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.