Persol Magnificent Obsessions- The Intersection of Film, Eyewear, and Iconic Elegance

Obsessive craftsmanship as star

PERSOL MAGNIFICENT OBSESSIONS: 30 Stories of Craftsmanship in Film

Obsession: Costume Design-- Oscar-winning costume designer Milena Canonero, designed hundreds of elaborate costumes for Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette, taking the entire color palette from a box of macarons. Film still above.

Obsession: Costume Design– Oscar-winning costume designer Milena Canonero, designed hundreds of elaborate costumes for Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette, taking the entire color palette from a box of macarons. Film still above.

I attended the fascinating exhibition on Thursday night that celebrated the painstaking and thought-provoking process to dedication that becomes obsession in pursuit of the craft, or in this case, frame by frame.

PERSOL MAGNIFICENT OBSESSIONS: 30 Stories of Craftsmanship in Film took a unique turn to parallel the "harmonious partnership between human and machine" by way of its iconic frames and iconic moments in great cinema.

>> MORE: Eyewear

Persol Eyewear made its first screen appearance in Federico Fellini‘s 1960 film La Dolce Vita- an iconic piece of film history if there ever was one. A pair of Persol glasses is both hi-tech and handmade and involves 30 manual steps to create the perfect frame.

The countless steps from an actor’s immersion in character research to the meticulous detailing of a costume designer – to create cinematic icons were the focus of the Persol exhibition and its honorees, Milena Canonero the costume designer, the writer and director Terry Gilliam, and actor Sir Ben Kingsley for his role in Ghandi.

I attended the New York opening night event with Naveed Hussain and my son, a budding fiilmmaker and dedicated film enthusiast. We came upon Sir Ben Kingsley and when we made eye contact the mom in me said, "My son wants to be a director."

Obsession: Acting-- The exhaustive preparation and dedication to the art of award-winning acting, performances by Sir Ben Kingsley in the film Gandhi is examined through a series of artifacts and a video exhibit.

Obsession: Acting– The exhaustive preparation and dedication to the art of award-winning acting, performances by Sir Ben Kingsley in the film Gandhi is examined through a series of artifacts and a video exhibit.

At that moment, the evening continued its journey into class and elegance when Sir Kingsley looked at my son, and said, "You must become a filmmaker. I didn’t become an actor because I wanted to but because I had to." And then he graciously added, "Please call me if you ever need an actor with a beard like mine." I think he may just ask in about 10 years or so.

 

Persol classics:

 

>> RELATED: Watch my video about How to Select Sunglasses For Your Face Shape

Exhibition obsessions from:

  • Blue Velvet
  • Brazil
  • Gandhi
  • La Dolce Vita
  • Marie Antoinette
  • Taxi Driver
  • The Aviator
  • The Darjeeling Limited
  • The Diving Bell & the Butterfly
  • Vertigo

 

Exhibition:
PERSOL MAGNIFICENT OBSESSIONS: 30 stories of craftsmanship in film
Museum of the Moving Image, NY
June 17–19

Please note: The exhition will travel to Paris (June) and Milan (September).

Photos: Persol

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