Tag Archives: bold style

Filed under: NEWS!, Niloca, Theo

Eye Spy our Newest Optician: Debbi!!!

Written by on September 20th 2016

You may have seen a new face around here lately…and that face belongs to our new optician, Debbi, the Glasses Guru. Debbi has over 17 years of experience and she sure knows her stuff! She is a wiz at adjustments – she will get your glasses sitting pretty on your face in no time – she hasn’t met a frame she could bend back into shape yet!

img_4903

We asked her a few questions so you could get to know her:

- How many glasses do you own?
1 optical and 1 sun! (She gave away all her sunnies – this lady has a heart of gold! But, don’t you worry, she will become a glasses addict in NO time!!)

glitter

- Do you have a hobby?
I cook, swim, and love shopping – especially for kitchen wear (perhaps due to the fact that her mom has a catering business).

- There’s an EARTHQUAKE! and you can only save 3 things from the gaping hole forming under your apartment, what do you scoop up?
Photo albums, my journal, and of course, my prized possession – my beautiful, brick red KitchenAid mixer.

- What catches your eye at Eye Spy?
The neon yellow Niloca Clockwork frame….and the Theo Mille+26 in fluorescent red….as seen in the above photo:-)

- If you could be any mystical person/creature who/what would it be?
A unicorn with wings – they are so powerful and beautiful…and I could fly!

- Do you have a hidden talent?
I am a wiz at useless trivia…and don’t even get me started with old R&B!!!

music win winning stefon

- Tell us something that most people don’t know about you.
I grew up on a farm with 30 dogs. (Whoa!!!)

Debbi is extremely patient, easy-going, and great at picking out spectacular specs…and we are sure you will think so too! Come by the store, say hi, and introduce yourself; She is excited to meet all of our fabulous customers:-)

Continue Reading >

Filed under: CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, FASHION!, Rapp

Customer Of The Week!!! Spectacular Stylist!

Written by on June 30th 2016

She’s got style, she’s got grace, she’s a winner…

Kate is a lady who knows what’s up and when it was time for a new pair of specs, she boogied on over to Eye Spy Optical for a new sassy look.
Kate_J
Kate is the Stylist and lady in charge at Chroma K8 Beautique on Lincoln Ave, a green salon that specializes in making women look their best, so she has an appreciation for all things gorgeous and glamorous with just the right hint of fun.
Kate tried on a few gorgeous frames, but the one that caught her eye was a sparkly candy colored Rapp Eyewear cat-eye named Maeve. Vintage inspired Maeve is a as pretty as Kate and look so good with her blonde ringlets.
chromak8
Stay tuned for our new lookbook – Kate did hair and makeup for our models and they look AMAZING! Here is a little sneak peek of our model Compton – after Kate did her magic.
Compton

Let’s get to know Kate!!!!

1. What do you do for a living? I’m a hair colorist & Stylist, I’ve owned my salon for almost 3 years
2. How many glasses do you have? Hmm, Probably 6 or so, but I don’t wear most of them anymore.
3. What is your astrological sign? Aquarius
4. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would that food be? If weight wasn’t an issue, Carol’s Cookieschocolate-chip
5. What is your beverage of choice? Water/Coffee/Vodka & 7UP depends on the time of day :)
6. Do you have a hobby? Tell me about it! I collect vintage Chalkware, banks, salt & pepper shakers, planters…to name a few.chalkware
7. What is your secret talent? I know sign language fairly well, I was in interpreter school for almost 2 years
8. How long have you been wearing glasses? 30 Years
9. Would you rather have a time machine that only goes back in time or a time machine that only goes forward in time? One that goes back
10. What is your guilty pleasure song? System Of A Down – Chop Suey
11. What is your favorite place on earth? Santorini, Greece SantoriniPartialPano
12. What is one book, movie or tv show you think everyone should know about? Tuesdays with Morrie
13. What is podcasts do you listen to on the regular? Entreleadership, it’s for business owners
14. What is your favorite thing about living in Chicago? My family & our city’s diversity
ChromaK8logo
If you are looking for a new do, head on over to Kate’s website at WWW.CHROMAK8.COM or her facebook page WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/CHROMAK8. She’d love to hear from you!
Continue Reading >

Filed under: Caroline Abram, CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!

Customer Of The Week…Throw Back Edition!

Written by on June 12th 2016

Customer of the Week: New glasses, new look!

Ladies and Gentlemen…I don’t know if you are prepared for this week’s Customer of the Week. Really, you may want to take a seat because I am about to blow your minds….

