Fashion star: Gigi Hadid’s new sunglasses collection has something for everyone

Thursday, March 7, 2019

Gigi Hadid’s new sunglasses collection has something for everyone

It’s a rainy day in Manhattan and swarms of paparazzi and selfie-seeking fans have already gotten word that Gigi Hadid is visiting the Luxottica office this morning. The 23-year-old supermodel is here in a neon orange tuxedo to show off her third stint at eyewear designs, and the crowds are desperate for the first peek. With 46 million Instagram followers, numerous magazine covers to her name, and a runway slot at every major fashion show around the world, Gigi Hadid clearly lives a busy life, but that hasn’t stopped her from pursuing her other interests—including working on a third collection with Vogue Eyewear, a partnership that first began in 2017. The latest pieces are a dedication to her life in New York, with styles like ‘High Line’ inspired by Manhattan architecture, and ‘Lafayette’, paying homage to her home address. “There’s something here for every personality,” she explains as she tries on a dramatic cat eye frame in the mirror.

The supermodel’s a pro at this now—she has collaborated with Tommy Hilfiger and Reebok in the past, and has even gone behind the lens to shoot a Versus campaign. Vogue gets the low-down on her latest collection as Hadid tries on each pair.

Rumour has it that you own over 500 pairs of sunglasses. How true is this?

Do you remember your first pair? My first pair were by Barbie; they were pink plastic—I have a picture of me wearing them in the back of a car. I definitely own a lot of sunglasses, and I joke that because I try on clothes all day, when I go shopping I don’t want to try on any more clothes. Glasses is easy for me; that’s probably why I have a lot.

Why did you decide to work on eyewear?

I have a strange emotional connection with sunglasses. They are my shield. They make me feel more confident to go out and face the world even when I don’t want to put makeup on. Everyone needs that confidence sometimes.

What was it like designing a third collection with Vogue Eyewear?

I am taking more chances. I trust myself more. Even though there may be shapes people won’t love, I am not scared. I am excited. I’m confident to try new shapes, textures and colourways without holding back. I feel connected to all the pieces—they are my babies.

Tell us more about your creative background

I love sculpting, painting and drawing. My dad is an architect and my mom is an interior designer, so I was always surrounded by creativity while growing up. They taught me about putting love and focus into something and following your gut and intuition. With Vogue Eyewear, I enjoy the design process—sketching, touching the pieces, trying them on and re-sketching.

You’ve named a style after your sister, Bella Hadid

Yes, and one called ‘Yola’ after my mom, too. When I showed my sister the collection, I told her I would name one after her and she chose her favourite. They are how I see Bella—effortless, powerful, glamorous, beautiful. And [the sunglasses] look good with a great lip on.

To give you a closer peek at Gigi Hadid’s new eyewear collection, we asked her to describe some of the designs, and where she thinks they work best. Scroll ahead for the details.

G-Vision

“These sporty goggles are great for when you need full coverage, like [when you’re] running to the market or the airport. They also have a ski feel. While designing, I really wanted the shield to curve and wrap around the face. Each pair has a different tricolour lens to it too.”

Lafayette

“It’s the cross street I live on right now, so it’s very New York with a lot of style. These glasses are a more refined version of the cat eye we had done previously, so it’s much more of an everyday shape. You can keep these in your bag and throw them on whenever. The colours are pretty neutral too—except for the red lenses.”

Soho

“These have a crafty, costume element to them, with little Swarovski crystals on the sides. They feel like big square vintage glasses that had their lenses cut off to look more 2019.”

23rd street

“Opticals have been really popular for us. I would wear these for dinner in the East Village.”

Zoom in

“This is my ‘if I were a space captain’ pair. They are for people who want to make a statement, so I want them to feel powerful. Zoom has a double meaning here—zoom in terms of speed and being on the run, or zoom like a camera lens to see the world.”