Double Dita: Dita von Teese Launches Eyewear with L.A. Label Dita

Dita von Teese Eyewear

Dita von Teese Eyewear

Michigan-born, Orange County-raised burlesque beauty Dita Von Teese is expanding her eponymous label from vintage-inspired dresses and boudoir necessities such as lingerie and fragrance to include a line of luxe eyewear with Los Angeles-based Dita, Inc. The sunglass range, which will be available in department stores worldwide, will range from retro cat eye styles, which are in keeping with von Teese’s brand of neo-burlesque signatures, as well as more modern styles with cut-out metal and acetate frames.

“I don’t employ stylists; I’ve always been self-made and self-taught, so it makes sense for me to use my styling talent in a different way than just in creating my shows, photos and on the red carpet,”  Von Teese told WWD. “Although I love frames with retro flair, I don’t like to wear authentic vintage glasses because the proportion is rarely correct for a present-day face; they are usually too small, and end up looking grandmotherly.”

Dita von Teese Eyewear

Dita von Teese Eyewear

Dita Von Teese and Dita co-founder John Juniper have been friends for over two decades and the burlesque dancer has worked with the brand since its inception. Von Teese modeled the label’s very first prototypes and has appeared in Dita’s ad campaigns as recently as last season. Juniper even admits to taking inspiration from Von Teese’s stage name (she was born Heather Renée Sweet and chose the name as a tribute to silent film star Dita Parlo) when he named the company with co-founder Jeff Solorio. And while she’s worked closely with Juniper and Solorio, the Dita Von Teese eyewear collection marks Von Teese’s very first foray into the eyewear world, though she’s played muse to designers such as John Paul Gaultier and a regular fixture during Paris Fashion Week.

“She evokes the American sensibility of a time lost,” said Solorio. “When people paid close attention to the details that became synonymous with accessories such as eyewear.”

Fans of Dita eyewear know that the label for retro influence but with a thoroughly modern mindset — the frames use the latest technology such as titanium and acetate — which has captured the creative minds of fashion designers such as menswear maestro Thom Browne (Dita manufactures Thom Browne’s eyewear line) as well as celebrities, who come to the brand for understated, ultra-luxe designs that keep them looking great in the California sun.

“The way to capture the elegance and spirit of vintage style is to understand that it must be done with a contemporary twist to make it current and sexy. This is what this collection is about: sexy, wearable eyewear that conveys high-glamour and elegance,” adds von Teese. “It certainly isn’t a line of disposable fashion glasses. They’re made to last.”

Shop our favorite Dita von Teese pieces:

Images courtesy WWD

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Author:Christopher Luu for Fashion Trends Daily

Christopher Luu is a Fashion Trends Daily Senior Writer and Menswear Editor.