Ana Hickmann

Ana Hickmann Eyewear is the most internationally established part of the brand, sold in over 55 countries across Europe, Asia and the Americas, which speaks to its reach and acceptance. The frames are positioned as everyday designer eyewear that pairs style with comfort. As with any glasses, the real test is fit on your face and your prescription, so trying frames at an authorised optician is the surest way to judge value.

AH, short for Ana Hickmann, is a broad lifestyle brand launched in 2002 that reportedly generates around R$400 million a year, so it is well established rather than a small label. It spans clothing, perfumes, bags, jewellery, watches, shoes, eyeglasses, sunglasses and cosmetics. That breadth means quality and value vary by category, so it helps to judge each line, eyewear, cosmetics, accessories, on its own terms.

Ana Lúcia Hickmann (born 1 March 1981) is a Brazilian television presenter, businesswoman and former model. As a model she worked for Victoria's Secret, Nivea, L'Oréal, Wella, Clairol and Bloomingdale's, and appeared on the covers of Brazilian Vogue, Marie Claire and Elle. She currently co-hosts a daytime TV show in Brazil and owns her own clothing, jewellery, cosmetics and accessories brand.

The brand is a full lifestyle range. Under the AH name, Hickmann distributes clothing, perfumes, bags, jewellery, watches, shoes, eyeglasses, sunglasses and cosmetics, and she also manages a photography studio and a DJ agency. Eyewear and cosmetics are among the standout categories, with her nail polish line alone selling more than 6 million units in Brazil in 2014.

Ana Hickmann Eyewear is sold in over 55 countries across Europe, Asia and the American continent, making it the brand's most globally distributed line. For prescription frames and sunglasses, an authorised optician or retailer is the best place to buy, since you can confirm fit and lens options. That wide footprint also makes the eyewear easier to find than some of the brand's other categories.

The AH brand was launched in 2002, while Hickmann was still an active model. In 2013 she opened her first physical clothing store, the Ana Hickmann Outlet, marking the brand's move from product lines into bricks-and-mortar retail. The brand has grown steadily from there into the wide lifestyle range it is today.

Hickmann walked the runway for designers including Giorgio Armani, Roberto Cavalli, Kenzo, Emanuel Ungaro, Yves Saint Laurent and Yohji Yamamoto, and in 2002 she walked the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. She is also famous for her 120 cm legs and was once listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the model with the longest legs. GQ Italia named her one of the most beautiful women in the world in 2001.

Yes. Ana Hickmann is a Brazilian personality and her brand is rooted there, with her first physical store, the Ana Hickmann Outlet, opening in Brazil in 2013. The brand grew out of her profile as one of Brazil's best-known models and television presenters. Its eyewear line, however, has expanded well beyond Brazil to more than 55 countries.

If you are new to the brand, the eyewear is the natural starting point, since it is the most internationally distributed line and easy to try at an optician. Her cosmetics are also a strong entry, given how widely her nail polish sold in Brazil. From there, the wider AH range, bags, watches, jewellery, lets you build out a look.

Eyewear is an everyday essential rather than a seasonal buy, so the best time is usually when your prescription is current or your existing frames are due for renewal. Focus on fit, comfort and lens quality rather than timing a particular date. Trying frames in person at an authorised retailer remains the most reliable way to get a pair you will actually reach for daily.