Grounded in a five-decade-deep design archive, our collections seek to reimagine and recalibrate iconic Cutler and Gross glasses and sunglasses for the faces and lifestyles of a modern audience.
Each season, the Creative Review series spotlights two frames from the latest collection. The journal entry is written in conversation with our Creative Director, who shares his thoughts and inspirations behind the design.
The first instalment examined the 9126 frame. Here, in the second instalment, we explore the 1407.
Magnifying The Cat-Eye
Gravitating towards the 1980s, our Creative Director was intrigued by a particular cat-eye frame nestled in the archive. It had a bold, unapologetic profile, complete with exaggerated lenses and a chunky browline. Michelle Pfeiffer’s iconic sunglasses in the 1983 blockbuster ‘Scarface’ were also pinned on the mood board.
He sought to retain the three-dimensionality of these frames while evolving them from a contemporary viewpoint. Defined by extreme proportions, the resulting design amplifies the cat-eye beyond convention.
A Concentric Concept
Our Creative Director was intrigued by the challenge of concealing shapes within shapes, a theme that’s carried across to the 9126 sunglasses and glasses.
He sketched a rectangular outline and juxtaposed it with triangular lenses. This subtle decision augmented the frame’s impact and complexity, and encapsulated the duality of Cutler and Gross: a brand rooted in fusing the classic and contemporary.
Sculpting The Silhouette
The 1407 Cutler and Gross sunglasses and glasses are shaped with a high stepped browline that plunges to a straightened base. A flattened nose bridge creates a compellingly sculptural effect.
The frontal is bevelled, tilting the edges and bouncing the light. This is particularly evident with the 1407 sunglass in Black on Pink, which is crafted to a split-layer design. Like neon streetlights cutting through the darkness, crystal Pink edges illuminate the pigmented acetate.
Enter The After Party
The 1407 frame sits within our latest collection of sunglasses and opticals. Inspired by after parties in the 80s, the collection transposes the club scenes and dusky streetscapes into a palette of contrasting hues.
From oversized sunglasses to round glasses frames for men and women, use our Frame Finder and Virtual Try-On Glasses tool to choose your style.
Interested in a more bespoke experience? We offer styling consultations at all Cutler and Gross stores. Tailored to your taste and lifestyle, a member of the team will lead you through shapes, colours and lenses to help you find what suits: book now.
