Filed under: FASHION!, NEWS!
“When you walk in town and you see someone with my glasses, the glasses will [get] all your attention”
Here at Eye Spy Optical we LOVE glasses (duh!) and we LOVE recycling (yeah!). Cyrus Kabiru, a Kenyan artist, brings together the best of both worlds with his out-of-this-world creations.
As a kid he wanted glasses, but wasn’t able to get them, so he started making his own. He works with found materials, transforming them into wearable sculpture. “I really love trash. I try to give trash a second chance. I change it to be something else, which is like it will stay for more than 100 years now.”
While they probably won’t improve your vision, you have to admit that they could give you a new outlook on life.
Watch a video and learn a little more about him at This Is Colossal and at his website.
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Filed under: CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, Theo
Tip your hats to our elegant Customer Of The Week Deanna!!!
Deanna came in after seeing her friend wearing a fabulous pair of glasses from Eye Spy. She wanted a new frame -something bold and colorful – and you know she came to the right place. Patsy, our Specs Wrangler, helped her try on several fun frames. Deanna almost walked out the door in a pair of Rapp cat-eyes, but a very special Theo caught her eye… and she absolutely HAD to have it!
The O by Theo is a frame that is bold and beautiful, but also has a sense of humor. We think that it looks striking on Deanna. Her silver hair and porcelain skin make this frame POP and the fit is nothing but perfect.
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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: CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, FASHION!, KIDS!, Swissflex
Give three big cheers for Derek, our new Customer Of The Week!!! Hip Hip Hooray!!!!!
Derek is an awesome kid who was super excited to get his first pair of glasses (just like his dad!). It didn’t take him long to decide on a colorful pair of SwissFlex Kids frames in kelly green – which just so happens to be his soccer team’s color this year (fingers crossed that he gets green again next year)!
SwissFlex is a great brand for kids frames because they are flexible and can stand up ruff-and-tumble play time that kids get into. Derek learned how to put his glasses on with two hands and how to clean his lenses so that they will last a long time, but I am sure that he will put those frames to the test!
Derek is a sporty kid, so he also got a pair of silver Rec Specs sport frames. They have an adjustable elastic sport band in the back and a padded nose pad so they won’t move around while he is on the run. He needed something that could do double duty so he can wear them when he is outside playing soccer and when he is shooting hoops inside, so we hooked him up with some transitions lenses that change to sunlenses when he goes outside.
Derek is thrilled with his new glasses – just look at that smile! Hi-Fives for Derek!
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Filed under: EVENTS!
Iris the Airstream was cooped up all winter and is so excited to get out and show off that she has been gettin’ around town this summer (yes, it really IS summer!) as part of our Pop-Up shop.
You may have seen her chillin’ in front of the store during our Theo Trunk show. She LOVES ice cream and gelato and sampled some local sweet treats at spots like Black Dog Gelato and Bobtail in June. She also made her way over to the Lincoln Square Farmers Market and all the way down to Modern Cooperative in Pilsen.
Iris still has big plans for the summer. In August she’ll be poppin-up at Coyle+Herr on the 13th, Humboldt House on the 15th, Sprout Home on the 28th, and Randolph Street Market on the 30th. In September she will be at Modern Cooperative on the 11th and on the 18th you will find her visiting her friends at the Chicago Mosaic School for the the Ravenswood Art Walk.
Stop by, say hi, get a tour and try on some spectacular frames!!!! We always have treats and drinks for visitors:-)
If you have a local, independent business, and would like Iris to visit your shop, just give us a ring or drop us a line! And don’t forget to Follow us on Facebook for an up to date list of summer pop-ups.
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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: Anne et Valentin, Caroline Abram, CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, FASHION!, Unique Frame Lines
Our Customers of the Week are a fun and fabulous couple…three cheers for Erin and Tom!!!
Erin and Tom used to live in Chicago, but moved to Wisconsin for graduate school…since Erin is working towards her PhD. She is one smart cookie. They still make the trek all the way down to Eye Spy Optical for our fantastic glasses. The both love fashion and think that glasses are the perfect accessory! They each left with 2 frames – a fun pair and a more serious pair for work.
Erin chose a bright red pair of Anne Et Valentin Amber frames for her fun pair. She had the hardest time deciding which color to get – she would have gotten them all if she could have – but the red was clearly the standout pair!
For her work pair, she also pair of Anne Et Valentin Cozak frames in a warm grey color wtih just a hint of pink at the temples. Did someone say, “sexy secretary”?!?
Tom’s prescription is strong, so he had difficulty see the glasses he was trying. As a result, our Specs Wrangler and Erin got to work and chose a couple of awesome frames for him. Once his lenses were in, he was thrilled with the end result!
He went home with a tortoise and blue Caroline Abram Joel frame that fits perfectly and complements his style perfectly.
And for work, he will be sporting a handsome pair of Anne Et Valentin Modern Time frames with an occupational lens. The occupational lenses allow Tom to see up to approximately ten feet, so he can read and see his computer monitor really well…..but when he needs to drive or see anything far away, he puts on his other pair:-)
We couldn’t love these two more and are sad that we won’t get to see them for another year.
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Filed under: CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, Theo
Our Customer of the Week is the fabulous Carol !
Carol bought her first Eye Spy frame in 2007 and has been coming back ever since! Most of the glasses she has purchased from us over the years have been Anne Et Valentin frames, but she decided to go in a different direction with a pair of blue Theo Cinquante+6 frames that really bring out her baby-blues!
We love how these specs have a little bit of a cat-eye shape with some modern angles. They are so flattering on Carol and really frame her face beautifully!
She also needed a sunglass, and decided to try out one of CustomEyes‘ amazing custom-made sun-clips. She was amazed at how perfectly they fit her frames!
Carol’s Theos and CustomEyes sun-clips are a match made in heaven and we think she looks bad to the bone!
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Filed under: CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, FASHION!, Theo
Time to Tippity Tap Dance for our Customer of the Week….Chuck !!!!
We can’t sing Chuck’s praises enough ’round here at Eye Spy! He is one of the nicest guys and he always knows what he wants…Theos!
Chuck is a lawyer and while he could go the conservative route, he has always been called to the unique silhouettes and fun colors of Theo frames. Chuck came to our Theo Trunk Show and with our Design Maven’s help, picked out a frame that is new to their collection this year – James 5.
The James series frames have a really cool cut-away around the nose and is a deep blue which really accents his eyes! The shape integrates the nosepad into the frame and removes the “extra weight” around the nose creating a frame that misses a “corner.”
Chuck is living proof that you CAN wear funky eyewear to work!
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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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