Fashion, full circle!!!

We recently read this article about round sunglasses. At Eye Spy, we've long been in love with round sunglasses. From Anne et Valentin to Lafont, our lines have been the pacemaker to the heartbeat of eyewear fashion. That's right. We are one step ahead of the eyewear trends, ready with the product so when you say to yourself, "I think I want some round sunglasses" you can just pop on by Eye Spy and you'll be sure to know that we've got you covered. Round sunglasses?

Done.

Round metal frames?

Done.

Round plastic frames?

Done.

Round *and* Rimless *and* blue frames on a fuchsia background with a touch of late afternoon sunlight??

Done and done and done.


It's because we love you, baby.

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Vintage New? Vintage Old?

I love the look of chunky authentic Vintage Frames! We have a few select vintage frames left in our in-store stock at Eye Spy, but they won't be around long and let me tell you, when then go, I'm gonna miss them!


See how cute?!

Good for me we also have Francis Klein in our lives. This line embraces the spirit of vintage frames with the construction techniques and materials of modern times:


Ok ok, and I wanted to share a picture of our hula display. Sometimes it's just so fun to be a part of Eye Spy!!

So whether you want to go authentic with your vintage look, or if you want something a little stronger, stop on by!


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CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!

This week, our CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK, is a familiar face 'round these parts. He may just be the father of our royal Queen of Specs. Does that make him the King of Eyewear? In these Theo frames, yes, yes it does. So let's all stand and cheer for our CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK, Bob Fields.

Alissa chose these Theo frames especially for her dad, and wow does Bob look great! Lucky guy to have a daughter who can hook you up with Theo frames!

When it's hot out, you gotta find new ways of stayin' cool, Daddy-O

Congratulations, Bob! Your new Theo frames look ****awesome****



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CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!

This week it's all in the family with our CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK, Lael Johnson! In May, his wife, Eugenie, was named our Customer of the week for her amazing luck in finding a wonderful pair of Francis Klein sunglasses on the very day they arrived in the store.

Lael had similar luck a couple of years ago with a pair of IC Berlin glasses. The IC Berlin brand has been good to Lael and when he came in to the store for a new eye exam, he knew he wanted to stick with the durable and stylin' IC Berlin frames!

Of course, being a man of impeccable taste (he is married to Eugenie after all) Lael chose one of the newest and, if I do say so myself, awesomest IC Berlin frames in the store.

Lucky guy.

Nice choice, Lael, and congratulations on being our CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!


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CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!

Our CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK this week is SHELDON BRODER!

Sheldon came to us looking for a round tortoise frame a la William Gibson:

I'm William Gibson, I wrote Neuromancer.

We liked the inspiration of a round frame for Sheldon, but we knew he could pull off something a little bolder. He looks *great* in this frame from the Anne et Valentin Factory series.

makin' Gibson jealous

Not only is this a great look, but the frame itself is nice and strong with reinforced hinges. The design of the frame is really special, with edges hand cut to give the sides multiple angles.

Great choice, Sheldon, and congratulations on being our CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!





......don't forget!.......

Stop by Saturday, June 13th for our Sunglass Trunk Show featuring the frames of Persol, Maui Jim, and IC!Berlin! We'll have a party going from 11-5! Get your Dad a snazzy new pair of UV Blockin' specs for Father's day!!!




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Classics made easy -- how-to.....

Have fond memories of this? :

It's Winnie Cooper!!!

Come on in to Eye Spy and try this:

Francis Klein!!!

Like the look of this? :

If you can't be a famous directer, you can at least look like one!

Stop by the store at take a gander at this:

Lafont Reedition frames!!!

Love the classic cool of this?:

Marianne Faithful = Cool Defined.

Get your hands on these:

Oliver Goldsmith!!!

Before they're gone!





......don't forget!.......

Stop by Saturday, June 13th for our Sunglass Trunk Show featuring the frames of Persol, Maui Jim, and IC!Berlin! We'll have a party going from 11-5! Get your Dad a snazzy new pair of UV Blockin' specs for Father's day!!!




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CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!

This week, we've chosen JASON JACKOWIAK as our CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!

Jason actually bought his glasses in January. He started the year off right by buying TWO pairs of glasses; both fit his personality perfectly. One frame was a plastic Anne et Valentin and the other was this incredible blue and brown THEO titanium frame:

When we were trying to choose a customer of the week, we just couldn't resist how awesome these frames look on Jason!

