Good advice

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They call me "fly" because I dance on the walls

I've been meaning to share this for a while, months actually! Over the summer, Alissa and Mary H went to a lecture by Kazuo Kawasaki, the man behind Kawasaki frames.

Kazuo Kawasaki is one of the most interesting people I have had the pleasure to meet. His ideas and inventions are innovative and beautiful and reach far beyond eyewear. He has designed an artificial heart, a wheelchair, and way to efficiently distribute immunization vaccines. He does all of this with one eye on the functionality of the product and one eye on the aesthetics. It was a fascinating lecture and I'm still thinking about it all these months later.


At Eye Spy, we love Kawasaki frames because they are lightweight, durable and customizable. You can pick your shape, size and color of the frame...and lenses. Kawasaki-san also revealed the concept of the hinge...a re-bent paperclip! Very cool, and very simple. It works quite well.

We also wanted to post this picture of Alissa, Mary H, and Kazuo Kawasaki. Go ahead, get jealous...

1, 2, 3, AWESOME!

Yes we did! It's time for Eye Spy's January Sale!!!! Whoo!!!

We have frames at 25% off, 50% off, and 75% off the original price! AND, we have a ton of Anne et Valentin frames and IC! Berlin frames that we received especially for the sale at 40% to 50% off their original prices...unbelievable.

We do this because we love you so much.

NEW YEAR, NEW CUSTOMERS OF THE WEEK!

Happy New Year!

We are so over the moon about all of the awesome frames in the store right now that we are celebrating by naming TWO Customers of the Week!

First, we want to highlight CARYN WEINER! Caryn chose this beautiful Anne et Valentin frame in red and tortoise. We love the way Anne et Valentin frames are so bright and fun! Check 'em out!

This expression says, "I know. I'm awesome."

Now, check out these sparkly BLUE Francis Klein frames on Caitlin Cronin. Caitlin has been a customer of Eye Spy for a while, so when we found out she was on her way in to the store to check out new frames, we knew before she even walked in the door that this Francis Klein frame was the frame for her. We love when we are able to picture a longtime customer and the frame that would be a perfect new look. Caitlin is moving to Japan soon, good luck Caitlin! We're sure, in these sparkly blue specs, you'll be the toast of Japan!

Blue + rhinestones = win.

Wow! What an awesome way to start a new year! RED Anne et Valentins and BLUE Francis Kleins! 2010, you're looking gooood!



Yes we did! It's time for Eye Spy's January Sale!!!! Whoo!!!

We have frames at 25% off, 50% off, and 75% off the original price! We also have some frames marked at $75!!!!! AND, we're expecting a ton of Anne et Valentin frames, direct from France, any day now!!! Those frames will be 50% off their original prices!!!

We do this because we love you so much.



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Giving Thanks

Here at Eye Spy, we have a lot to be thankful for: awesome eyeglasses that surround us all day long, a funky and colorful work environment, and Dinkel's right across the street!

But, today, what we are most thankful for are the awesome awesome customers--you are all so much fun to have around!

You make our hearts go ZING!

What we are second most thankful for are the new frames that have been arriving all week!

First, the Theo invasion:

Theo's classic metal style that we all know and looooove.

And new Theo plastics! Absence does make the heart grow fonder!
It's been a while since Theo has made plastic frames and, yow, are we happy they're back!

Then, we received the Lafont frames for our Trunk Show this weekend! The frames will only be here for the weekend, so if you want to see hundreds of Lafonts in dozens of colors, put on you hat and gloves and come over to Eye Spy! (Pssst...The Lafont trunk show will be on Saturday, November 28, from 11-5pm.)

ooooooh. ahhhhhh.

Look at all the kids frames we'll have in the store this weekend!
(This is maybe one fifth of the kids frames we'll have for the trunk show!!!)

So much to love.....


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CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!

This week, we found the CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK in our own office! KARLA PARISER is our bookkeeper and a great friend. She has an amazing wardrobe of glasses including Francis Klein and Anne et Valentin, but maybe our favorite frame of all is this LAFONT frame...in leopard!!!


We heart Karla! She's one of the most stylin' ladies around!




The LAFONT Trunk Show is here! Every Saturday in November we have hosted trunk shows. We are ending the our month-long celebration of new styles with a Lafont trunk show on November 28. We will have the full collection including new styles you've never seen before...for one day only!!! For once, you'll be looking forward to November in Chicago!

