprising given that they couldn’t get any heavier! And this is good news, because what is the use of my car being eighty kilos lighter than my last one, if I cancel it out with a thick-rimmed, heavy pair of glasses? We need a new ideal form of lightness in this respect.

The big magazines are giving the lightness issue more clout again. Recently, the NZZ on Sunday timidly set off on a new tack. Half-heartedly, we are bidding farewell to the mad-men-retro-feeling and heading towards a new ideal of technological sophistication. All the hipsters are going around with these wide horn-rimmed glasses, because their lives are so weighed down, whilst decision makers in business and politics are sporting rimless ultra-light eyewear, which they wear, of course, to alleviate the administrative burden.

And you will probably notice that these nice and light glasses from which we have recently weaned ourselves away are perhaps not such a bad match for our current times after all – an age in which transparency appears to be one of the greatest possible blessings. It is time to take a crystal clear look at things.

BLOGGED: Underline ones own identity

The Spanish star designer Juanjo Oliva, who enjoys regular success at the Madrid Fashion Week, speaks to Silhouette about harmony, aesthetics and personality.

Silhouette: How would you describe the style of your acclaimed fashion designs?
I am following my personal guidelines which are consistent and steady, but I am always adding something new, rather unexpected to every new collection. I change the details but the core of my work – the character – remains. I think that it is also part of my success that I can adapt my creations to different kind of women. I just love the fact that there is one moment in every woman’s life where she can wear one of my dresses.

Silhouette: What inspires you?
I think the biggest inspiration is my life itself. It is the music I hear, the food I eat, my travels, my friends etc. The mood I am in actually really is important when I am starting to design a new collection.

Silhouette: What do your fashion and the Silhouette design have in common?
What measures is the design and the fact that Silhouette eyewear is handmade with love for details and tradition. This process is similar to my work. Silhouette is a family business and the products are made with a lot of precision and accuracy.

Silhouette: What is the most outstanding feature of Silhouette eyewear?
They are very light and easy to wear. It is an accessory that is very practical and at the same time feels like a part of you. I love this and the fact that these glasses are rimless.

Silhouette: Can you give us a little foretaste and preview of the forthcoming trends in fashion?
I am not very interested in trends but in having a real identity for my brand. When you are creative it is particularly necessary to know who you really are. The consumers want to know why they are wearing your brand and your fashion. It seems to me that people nowadays are less interested in fashion, because they are submerged. I try to support the people by having a clear message.

BLOGGED: 1 + 1 = An unbounded orchestra

If anyone wants to know how to found and successfully lead an orchestra, one would only need to listen to the excitement in the words of the two Estonians Anu (conductor) and Kadri (manager) Tali. With the Nordic Symphonic Orchestra, they realized the vision of their own orchestra about 15 years ago, and – according to the two musicians – they “looked beyond the horizons”.

How would you describe the special characteristics of the Nordic Symphonic Orchestra?
In particular, the excitement and the internationality. We invite people for whom music is just as important and essential as it is for us. A musician has to feel music because he loves it and can transfer this feeling to an orchestra and bring it closer to the audience. We’ve been told that our orchestra has the energy of a rock band – and we are proud of that.

You call your orchestra a “luxury orchestra”? How did you get this name?
We can’t meet every day, but only three times a year to record concerts or to go on tour together – we see that as a luxury. And from Tallinn, we “conquer” the world. Every minute that we spend together and make music is a luxury for us. Every single musician does his/her best, a lot of emotion and energy is released and infects the public.

You love looking beyond the horizon. How can we imagine this – not just metaphorically?
Our greatest love is for children. We don’t just invite children to our concerts, we also give them the chance to get involved in the orchestra and play with the adults. These are irreplaceable moments for the children. Such as, for example, a ten year-old boy who proudly joined us in playing the Rhapsody on a theme by Paganini from Rachmaninoff on his clarinet. We still don’t know what he was playing, but he was very enthusiastic and happy.
And looking beyond the horizon also means playing different composers, adapting our program to the host countries – and above all being international. We know no boundaries!

Which role does your eyewear play and what do you expect of it?
Anu: In my work as a conductor, eye contact is the most important element. I can’t use anything that will limit my vision or will fly around my ears. My rimless eyewear doesn’t limit me and sits perfectly. Of course I enjoy getting so many compliments.

Kadri: When I wear my Silhouette I have the feeling that I’m seen as a whole person, I’m not wearing a mask – I find that so wonderful that I already have three different models.

BLOGGED: A strong personality

Jeannine Morris, journalists and blogger, knows what the (eyewear) trends for the coming season are.

If you had to describe BeautySweetSpot.com in less than 15 words, how would you do it?
A savvy beauty blog that entices every girls’ guilty pleasures… way beyond the blush brush. Most of my content is taken from interviews I do with celebrity makeup artists, hair stylists, dermatologists, stylists, trainers and the list goes on… I get the scoop straight form the source and report.

What would you recommend to your readers when choosing eyewear?
Make sure that the shape and angles of the eyewear compliments the shape of your face and pay attention to the colour choice. It should compliment your skin tone and hair colour. Rimless eyewear is a great option as it allows people to see you (and your eye makeup) without being distracted by your frames.

Why did you choose the model you are wearing know?
I liked that they had a hint of colour on the sides that added to my personality. I love how they’re so customisable!

What do you think are the benefits for the look of the face and the whole appearance when wearing Silhouettes?
When you wear Silhouettes, people aren’t distracted by the frames and can concentrate on making eye contact.

Can you give us a little foretaste and preview of the forthcoming trends in beauty and fashion?
I just finished covering New York Fashion Week for Spring/Summer 2012 and found that the red lip is going to continue to be in style as well as bold brows. Nail art is still going to be a huge hit and will continue to surprise us as well.

BLOGGED: Rimless and happy

Allsion Kewley from Albany, New York, talks about her new attitude torwards life following her style consultation by Silhouette.

Allison, you graduated from the Albany College of Pharmacy in  May 2010 and are now working as a full-time pharmacist. In what way has this career progress changed your life?
My life has changed on many different levels. I have recently bought my own house, which is a stroke of luck at the age of 23. As I signed the contract, the self-confidence that I got from my new Silhouette made me look so competent that nobody suspected that I was so young.

Why did you decide on a Silhouette at this very point in time?
I looked so childish with my old glasses, which isn’t good for a professional career. I wanted to change my look, appearing credible and self-confident. And I was greatly impressed as soon as I tried them on – they are so light!

…and why Silhouette Zenlight in particular?
My Silhouette Zenlight is very light and so feminine. I like its subtle, white notes that give it a special, unique character, adding emphasis to my facial traits.

BLOGGED: Silhouette in Detail | Part 2

A peek backstage reveals how much handcraftsmanship, precision and high-tech goes into a Silhouette

5000 Kilos of ultra-light patented synthetic material, SPX, is incorporated into rimless eyewear by Silhouette every year. That’s enough to fill 45 bathtubs. The colorless SPX granules are the raw material for manufacturing the synthetic temples. Mixing equipment is used to carefully combine these with exclusive color pigments. Depending on the style of eyewear, the temples are produced by either fully automated or manual spray casting. The innovative sandwich injection molding technology allows synthetic materials of differing hardness to bond together: in this way, the hard SPX of the core that gives the temple its required strength can be coated with softer synthetic SPX material, which, on the other hand, renders the temple soft to the touch and supple. Nose pads are also made from this first-class synthetic compound, guaranteeing maximum wearing comfort.

80 hours – the time needed to polish the eyewear components with sanding granulate and make the surface flawless. Vibrating, rotary polishing machines use sanding particles, such as nutshell granules or special polishing additives,
to remove sharp edges and ensure an even, shiny surface. However, a Silhouette would not be an outstanding designer accessory without a hand polish and a simultaneous inspection of all parts by a trained pair of eyes. Last but not least, various refining processes and decorative touches provide each temple with its own, individual look.

1500 employees the world over are committed to the unique quality of the Silhouettes that they produce, each and every day. When all components of a Silhouette are ready, they are intricately assembled by hand into a perfectly formed design accessory. The tiniest pieces of metal, such as an eyewear’s nose piece, are welded together or soldered by induction. Employees require extreme precision and manual dexterity for this task. When it comes to assembling the synthetic temples, employees need utmost precision to apply the glue, which has been specially developed for Silhouette’s requirements. This is the key to turning the passionately produced components into a masterpiece.