Oliver Peoples is an American luxury eyewear brand established in 1986, and owned by Luxottica.[1] The brand is sold in Oliver Peoples boutiques, online, and in fashion boutiques and department stores throughout the world. Oliver Peoples eyewear is designed in Los Angeles, Italy, and Japan.[2]

Oliver Peoples
Company typeSubsidiary of Luxottica Group S.p.a.
Founded1986
Headquarters,
United States
Number of locations
42 retail stores
Key people
Rocco Basilico (CEO)
ProductsEyewear and Sunglasses
Websiteoliverpeoples.com

History edit

Oliver Peoples was founded by Kenny Schwartz, Larry Leight and his brother Dennis Leight in 1986.[3] Before they launched the company, Schwartz and Larry Leight worked as opticians. They would draw glasses on the celebrities in Vogue magazine.[4] In 1984, Leight designed a frame, later named "Identity,"[5] that was fabricated for pop artist Andy Warhol.[6] Warhol wore the glasses for an editorial spread published in the German magazine Männer Vogue in 1987.[7]

In 1986, while Schwartz and the Leight brothers were searching for eyewear brands to stock their new boutique in West Hollywood, California,[8] they purchased a bulk lot of American brand name frames in their original packaging for $5,000 at an auction in Connecticut.[9] While going through the inventory, a receipt was found naming the frames' original owner, Oliver Peoples. The brothers named the company after him.[3]

In 2006, Oakley acquired Oliver Peoples for $46.7 million.[10] In 2007, Oakley was purchased by eyewear giant Luxottica.[11] In 2016, Rocco Basilico became the CEO of Oliver Peoples. After his first year at the helm, Basilico earned himself a place on the famed Forbes' '30 Under 30' list.[12] To date, Basilico has helped increase Oliver Peoples' retail footprint from 14 to 42 global stores.[13]

In film and television edit

1991, Oliver Peoples is mentioned in Bret Easton Ellis' novel, American Psycho. The film adaptation, released in 2000, features Christian Bale in the iconic Oliver Peoples 'O'Malley' frames.[14] The same year, Julia Roberts wears 'M-4 Sun' frames in Dying Young.[citation needed]

1993, Whoopi Goldberg wears MP-2 in Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit. Also in 1993, Laura Dern wore Oliver Peoples glasses in Jurassic Park.[15]

1994, Anthony Edwards wears Oliver Peoples (full rim frames, later rimless) throughout his entire tenure on ER.[citation needed]

1997, Bruce Willis wears 'O'Malley Sun' in The Jackal.[16]

1999, Brad Pitt wears Oliver Peoples' styles in Fight Club.[17]

2004, Denzel Washington wears Oliver Peoples in Man on Fire.[18]

2005, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie wear Oliver Peoples in Mr. & Mrs. Smith.[19]

2013, James Spader wears Oliver Peoples in the NBC series The Blacklist.[20]

2022, Kevin Costner wears Oliver Peoples in the television series, Yellowstone.[21]

2022, Theo James and Aubrey Plaza wear Oliver Peoples in the HBO series The White Lotus.[22]

2023, Jeremy Strong as Kendall Roy wears Oliver Peoples in the HBO series Succession.[23]

Collaborations edit

In 1994, Oliver Peoples and Sir Elton John collaborated to create a series of frames with a portion of the proceeds going to the Elton John AIDS Foundation. This marked the first collaboration with the brand.[24]

In 2009, Oliver Peoples collaborated with actress Zooey Deschanel for a signature pair of sunglasses called "Zooey."[25]

In 2012, Oliver Peoples collaborated with the Peck estate to launch the Gregory Peck style inspired by Peck's character in the film, To Kill a Mockingbird.[26]

In 2013, Oliver Peoples collaborated with French women's brand, Isabel Marant.[27]

In 2015, Oliver Peoples collaborated with Rodarte.,[28] Public School.[29] and fragrance brand Byredo.[30]

In 2016, Oliver Peoples collaborated with the luxury fashion label established by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, The Row.[31]

In 2019, Oliver Peoples collaborate with the Grant estate to launch the Cary Grant style inspired by Grant's character in the film, North by Northwest.[32]

In 2020, Oliver Peoples collaborated with premium audio company, Master & Dynamic.[33]

In 2021, Oliver Peoples collaborated with Italian luxury brand, Brunello Cucinelli,[34] and fashion house, Frère.[35]

In 2023, Oliver Peoples collaborated with New York womenswear brand, Khaite.[36]

Boutiques edit

As of 2022, the brand has 42 stores in North America, Europe, and Asia.[13]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Bray, Chad; Paton, Elizabeth (January 16, 2017). "Luxottica, Owner of Ray-Ban, in $49 Billion Merger With Essilor". The New York Times. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  2. ^ Baskin, Kara (May 4, 2017). "Oliver Peoples is the latest eyewear retailer to focus on the Prudential Center". Boston Globe. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  3. ^ a b Immediato, Linda (February 13, 2013). "Tastemaker: Larry Leight Los Angeles Magazine". lamag.com. Los Angeles Magazine. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  4. ^ "Meeting with Larry and Garrett Leight of Mr. Leight". lady-first.me. LadyFirst. August 9, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  5. ^ Morales, Noria (July 8, 2011). "5 Things You Didn't Know About Oliver Peoples". fabsugar.com. Popsugar Fashion. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  6. ^ "How To Become A Master Photographer, According To Albert Watson". vogue.co.uk. British Vogue. May 23, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  7. ^ "A new book celebrates the best of Männer Vogue". vogue.fr (in French). Vogue Paris. May 1, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  8. ^ "Oliver Peoples". sunsetplaza.com. Sunset Plaza. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  9. ^ "Larry Leight". thechicgeek.co.uk. The Chic Geek. September 20, 2010. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  10. ^ White, Ronald (February 9, 2006). "Oakley Buys Luxury Eyewear Maker". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  11. ^ "Oakley To Merge Into Luxottica Group For Us$29.30 Per Share". luxottica.com. Luxottica. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
  12. ^ "2018 30 Under 30: Art & Style". forbes.com. Forbes. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Wells, Jonathan. "Rocco Basilico on creating Ray-Ban Stories and the future of wearables". thegentlemansjournal.com. Gentleman's Journal. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  14. ^ "Patrick Bateman totally nailed 1980s dressing". gq-magazine.co.uk. British GQ. April 21, 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  15. ^ "Jeepers Creepers where'd you get those 'Peoples'?". wcfcourier.com. October 13, 1997. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  16. ^ Rob (June 6, 2019). "Movie Wardrobe: Sunglasses Oliver Peoples of the "Jackal" (Bruce Willis) in The Jackal". SeenOnCeleb.com. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  17. ^ "Oliver Peoples 523 - Brad Pitt - Fight Club | Sunglasses ID - celebrity sunglasses". sunglassesid.com. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  18. ^ "Denzel Washington glasses". lunigal.com. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  19. ^ "Oliver Peoples Nitro - Brad Pitt - Mr. and Mrs. Smith | Sunglasses ID - celebrity sunglasses". sunglassesid.com. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  20. ^ "Oliver Peoples Clifton - James Spader - The Blacklist". WornOnTV. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  21. ^ "John's sunglasses on Yellowstone". WornOnTV. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  22. ^ "How to Pack for Sicily, According to The White Lotus Season 2 Characters". Town & Country. December 12, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  23. ^ Rikhy, Trishna. "Kendall Roy's 13 Best Outfits of All Time, Ranked". esquire.com.
  24. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 6, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  25. ^ Padilla, Max (February 15, 2009). "Oliver Peoples to unveil Zooey Deschanel signature sunglasses". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  26. ^ "Peck's Specs: Oliver Peoples Re-Creates The To Kill a Mockingbird Frames". Harper's BAZAAR. June 3, 2011. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  27. ^ "Shop Isabel Marant x Oliver Peoples Sunnies Now". Harper's BAZAAR. February 21, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  28. ^ Hoffman, Ellen. "You Can Shop These Sunglasses Straight Off The Runway". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  29. ^ "Oliver Peoples Goes to Public School". W Magazine. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  30. ^ "Oliver Peoples and Byredo collaborate on sunglasses and scent". FashionNetwork.com. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  31. ^ "Have Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen created the perfect sunglasses?". Vogue France (in French). April 5, 2016. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  32. ^ Brookins, Laurie (April 1, 2019). "Oliver Peoples Releases Eyewear Inspired by Cary Grant in 'North by Northwest'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  33. ^ Lerma, Martin (November 12, 2020). "High Style Meets Hi-Fi With the Limited-Edition Oliver Peoples x Master & Dynamic Collection". Robb Report. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  34. ^ "Brunello Cucinelli Collaborates With Oliver Peoples to Launch Its First Eyewear Line". Vanity Fair. September 22, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  35. ^ Lei, Angela. "Oliver Peoples Launches Collaboration With FRÈRE In Stunning New Campaign". Forbes. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  36. ^ "Khaite x Oliver Peoples Deliver the Ultimate Cool-Girl Sunnies in New Collab". Hypebae. Retrieved March 16, 2023.