Gothic Realism
An alchemy of creative visions, the latest Cutler and Gross X The Great Frog sunglasses and glasses look to the depths of the Underworld. The Gothic Realism collection translates the dark tales and spine-tingling legends into an optical vocabulary.
Forged in the fires of hell, six frames come to light. The devil-worthy designs combine over a century of craftsmanship, as Sterling Silver and 24K Gold-plated details punctuate the handmade frames.
Music "Heart of Glass" by Blondie and Philip Glass.
Copyright © – Blondie Music, Inc. Composed by - Chris Stein, Debbie Harry, Philip Glass
Anarchic Artistry
The Great Frog’s fabled jewellery is translated into emblems that gild the Cutler and Gross sunglasses and glasses. Taking place in the brand’s subterranean workshop using techniques and tools from centuries ago, The Great Frog Creative Director Reino Lehtonen-Riley whittled the initial designs in wax. The emblems were then cast in polished Sterling Silver and – for the Limited Edition designs – plated in 24K Gold.
This season, the metalwork takes shape as Daggers that slice through the frontals, circular Big Eye rivets, Lucky Diamond pins, and snaking Vipers. The Lock Down Chain core wire is a recurring collaboration motif that threads through each frame.
“Combined with Cutler and Gross’s artistry,
this collection takes the Underworld
into a new realm.”
Reino Lehtonen-Riley, The Great Frog Creative Director
The Collection
Six sunglasses and three opticals are introduced this season. From defiant shapes to monumental profiles, the silhouettes break new ground.
The Prometheus optical and sunglass is carved to a faceted profile with up-swept lugs that reflect licking flames. Blurring the boundary between a round and a square, the Phantom frame draws its name from the shapeshifters of the Underworld. The Titan is handcrafted to an angular silhouette with Sterling Silver Dagger pins.
“There are so many facets to the frames –
they’ve been cut and bevelled to beautifully bounce the light.”
Cutler and Gross Creative Director
The Limited Edition frames take the artistry into a new dimension. Hand cast from Sterling Silver and plated in 24K Gold, Dagger and Viper pins transform the sweeping Diablo sunglass into an unrivalled protagonist. The Medusa sunglass is carved to a maximalist mythological shape and threaded with 24K Gold-plated core wire. Exclusively available in Cutler and Gross stores, the Rapture sunglass is handcrafted with a straight browbar and gilded with polished metalwork.
The Campaign
Punk icon and friend of Cutler and Gross Debbie Harry leads the Gothic Realism campaign. The Blondie frontwoman spearheaded the New Wave movement and cemented her legacy with hits including ‘One Way or Another’ and ‘Heart of Glass’.
New York’s Hotel Chelsea, a living monument of pop culture history, formed the backdrop for the campaign. The legendary location saw Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock, Bob Dylan, Patti Smith and many more slip through the door. The campaign was captured by Magnum lensman Bruce Gilden, whose raw flash-lit shots from the streets of New York have made him one of the most revered street photographers of his generation. His inimitable oeuvre has been exhibited in the Museum of Modern Art in New York and London’s Victoria and Albert Museum.