Bobbi Brown is going beyond makeup and skincare and trying her hand at eyewear.
In a true makeup artist fashion, her collection is divided by skin tone as opposed to shape - each frame is meant to pair with the consumer's complexion. The concept is very beauty focused and will be the centerpiece of her collection when it hits stores in February.
"It's classic with style," Brown said. "When I started the process, I didn't know anything about how to do this. I knew what I wanted and I certainly knew what I didn't want."
Brown, who is the creative officer of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, owned by the Estée Lauder Cos. Inc., signed a deal with Safilo Group for eyewear. The agreement is between Bobbi Brown, the individual, and not her parent company, which, according to Brown will only enrich her brand.
"I have been a very good partner to Estée Lauder for over 18 years, and they believe in me and trust me. I work really well with them," she said. "They know it is really important for me to create outside of makeup and they gave me the permission to do this with the understanding that it will not affect, only enhance the quality of the Bobbi makeup and the awareness. I understand they want to make sure it's the same quality and the same strategy as the Bobbi makeup."
According to Brown the partnership with Safilo was a "natural fit," mainly in part because they chose a "beauty and lifestyle expert" with knowledge of face shapes and skin tones rather than a "fashion designer," which "is what the industry does."
Bobbi Brown's collection features 16 styles of optical frames, 13 for women and three that are unisex and range in price from $187 to $220. The sunglass collection features 14 styles, 10 women's, four unisex, and range in price for $139 and $179. Brown plans to debut three optical readers for women and three sunglass readers, two of which are for women and one of which is unisex, and will retail from $68 to $78.
Shapes in the collection include cat-eye and retro, wayfarer and oversize, large and small aviators and oversize rectangular frames. The color palette, which is key to the line, include nude and blush tones that are meant to "brighten the face," neutral colors that "complement the skin tone" for a "bare look," "tonal" colors that "balance" skin tone with a "soft contrast," and "contrasting colors," meant to "strengthen and heighten the face and lips," according to Safilo.