Congratulations, Jason, what a great choice!

......don't forget!.......

Stop by Saturday, June 13th for our Sunglass Trunk Show featuring the frames of Persol, Maui Jim, and IC!Berlin! We'll have a party going from 11-5! Get your Dad a snazzy new pair of UV Blockin' specs for Father's day!!!




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Well, Hello, Remarkable!!!

Oh my!

I just stumbled upon what may be one of the happiest places on the Internet!

A blog devoted to ***vintage eyewear***

Two teenagers modeling "Boy Watcher" glasses, California, 1965.

Click here to check out Note de l'Hotel, my new 2nd favorite blog (after this one, of course).

Vintage shapes are very much "in" right now and it's fun to look at all of these styles. But buying actual vintage frames creates the risk of breakage when putting prescription lenses in the frame.

That's why I'm so very delighted to have lines like Francis Klein and Lafont bringing back the vintage shapes. And who would I be to forget my lovely Theo, they've been taking inspiration from these vintage geek shapes and re-making them with titanium in bright colors!


Oh joy joy joy, it's such a lovely day to look at AWESOME GLASSES!





Stop by Saturday, June 13th for our Father's Day Party featuring the frames of Maui Jim and IC!Berlin! We'll have a party going from 11-5!





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CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK

It's a family affair this week with our CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!

Susan Ponteri came into the store after her daughter, Allison Dunn Burque referred her to us. Susan chose a *gorgeous* pair of Lafonts that make her blue eyes SHINE!

It's no wonder she trusted her daughter's spectacle advice, check out the frame Allison chose:

It's not only good looks and brains that run in this family, it's snazzy specs too!

and don't forget to:

Stop by Saturday, June 13th for our Father's Day Party featuring the frames of Maui Jim and IC!Berlin! We'll have a party going from 11-5!

CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK

Congratulations to our new CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK, Eugenie Johnson!!!

Eugenie has some great timing, let me tell you! She came in to the store on the very day we received our new Francis Klein frames and she fell in love at first sight.


Great choice Eugenie! It seems these frames were made just for you!



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CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!

This week, our CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK is an old friend. CALVIN WINNERS has been a friend to Eye Spy since the early days and he still knows where to go to stay up-to-date with his spectacle fashion!

Calvin chose a **fantastic** Anne et Valentin frame in black and silver and, boy oh boy, does he look downright amazing!!!

Too cool for school.

Congratulations Calvin and thanks for being such a great customer!!!


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CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!

It's time for the CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!

Congratulation to Liz Rench! Liz stopped in the store a while ago looking for a bright pink pair of glasses, turns out we had ordered them for the store, but they were on Back Order! Liz patiently waited about four weeks and, boy, did her patience pay off! They look great!


Congratulations Liz, you look GREAT in your new specs!!!



Here's another reminder--for the whole month of April, Eye Spy is celebrating a GREEN SCENE. If you ride your bike or the CTA to Eye Spy, you get 10% off a pair of Rx specs. If you donate an old pair of glasses, you receive $25 off a new pair of Rx frames! So come on by and celebrate a greener earth with Eye Spy!

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CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!

Our CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK this time around went for the GOLD and, by golly, she got it!

MOLLY THOMPSON chose a gold IC Berlin! frame and wow oh wow does it accentuate her gorgeous blue eyes! The shape is funky enough to show off her great personality and subtle enough to let Molly wear her new specs anywhere anytime!


Way to go, Molly! Great choice!!!



Here's another reminder--for the whole month of April, Eye Spy is celebrating a GREEN SCENE. If you ride your bike or the CTA to Eye Spy, you get 10% off a pair of Rx specs. If you donate an old pair of glasses, you receive $25 off a new pair of Rx frames! So come on by and celebrate a greener earth with Eye Spy!

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CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!

Wow, it was a tough choice this week! Everyone had big smiles not only because of their awesome new specs! But also because (even though it's been cold and windy) the sun came out this week!

After a difficult deliberation process and many long hours in the judges room, we have decided upon a CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK! So, congratulations to JOHN PARKER!

John chose a classic frame by Lafont. It is part of their reedition series of frames. Classic shapes made modern with improved materials and manufacturing.


Don't they make his blue eyes BLUE?!

Congratulations, John!


And a reminder--for the whole month of April, Eye Spy is celebrating a GREEN SCENE. If you ride your bike or the CTA to Eye Spy, you get 10% off a pair of Rx specs. If you donate an old pair of glasses, you receive $25 off a new pair of Rx frames! So come on by and celebrate a greener earth with Eye Spy!

