Starck Eyes PO617

THE ASKMEN TAKE

This item appears in our Fall Fashion Preview 2009.

Your eyeglasses say a lot about you. A pair of Starck Eyes PO617 says the wearer is confident and intellectual. It also says that you know great modern design and you appreciate how technology can improve your day-to-day life. This particular pair of specs features more modern amenities than your average Mercedes-Benz, and if you’re willing to pay the price, you’ll have some of the best designed glasses out there.

UNIQUENESS

Being the product of the man who many people consider to be the greatest modern designer, even eyeglasses are bound to be compared to Philippe Starck’s other masterpieces. The Starck Eyes PO617 glasses are far more academic than Starck’s other works (South Beach’s Delano Hotel included), and we have to wonder if perhaps he should focus more of his attention on personal accessories. What makes these glasses so impressive from a technical standpoint is that they feature bio-hinge technology, which allows the frames to actually mold to the wearer's face.

DURABILITY

While Starck is known as a modern designer, these glasses are surprisingly timeless in design. They have a certain geek-chic appeal, something that is in no danger of becoming passe. They are also constructed by hand in France of laminated tortoise acetate. What makes this particular acetate exceptional is that there are dozens of hidden colors in it that are only exposed as the frames hit different angles in the light. The PO617s are literally an ever-changing pair of designer frames with a goal of inspiring their wearer to dream and think creatively about his own world.