You ready? Ok! Help me welcome Clint and his amazing new specs to the COTW club!

CLINT_P (765x1024)

Isn’t he handsome in his new frames? I know – you need to catch your breath. But wait! There is more…

This is a picture of him in 2009!!!!

 

CLINT PROSS

What a transformation! While Clint’s LaFont frames were a great pick back then, we think that his new Jeremi frame from Caroline Abram is a great update and looks amazing with his new devil-may-care look. :)

JEREMI - CAROLINE ABRAM

The tortoise details on the front of the frame and the temples soften the black and make this frame anything but boring!

If you are feeling inspired by Clint’s makeover, get over here and we will be happy to help you find a great new frame for your fabulous face!

Continue Reading >

Filed under: CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, FASHION!, Theo

Customer Of The Week: Technicolor Dream Glasses!

Written by on March 2nd 2016

Say hi to Lizzie everyone! She is our most colorful Customer of the Week yet!

Seriously…Rainbow Brite’s got nothin’ on this girl!

ELIZABETH_S

Lizzie is a breath of fresh air…if air were rainbow-colored with a touch of acid. Just think Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat…with more Technicolor.

technicolor-dreamcoat-1280jpg-8f0028_1280w

Lizzie was looking for some new specs to go with her already amazing rainbow wardrobe and heard that the Queen of Specs would have just what she needed at Eye Spy Optical.  Dazzled by all the amazing shapes and colors, Lizzie was in heaven the minute she walked in the door.  She looked around a bit and something caught her eye…but the Queen of Specs knew exactly what to show Lizzie: A neon yellow and pink limited edition Theo Mille+-4 frame.
Yellow Mille

It was almost as if that frame had been waiting for Lizzie to visit the shop. As Lizzie put the glowing glasses on, the Queen was not surprised…they were a perfect fit!

Lizzie declared that Eye Spy is “THE greatest optic shop I’ve ever known of. I’m a total convert; there’s no better place that suits my style” and the rest is history!

Let’s get to know Lizzie!

  1. What do you do for a living? I’m a college student (Biology major,) writer, fashion blogger, and multimedia artist. I’m preparing to enter a pre-med program at UICscience!
  2. How many glasses do you have? Only one Rx pair, but I want to expand my eyeglass wardrobe so I can coordinate with all of my outfits! I love my current pair; they fit so well into my style! I am eyeing a nice pair of custom Frances Klein glasses, however; luckily I know where to go! :)
  3. What is your astrological sign? I’m a Libra! I’ve interpreted my birth chart for fun and I have a lot of Aquarius influence as well! I suppose that accounts for the eccentricity.
  4. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would that food be? Vegan ice cream! At least I won’t run out of flavors. Though it would be nice to have french fries to dip in them…
  5. What is your beverage of choice? Every Slurpee flavor layered in a rainbow. None of the sugar-free flavors though; gotta keep the dentist in business!rainbow slurpee
  6. Do you have a hobby? Tell me about it! I absolutely love making or altering my clothing or accessories, skateboarding, drawing, studying medicine and psychology, playing music, and singing. I’ve had a DIY philosophy ever since I was little; I even dye and cut my own rainbow hair!
  7. What is your secret talent? I’m extremely observant, and I can keenly read people down to the smallest detail, despite being quite shy (even though I’m neon, I’m rather quiet!) I also have a great knowledge base of music, movies, TV, and fashion from decades before I was even born. It’s great because I can track cultural influences and origins down very quickly, and I’m certainly never bored! It also impresses people who are years my senior, who I often find I share more in common with than my peers!
  8. How long have you been wearing glasses? Ever since I was 10, so about 14 years. I went through contact lens phases, but mostly because I wanted 50 pairs of fashion glasses to swap out whenever I wanted. I think glasses look great, and rarely have I been seen without them since adulthood. (She is our kinda gal!)
  9. Would you rather: tap or swim for a whole day? I’d love to swim for a whole day! That was all summer for me as a kid. My mom and grandma used to say I was “just like a fish,” because it was near-impossible to get me out of the water. I’m still the same, as long as the water’s warm enough.
  10. What is your guilty pleasure song? I’m very open and honest about the immense variety of music I listen to, but I’d say “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing” by Leo Sayer or “Holiday Road” by Lyndsay Buckingham. They may be a bit cheesy, but those harmonies get me every time.
  11. What is your favorite place on earth? San Francisco. I’m just another eccentric there, and I love it. It always reminds me of Hunter S. Thompson’s “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” quote in reference to this: ‘just another freak in the freak kingdom.’ It’s comforting.
  12. What is your favorite moment? Taking the subway to the Cook County Courthouse on Halloween to marry my husband, the only person I’ve ever fallen in love with. We wanted to do things in our own casual, offbeat way. My mom made a beautiful rainbow bouquet for me by hand, and our whole ceremony is on tape! Easily the most incredible event in my entire life. neon-brooch-bouquet-www-etsy-comshoplionsgatedesigns

Lizzie has a Tumblr blog where she posts fashion, videos, art and anything that inspires her: trashylvania.tumblr.com. 

