Filed under: EVENTS!
Who doesn’t love a sale? We had people waiting at our door on the first day of our sale! And for good reason. We have select styles of Mykita, Gentle Monster, Francis Klein, Anne et Valentin, Anni Shades, and more on sale for 25%, 50% and 75% off. We will be putting out more inventory throughout the sale all month…so stop by and get a deal!
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Filed under: Shop Local. Shop Lincoln
In order to highlight our fellow independent small business owners on our stretch of Lincoln Ave., we asked our photographer, Dave Rentauskus, to take portraits of our comrades in our spectacular specs….along with a few shots of their shops.
Sarah Sloane, Manager at Pleasure Chest
Sarah is wearing a rockin’ pair of Theo Cinquante+6 in a the most amazing blue-green teal color that really brings out her eyes. Structured cat-eyes are the perfect eye wear choice for women who are tired of boring rectangles, but don’t really feel like themselves in a dramatic cat-eye.
Sarah is the marvelous manager at the Pleasure Chest – a boutique erotic store that opened it’s first store in the West Village, NYC in 1971, the height of the sexual revolution. It set itself apart from the rest of the erotic stores out there with a welcoming and classy atmosphere, it was definitely not your usual seedy “XXX” sex shop with covered windows and creepy sales people. They quickly grew and expanded in gay neighborhoods in Chicago and LA.
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Fun Facts About Sarah:
How long have you been in business? 7 years
Who was your teenage celebrity crush? Sarah Michelle Geller
If you could be any animal, what would it be? Red-Tail Hawk
Are you right or left handed? Right handed
What color are your eyes? Blue
Where did you grow up? Lake Villa, IL
What hood do you live in now? Logan Square
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As the manager, Sarah and her staff help people explore their sexuality and relationships in a healthy way. Their store is welcoming and beautifully decorated – often called the “Saks 5th Ave” of erotic stores, putting even new customers at ease. “They create a powerful experience and trust where individuals can be successful in finding out what works in their lives. All of the staff employed at The Pleasure Chest is trained to be sensitive to the needs of our guests, regardless of sexual orientation or gender.”
Pleasure Chest * 3436 N Lincoln Ave. Chicago IL 60657 * 773-525-7151
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Filed under: Shop Local. Shop Lincoln
In order to highlight our fellow independent small business owners on our stretch of Lincoln Ave., we asked our photographer, Dave Rentauskus, to take portraits of our comrades in our spectacular specs….along with a few shots of their shops.
Jessica Emery, Owner and Dentist at Sugar Fix Dental Loft
Jessica is wearing a fab pair of Anne et Valentin Fanzine frames. The bright yellow metal and marbled grey really pop on her and are both professional and fun – like Jessica!
Jessica is the Dentist extraordinaire at Sugar Fix Dental Loft. She grew up with a Dentist mother and had a curiosity about dentistry that led to enrollment in dental hygiene school. This led her to Tufts University School of Dental Medicine where she graduated and then working alongside her mother in Boston. When Jessica came to Chicago, she fell in LOVE with the city and decided to make her dream come true by opening her own practice – the amazing space that is now Sugar Fix Dental Loft.
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Fun Facts About Jessica:
How long have you been in business? 9 years
Who was your teenage celebrity crush? Jake Ryan
If you could be any animal, what would it be? Chameleon, so I can so up the sun on the beach
Are you right or left handed? Right handed
What color are your eyes? Hazel
Where did you grow up? Sutton, MA
What hood do you live in now? Evanston
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What sets Jessica’s practice apart from other dental offices is her true passion for smiles and her dedication to her patients. As a mother of three, she cares for her patients like members of her own family. She treats only one patient at a time which allows her to focus fully on care an comfort of each client that walks through her door.
Sugar Fix Dental Loft * 3346 N Paulina St. Chicago Il 60657 * 773-883-1818
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Filed under: Anne et Valentin, EVENTS!, Mykita, Non-Profit of the Month, SpexWax, Theo
You may not know this but the Queen of Specs, Alissa, is a woman and a small business owner!!! Gasp! And all of the lovely folks workin’ at Eye Spy Optical these day are also women! So you might not be surprised to find out that Alissa is totally into supporting women’s businesses and issues. Each month we donate a portion of sales at one of our events to a local non-profit organization. This month we are excited to be working with Women Employed.
Women Employed is a fantastic organization and was founded in 1973 with the mission to “improve the economic status of women and remove barriers to economic equity.” They are focused on addressing issues that impact women in low paying jobs like paid sick-leave, fairness in the workplace, stable schedules, living wages etc.
This is a group of hard-working people who are dedicated to helping women succeed in life and removing major barriers that can get in the way of that.
Some of the awesome accomplishments that Women Employed have achieved in the last 5 years:
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As the leading advocate for state-funded tuition assistance in Illinois, WE prevents deep cuts to those investments in the face of the state’s fiscal crisis.
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WE leads a growing campaign to raise the minimum wage in Illinois and collaborates with national groups to win an increase at the federal level.
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WE wins commitments from state leaders to implement “bridge programs” that help low-skilled adults advance to college-level courses in their chosen career fields.
