Standout Shades: Karen Walker

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Karen Walker has been known for cutting-edge designs since 1988. The New Zealand-based designer applies the same imagination and drama to her eyewear as she does her fashion. With frames dressed up in bold tortoise shell, rainbow-bright hues, unconventional and oversized silhouettes – her eyewear wears as works of art.

Spring Favorites:

Atomic: $349.00

Northern Lights: $349.00

Deep Freeze Crazy Tortoise: $329.00

Orbit Clear: $349.00

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ABOUT KAREN WALKER

Karen Walker is best known for collections that are original, unpretentious and always optimistic.

Karen Walker collec­tions are high casual, elevated with a signature love of print and colour. The reoccurring theme is juxta­pos­ition of opposites — masculine and feminine, tailored and street, luxury and non-luxury, dark and super-cute.

The label has been described by the U.K.’s Independent newspaper as being “The kind of look that provides a means of appearing cool but not trying-too-hard, cute but not saccharine, altern­ative but not self consciously so.”

In addition to the main women’s-wear collec­tions there is also Karen Walker Jewellery, Karen Walker Eyewear, Karen Walker Homeware, Karen Walker Paints and a series of collab­or­a­tions including Beau Coops for Karen Walker footwear.

There is also a diffusion line, Hi There from Karen Walker, available exclus­ively in the United States through Anthropologie and in Australia through Myer.

Phaidon have included Karen Walker in their recent book ‘Sample’ which curates the 100 most influ­ential designers to emerge in the last 6 years. Taschen have also included Karen Walker in their book ‘Fashion Now 2’ which highlights the world’s most important 160 designers as selected by i-D magazine.

Karen Walker product is available in over 30 countries, and 200 cities worldwide. The collec­tions can be found in specialty shops, department stores and leading online boutiques. There are also five Karen Walker flagship stores in New Zealand.

Karen Walker is part of the group behind The Department Store in Auckland, New Zealand. The Department Store is a modern take on the tradi­tional department store that includes a Karen Walker boutique alongside the country’s best fashion, beauty, lifestyle and food.

Karen Walker has garnered a fan base of stylish women including Anne Hathaway, Alexa Chung, Florence Welch, Zooey Deschanel and Rihanna.

Karen lives in New Zealand with her husband Mikhail and her daughter Valentina.

Quick Fix: GLAMGLOW

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With a legion of loyal followers and touted as “a facial in a jar,” I was curious to see what all the fuss was about. Designed for behind-the-scenes use in Hollywood’s entertainment, music, fashion & award show industries, GLAMGLOW Mud Mask was created to achieve immediate camera-ready, glowing skin.

GLAMGLOW’s patent pending continuous time-release technology TEAOXI® delivers ‘Super-Squalene’ and ‘EGCG Super-Antioxidants’ directly into the mud, supplying the skin with nutrients and free-radical protection. It also contains volcanic pumice rock, French sea clay and pieces of green tea that miraculously make skin look healthy in just 10 minutes. It activates moisturizing collagen synthesis, a gentle resurfacing exfoliation, and helps to leave skin smoother, brighter, and softer. The French sea clay absorbs impurities without removing natural oils, shrinks pores and tightens the skin creating a more youthful appearance.

When applying the mask, you will feel a gentle tingling effect, which I found to be very refreshing. This magical mud is a dark charcoal grey hue and has tiny grain-like scrubbers that gently exfoliate during application. The mask will harden on the face and turn to a lighter shade of grey. As soon as you remove the mask, the effects are visible.  GLAMGLOW leaves the skin feeling fresh, clean and tight, but not dry. Skin appears healthy and glowing.

Declared a Neiman Marcus Beauty Award Winner for 2012, GLAMGLOW is a wonderful quick-fix for a big night out or when skin is just feeling dull or lifeless.