The Francis Kleins have landed!!!

The Francis Kleins have landed just in time for our FRANCIS KLEIN/IC! BERLIN trunk show, TODAY, Saturday, November 21 from 11-5 PM!

We received 100 new Francis Klein frames! Here are a few of the new styles...

They come in peace and style.

Sunglasses?
Check!

Rhinestones?
Check!

Gorgeous?
CHECK!

We are sooo excited to have these new frames in our store just in time for the show, but we're maybe possibly, ok totally and completely super-excited to have over 70 of these frames direct from France just for the weekend, just for the show, just for Eye Spy!

Stop by this weekend and see how the store will be swallowed by Francis Klein rhinestones and ic! berlin stainless steel wonder!!!

Let Ralph tell you all about it.

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CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!

Check it out! We have a new CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK! This week, we chose ERIC EVERSON because these chrome ic! berlin frames look so great on him!

Eric stopped in to the store a few times to make sure he chose the *perfect* frame. With some help from Mary R, he chose the Arnaud frame by ic! berlin. But Eric wasn't the only one who became an Eye Spy customer, his wife and son both got new sunglasses!

There's some truth to the saying "good things come to those who wait."

Congratulations, Eric, you're our CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!

Hey, speaking of ic! berlin, we're having an ic! berlin trunk show this weekend! We'll have the ic! berlin collection as well as a special selection of 100+ Francis Klein frames! Oh. My. Goodness. This is going to be a great weekend!



The November Trunk Shows are here! Every Saturday in November we are hosting a trunk show...including IC! Berlin (November 21), Francis Klein (November 21), and Lafont (November 28). We will have the full collections including new styles you've never seen before...for one day only!!! For once, you'll be looking forward to November in Chicago!

CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!

Woo Hoo! Our CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK this week was looking for a frame that would take her look into a funky new phase! Congratulations to SANDRA FORKINS! Sandra wanted frames that would stand out in a crowd and show her personality with flare!


Perfect choice! Sandra chose this fantastic Anne et Valentin frame in red and silver. Anne et Valentin frames are known for not only being whimsical, but also well-made and strong! This pair is made with a stainless steel frame that makes these glasses light as a feather! Sandra is also wearing HOYA freeform lenses! This lenses are all kinds of WHOA, they provide a wider field of vision for distance, computer use, AND reading. Yes, I said it, three in one and they're super easy to get used to wearing. Sandra will feel like Superwoman with super-sharp vision.

Eye Spy and Sandra Forkins, what a team!



So many frames to choose from! Mark your calendar! The November Trunk Shows are just around the corner! Every Saturday in November we'll be hosting a trunk show from several of our lines including Theo (November 7), Anne et Valentin (November 14), IC! Berlin (November 21), Francis Klein (November 21), and Lafont (November 28). They're going to bring the full collections including new styles you've never seen before!!! For once, you'll be looking forward to November in Chicago!


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A day in the life...

You may think that being an optician is a ho-hum kind of same-old same-old type of job. Well, let me tell you! At Eye Spy, we never know what the day will bring. Whether it's getting to see a whole stack of new frames, months before they're available in stores, or climbing right inside the display case to change a light bulb, every day brings something new.....wait. Did I just say, climb inside a display case?


Sure did.


Big hi-5 to Serina who took control of a body bending situation. While the elders among us were left rubbing our backs at our own attempt to lean in and change a bulb, young sprite Serina made like a contortionist and got to work.


See? Being an optician is super-exciting stuff!

So many frames to choose from! Mark your calendar! The November Trunk Shows are just around the corner! Every Saturday in November we'll be hosting a trunk show from several of our lines including Theo (November 7), Anne et Valentin (November 14), IC! Berlin (November 21), Francis Klein (November 21), Lafont (November 28). They're going to bring the full collections including new styles you've never seen before!!! For once, you'll be looking forward to November in Chicago!

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CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!

Congratulations to Matt Machczynski, our CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!

Matt has never been one to shy away from colorful or funky frames, recently he's been sporting a really terrific pair of purple Anne et Valentin frames. When he came in to Eye Spy for a change of style, we knew the direction to turn in was RED!

Red red glasses you make me feel so fine, feel so fine, all of the time

Awesome choice, Matt, these Theo frames look terrific on you!



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Glasses Glasses Everywhere!

I like to peruse the Internets every now and again to find various ways that my favorite accessories, ***eyeglasses***, find their way into artwork.

First, I stumbled upon this poster for the Sweet Hair Poster Show:


Created by Chelsea Brick and Burns, this poster is Awesome! Check out more about them at Red Black Brown


I also stumbled upon this image on flickr:


Totally. Radical.

To see more check out the flickr photopage here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pagetsou/



eye spy (hearts) eyeglass art!


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We've got a new look!

Check it out!!!

Hey You!! Look at me!!

Eye Spy has a new look!

green is the new awesome

You know us, at Eye Spy, we like to be as green as possible. For a while, we've been bored with our plain brown facade. It didn't accurately represent the Eye Spy attitude!

Then, Alissa had the brilliant idea of putting astro-turf on the store! She cut the panels in her own back yard and put them up with Velcro, so when we remove the middle two panels, we have a fun purple chalkboard hidden away! Wait, there's more!

It turns out the astro-turf is made out of recycled materials. So we did get the green facade we've always wanted. It just took a little elbow grease and a lot of clever thinkin'!


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CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!

Congratulations to Annalee Koehn, our CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!


As soon as Annalee tried on this Frost frame, she was in love, and I think it's easy to see why.

Congrats, Annalee, it's great to have you as our CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!




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

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!

Huh, how about that

It's not unusual for a picture or advertisement to catch my eye. Not because of the visual explosion of color! or the innovative use of product placement. No, my eye gets wayward when it comes to Spectacular Specs! Nifty demonstrations of eyewear are always a pleasant surprise.

So imagine my delight when I turned the page of the current issue of Newsweek to see this!

true.

And, of course, there's this:

Friends don't let friends go outside without UV protection.

...sent to me by a friend, knowing of my fandom for aviators!







oh, and by the way:

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!

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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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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I am soooo into BLUE

Oh dear, it's not even Valentine's Day yet and I am so head over heels in LOVE!

No bouquet is complete without a pair of Theos.

I looked around me the other day and found myself surrounded by beautiful BLUE frames!

Ambushed by beauty.

All shapes and sizes!

You can show me a round any time!

With rhinestones!

Without rhinestones!

Hello? Is it me you're looking for?...YES!

Plastic!

Titanium!
Stainless steel!

Go ahead and grant me three wishes, but I swear to gosh, my dreams have come true and they are BLUE!

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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 Trunk show this weekend!

What is a trunk show? you ask. Well let me tell you...

Every year, Alissa invites our designers to show off their new collections to our customers, before they're available in the store! Their representatives bring in cases filled with every frame in the collection-in every color.

What's special about November is that they bring along the brand-sparkling new collection! It's like getting a sneak peak at the future! It's like the funkiest, hippest, coolest, most awesomest time machine ever!

Last week we had Grotesque and Ray-Ban in the store and we had so much fun trying on at all of the beautiful colors and shapes both companies offer. BTW, that's why i love eyeglasses so much...they are so easy to try-on! You don't have to change your clothes, bring socks or high heels, blah, blah, blah.


This weekend, we will have IC! Berlin in the store and, let me tell you, they hit it out of the park. Recently, they won an award for their new designs and for one day, we will have them here at Eye Spy!

(Sean loves IC! Berlin)

IC! Berlin makes sturdy, strong frames out of stainless steel. They have a patented hinge design that makes the frame virtually unbreakable. But the best part (in my opinion) about IC! Berlin is that the design is subtle and sophisticated while still staying super funky in some styles and classic in others. So gosh darn cool.

Come on in on Saturday, November 8 from 10-6 to check out the new IC! Berlin collection! And if you would like a private one-0n-one appointment on Sunday the 9th, hurry up and give us a call before it's too late!

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Happy (belated) Halloween!

Omigosh, here at Eye Spy, we love Halloween sooo much!

Who can resist a day filled with candy and dress-up fun?!

We hope you had a great Halloween weekend too!

IC! Berlin: How they're made

OH MY GOSH

This is so cool:

SUMMER SUNGLASS SALE!

Every August, Eye Spy has a Sunglass Sale to end all Sunglass Sales.

Check it out, this entire wall of sunglasses is on sale:


Also, when I went to work on Saturday, I found out that the Queen of Specs had put this entire tray of Lafont frames on sale for 50% off. I fell down. Twice. That's how amazing.


The sale ends when August ends and once a frame is sold, it's gone gone gone, so get your tushy over to Eye Spy and get some pretty protection for your pretty eyes!




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