PARIS--Frame and sunwear designers from around the world are embracing color.

Very visible at last month?s Silmo exhibition here, color--some of it quite bold--accompanied continued interest in rich, traditional materials like horn-inspired zyls and rich, complex tortoises.

?Barely there? sleek titanium looks and other innovations kept the ?invisible? eyeglass frame trend alive.

But most noteworthy, in both the luxury, designer and upper-moderate market segments was a kaleidoscope of colors.

Among the color trends:

• Greens, from seafoam to rich bottle greens, solo or in tandem with contrast colors, they were evident in plastics and combo treatments.

• Floral colors, from vibrant reds and oranges to misty blues and lavender, colors are clean and strong, either opaque or clear.

• Color with reflection--frosted effects, flashed effects, pearlized effects added interest or toned down sharp colors.

Also noteworthy was the BIG trend, where size definitely mattered not only in 1970s-inpsired sunglasses--from giant aviators,  rounds and rectangles--but also in new approaches to ophthalmics

Temple treatments were bold, in contrast colors to frame fronts but also with unusual stamping for logo or patterned effects.  --Marge Axelrad

Open and jeweled temple treatments as illustrated by Bluemarine by Visibilia	Logos as temple motifs, an example from Fendi by Marchon
Flashes of color and jewelry details, inside and out, from Chrome Hearts by OSA	Lens tints of all hues were prevalent throughout Silmo
New Philipe Starck colors used sports as a color influence	Asian themes and tones from Lafont
Structured color from Face a Face	Color in unique places from Paolo Seminara by Italian Style
Graphic Silmo poster