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WE works with community colleges across Illinois to improve support services that help students stay in school and graduate.
Help us support Women Employed’s mission to assure that “All women are treated fairly in the workplace, are able to attain the skills they need for the jobs they want, and are respected for the work they do.”
We will be donating a portion of our sales at our trunk shows this month, so stop in and check out our fabulous glasses and help suport a great Chicago oranization!
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Filed under: Anne et Valentin, EVENTS!, Mykita, SpexWax, Theo
Y’all it’s that magical time of year again! Trunk Show month at Eye Spy! It’s every Saturday all month long! We’ve got all of our favorite lines scheduled to make an appearance! Check out the line up below!
Anne et Valentin on November 7th
Anne et Valentin single handedly manages to give you just the right amount of color and grace in each of their lovely frames! And while their creations are original, colorful and lively, they are, above all, objects that combine ergonomics, technical requirements, and respect for those who wear them.
Spex Wax on November 14th
Spex Wax is the ultimate upcycle: art for your face! Rescuing unplayable records, recrafting them with love and artistry that is the very core of Spex Wax. Come and choose from one of their brilliant styles. If for some reason you can’t manage to find your dream pair, you can have one designed for you! Each pair is totally swoon worthy, but don’t take my word for it, come and see for yourself.
THEO on November 21st
Theo eyewear is a little bit like magic in the way that their frames are designed. If you are looking for metal or acetate they have got you covered in the smartest, dreamiest way possible. Their pairing of color and shape is on point. Don’t believe me? Come in and see every perfect pair in each incredible color. We will have booze and snacks to make your Saturday that much better.
Mykita on November 28th
Mykita has been ruling the the screwless hinge game since 2003! Laser cutting and the hand bending of each frame are just the start of Mykita’s effortless perfection. Clean lines and graceful shapes are where Mykita is at. Oh, and did we mention that they are dang near impossible to break?!
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Filed under: EVENTS!
Welcome back to school friends! We know that means you are most likely gathering up pencils, books and backpacks for yourself or your kiddos. Unfortunately, there are some children in Chicago who can’t afford their back to school supplies. This year we are partnering with Jahn Elementary to lend a helping hand!
Help us, help them get back to school with the right supplies! Bring in school supplies during the month of Septemeber and we will give you $25 off your glasses! Let’s all help each other and invest in Chicago’s children and make it just a bit easier for them.
If you find yourself wondering what to bring, here’s a list of supplies by grade level!
We will be running the drive all month long, so you have plenty of time to help!
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Filed under: EVENTS!
We are getting ready for our AUGUST SUNGLASS SALE, where, once a year we round up all of our sunglasses, and go a little bananas on the discounts.
All sunglasses are on sale from the beginning to the very end of the month! Come by and take advantage of discounts from 10-50% off of almost every pair of sunglasses in the store. Yowza! Just to add to the crazy of the sale, we have also put a a few of our eyeglasses lines on sale for 25% to 75% off!
Come by and let us fit you with lovely sunnies to enjoy for the rest of the summer… and fall because we all know we will be outside as long as the weather allows!
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Filed under: FASHION!
Recently Refinery 29 published and article titled “Why I Stopped Dressing ‘Hot’ and Started Dressing ‘Weird” by Laura Ruof. Where Ruof takes us through her teenage years when she tried to be daring and show her love of “weird” but just couldn’t hang. She was teased and worried about what others thought. She further explains her journey from “hot” to “weird.” Through this Ruof learns to dress for herself, simple in concept, she exoplores what makes her happy and how to dress that way.
It is a refreshing take on how to dress, in a world that has taken to body shaming all to often these days.
Here at Eye Spy we believe that you should dress for your self. You are the one who needs to feel beauiful and comfortable with not only your glasses but your whole self.
You are beautiful.
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Filed under: Francis Klein, NEWS!, PlasticDelux, Rapp, RES/REI
When we go to the eyewear trade show, it is tempting to buy everything in sight. Pun intended. Of course, we have a budget and a list and all sorts of guidelines to keep us in check….but, as you know, sometimes you just fall in love.
This year, we found a fun and affordable handmade sunglass line by PlasticDelux, Francis Klein introduced a ton of new fabulous colors, Res/Rei released some great masculine shapes, and, well, we just loved everything! Oh, and Rapp Eyewear wowed us too. Where are we going to put everything??
Here are some photos of our favorites that have arrived over the past few weeks…
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Filed under: EVENTS!
Using an eyewash is a great way to refresh the eye as well as treat common eye conditions such as dryness and allergies. If you’re a heavy computer user (and who isn’t these days?) or have seasonal allergies, chances are your eyes are feeling irritated. This workshop is designed to give you an introduction to over-the-counter treatments as well as ways to naturally make your eyes more comfortable.
We will be making and using a natural eye wash during the class and each participant will leave with a kit to use at home!
Note: You will be removing eye make up (if worn) during class, so be sure to bring your own makeup if you want to freshen up before leaving!
Spots are limited friends so click here to scoop one up!
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