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CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK

This week our CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK is JOANN KILLACKEY!!! Joann has been a great customer for the last two years. When she came in to pick up her * new * Lafont glasses, her daughters were with her. When we looked at the pictures in choosing our customer of the week, we just could not resist this family:


Thanks for being such a great customer JoAnn!



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THANK YOU! CHICAGO READER BEST OF 2009!!!

Eye Spy Optical has been named the BEST EYEWEAR SHOP in the Chicago Reader's "Best of 2009" issue!!!!

THANK YOU for your votes!

Our fearless leader and owner assisting two lovely customers

Murphy still takes a nap in the store every now and then.

Eye Spy has been a part of Lincoln Avenue for more than 10 years! In that time we've been named by NEW CITY as the "Best Place to Get Eyewear" and we've been named the store with the "Best Designer Eyewear." And now, we can add the CHICAGO READER "Best of 2009" to our list of accolades. Gosh, Chicago, you're making us blush!

At Eye Spy we try to give you the best customer service possible. We love our frames and we want to share their special and unique features with you when you're choosing your new specs. It's about a whole lot more than liking a color.

When you walk into Eye Spy, we want you to feel like you're visiting a friend's house--a friend's house with awesome glasses everywhere!!!

It's about what shape fits your face. It's about what color will make your eyes shine! It's about the little details that are handcrafted onto each frame whether it be hand painted etching or frame designs inspired by Andy Warhol.

Our expert advice is only rivaled by that doled out on "What Not to Wear" (but, honestly, they've got nothing on us)

We also give you the best lenses on the market. We are always right on top of the latest technologies, making them available to you and increasing our own knowledge of what lenses and products will help you see clearly!

We always have time to explain the intricacies of lens options and coatings.

So, thank you thank you thank you, for supporting us and voting us as the BEST EYEWEAR SHOP IN CHICAGO!!! If there was a poll, we'd definitely vote you as the BEST CUSTOMERS ON EARTH!

Admiring her new panther frames, great choice!!!

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TWO, eye said, TWO CUSTOMERS OF THE WEEK

oops! We took a little nap and forgot to choose a CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK last week, so today, we're naming TWO, that's right, TWO CUSTOMERS OF THE WEEK!

First, congratulation to MARY DURKIN



Mary chose a delightful RED frame by THEO. The color and the shape make her brown eyes look so big and pretty! Great choice, Mary!


Our second CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK is our neighbor, SANDY DINKEL. Sandy isn't used to wearing her glasses all the time, so she chose a light and subtly sparkley frame to make her feel and look comfortable and fun at the same time.


HOORAY to our CUSTOMERS OF THE WEEK!

CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK

It's that time again!

This week, our CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK is Barbara Burton!


Barbara came into the store to try on frames and didn't find exactly what she wanted in our stock. But a little thing like "inventory" doesn't stop us. We contacted Anne et Valentin and asked them to send us a frame that we thought would look great on Barbara (they will send a frame for any customer to try on for a small deposit). Barbara tried on the frame, liked it, and ordered lenses.

The frame fits Barbara *perfectly!* The color makes her eyes look so so blue! And the shape! It's so unique, but on Barbara, it looks natural.

Congrats to Barbara, our CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!!

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CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK

Congratulations to JODY SCHNEIDELMAN, our CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!


Jody normally sports a really fantastic and architectural pair of Theos. When she stopped by the store last month, we chose a frame that was a little more subtle, but still really fun and expressive of Jody's amazing personality. Lookin' good, Jody!

Jody's friend, Heidi, brought her into the store to look at our funky eye wear. If you have a friend you think would dig our frames, send them in to the store! With your referral, your friend receives $25 off their purchase* of a complete pair of glasses (frame and lenses) and you receive $25 your next purchase* of a complete pair of glasses at Eye Spy! It's like really lovely optical fashion karma.






*one discount per purchase


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Hooray! It's January sale time!

Ahh, the new year. Time to make resolutions.

I resolve to do sit-ups every day.

I resolve to learn a new language.

I resolve to buy an awesome new pair of glasses for 25% off, 50% off, 75% off, or for $75!!!!


Eye Spy is the place.
January is the time.

Over 100 frames are on sale and it's making my heart sing, the deals we have.


Stop by soon and start your new year in style!


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IC! Berlin: How they're made

OH MY GOSH

This is so cool: