Gimme gimme more

Gimme more, gimme gimme more!

New glasses have been arriving daily!

Check out these new Anne et Valentin frames:

You spin me right 'round!

I imagine the female temptress in a Raymond Chandler novel would wear these.

Get 'em while they're hot!

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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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!

Whoo! Our CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK this week picked up one of the *most amazing frames ever!!!!*

Kristin Millikan came in to Eye Spy in search of a new look. She was so much fun and had so much energy! We found two frames that looked wonderful on her! After taking some time to think on it and getting the opinion of friends and family, Kristin chose go to with this Theo Eyewitness frame. And really, even though she had another frame in mind, I think this was love at first sight.

When Kristin walked into the store, this frame saw her and was all "woo hoo hoo, I like you."

Congratulations Kristin!

Hey, speaking of THEO, we're having a THEO trunk show this weekend! Stop by the store on SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7 between 11am and 5pm to check out the newest THEO styles! It's going to be SPECtacular!




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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Happy 11th Anniversary to Us!!!

Stop by and have a little party-time fun with us while we do cartwheels up and down Lincoln Ave.

On Saturday, October 17th, we'll be celebrating our 11th ANNIVERSARY with drinks, dessert, and in-store specials!!!

Join us in celebrating 11 Awesome years!!!

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CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!

Our Customer of the Week! this week is a new arrival to Chicago. Shortly after arriving in our fair city, Victoria Bradford came to Eye Spy to get some awesome new specs to go with her awesome new home!

Bet your bottom dollar you lose the blues in Chicago! Chicago! The folks who visit all wanna settle down.

She found these super-fun RED Anne et Valentin frames and yow-oh-wow do they look fantastic!

Congratulations, Victoria! And Welcome to Chicago!



Guess what!?! Eye Spy is turning ELEVEN!!!! We're having an anniversary party on Saturday, October 17th from 10-6pm. Stop by and join us in celebrating eleven awesome years!


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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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The buttons are coming! The buttons are coming!

The Button-o-Matic has landed at Eye Spy!

For the month of September the Button-o-Matic machine will be dispensing its limited-edition series of 24-karat gold buttons at Eye Spy!

Stop by for our button celebration on Saturday, September 12 from 12-5pm... with Beer, Bagels, and a make-your-own Button Machine!

yeah!



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CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!

This week, our CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK is one styyyylish lady!

Check out these gorgeous Anne et Valentin frames on KAREN LARIMER!!!


Isn't it fantastic how she can wear such a bold frame and the first thing you notice is her sparkling blue eyes?! That's why we love the designs of Anne et Valentin, they have a way of making a statement, while allowing the person wearing them to still look like their own beautiful and charming self.

So, Congratulations Karen! You're our CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!!!





Ch-ch-check it out! The Button-o-Matic is coming to Eye Spy! For the month of September the Butto-o-Matic machine will be dispensing its limited-edition series of 24-karat gold buttons at Eye Spy! We will be having a celebration on Saturday, September 12 from 12-5pm... with Beer, Bagels, and a make-your-own Button Machine!

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CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!

Our Customer of the Week this week is Bonnie Harrison!


I mean, come on, how could we not? Look at how awesome she is in these Anne et Valentin frames! Bonnie traveled all the way from Hyde Park to get her new eyeglasses at Eye Spy and boy are we glad she did! Not only does Bonnie have awesome taste (she still has her eye on a gorgeous pair of Theo frames), but she also has a kick-butt personality.

Congratulations, Bonnie! You look smokin' in your new Anne et Valentin glasses! Yow!




Ch-ch-check it out! The Button-o-Matic is coming to Eye Spy! For the month of September the Butto-o-Matic machine will be dispensing its limited-edition series of 24-karat gold buttons at Eye Spy! We will be having a celebration on Saturday, September 12 from 12-5pm... with Beer, Bagels, and a make-your-own Button Machine!

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The Specs Therapist is Back!!!

Hey Eye Spy friends!

Specs Therapist (Mary Hamilton) here. I've been away from Eye Spy for the last two weeks for a cross-country literary tour (The Dollar Store Tour) sponsored by Chicago's own Featherproof Books. We went to 11 cities in 14 days and I can tell you that everywhere I went I saw Spectacular Specs! I saw Lafonts in New Orleans and I spotted a pair of bright green Theos in Baltimore among many other bright and funky frames.

Rockin' blue specs in Nashville!

The trip was great, but I missed Eye Spy! The first thing I did was take a walk around the store and coo over all of the new frames that arrived while I was away, I can't wait to see them on all of you!

It's good to be back.


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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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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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CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!

This week our CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK is and Independence Day Special with TWO, that's right, TWO CUSTOMERS OF THE WEEK!

Catherine Webb and Sara Murphy came in to look at glasses together and each found an adorable frame to suit their energetic personalities! Catherine found a classic Francis Klein frame with rhinestones and a detail on the temples (sides) of the frame that is simply to. die. for.

**Meanwhile**

Sara was browsing the sunglasses and found a Lafont frame that fit her PERFECTLY! What a lucky day!

Two hot to handle.

Congratulations Sara and Catherine! You look awesome in your Francis Klein and Lafont frames!!!


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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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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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Anne et Valentin Representative in-store Tuesday, June 25!

Yes! Almost all of the Anne et Valentin Frames will be in one place, at one time! Weeee!


You see, every now and then, the regional representative for Anne et Valentin stops by the store to show The Queen of Specs new frames so she can choose the frames that will be just right for our Eye Spy Family. On Tuesday, June 24th, the representative will be in the store at around 2pm.


I think the days that the reps stop by the store are some of my favorite days of the year. It goes something like this: My birthday, Halloween, and Reps in the Store Days.

The A et V representative brings with her cases and cases of frames. Beautiful, shiny, and new. A garden of whimsy. A funky brigade. A colorful frame-tastic revolution! Can you handle it?!




Hundreds of frames!
Dozens of colors!
Oh, I think I need to sit down, all of this imagination and wonder is making me dizzy...



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