Continue Reading >

Filed under: Anne et Valentin, CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, FASHION!

CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK! Feelin’ the Love!

Written by on February 17th 2016

Valentine’s Day was Sunday, so we declare that this is the week of LOVE and I am deeply IN LOVE with our Customer of the Week’s glasses. Give yourself a little hug in honor of Karen!!!

Karen in Anne et Valentin Kodex

Doesn’t Karen look fabulous in her new glasses?!? This is her first pair of Eye Spy specs, and wow! She chose such a unique and bold frame that fits her to a T.

Anne et Valentin KODEX

Anne et Valentin’s Kodex frame is part of a new series that they premiered at the trade show in Paris back in Sept. When the Queen of Specs and the Specs Wrangler saw these beauties, they gasped! The colors, the shapes, the polka dots! It is like they were made for Eye Spy…and they were definitely made for Karen, ’cause when she put them on, it was obvious that she had to take them home.

 

Let’s Get to Know Karen!!!

  1. What do you do for a living? I work for Georgetown University in Qatar (that’s just north of Saudi Arabia).  I’m their Associate Director of Talent Management.
  2. How many glasses do you have? How many do I have or how many do I wear?  I have three pair now–four, if you count my prescription sunglasses–but I tend to wear the same pair day after day (indoors anyway!).
  3. What is your astrological sign? I’m an Aries with a Cancer moon.  Fire and water, which pretty much equals ash.
  4. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would that food be? A gooey, hot cinnamon roll with cream cheese frosting. cinnamon-buns
  5. What is your beverage of choice? Skinny lattes during the day.  Sidecars (with a sugar rim, please) in the evening.
  6. Do you have a hobby? Tell me about it! I like to write fiction for fun.
  7. What is your secret talent? My friends at work call me the Proofreading Nazi, because I catch flaws in everything (and now I’m praying to God I haven’t mucked anything up with this questionnaire…).
  8. How long have you been wearing glasses? Since I was 9 years old.  A very, very long time.
  9. Would you rather: tap or swim for a whole day? Tap!  I was a Theatre major and took my fair share of dance classes.  It’s fun and you get the added bonuses of music and an audience (with any luck at all).
  10. What is your guilty pleasure song? Anything by P!nk.  Though I’m not very guilty about it.
  11. What is your favorite place on earth? Cornwall, UK

    Cornwall looks LOVELY!!!

    Cornwall looks LOVELY!!!

12. What is your favorite moment? When I get off the elevator, coming home from work, and I hear my dog, Oliver, barking with joy from behind my apartment door.

 

Karen is as interesting as her glasses and we can’t wait for her to visit us again so we can chat all about her travels, her dog Oliver and her next daring pair of glasses. :)

Continue Reading >

Filed under: CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, FASHION!, Francis Klein

Customer of The Week…Glasses that are Party Perfect!!!

Written by on January 26th 2016

Put your dancin’ shoes on ’cause Meghan got some new glasses AND she is our Customer of the Week!

MEGHAN_R

Meghan and her husband come in to shop for glasses about once a year and let me tell you – this lady is a complete delight! She likes to try on frames that are a little unexpected and was not finding anything that felt perfect on her last visit…that is until Patsy picked out the ever so sweet Chou frame by Francis Klein for her to try on.

Glitter, leopard print, Swarovski crystals, gold hand painting…what else could a girl want?!? Meghan has a petite face and Chou is a great fit. Her eyes really pop and the color is divine with her ginger hair.

cat eye glasses, eye glasses, leopard glasses, leopare print glasses
Chou in another pretty color – but is it as pretty as Meghan’s glasses?

These beauties came back from the lab just in time for Meghan to wear them to a work party she was throwing for Revolution Brewing, and from what we hear, she was the belle of the ball! She also told us she was planning on wearing them with a horse dress…and this is pretty much what I imagine she looked like at her party :)

Is this Meghan's horse dress? I sure hope so. :)

Is this Meghan’s horse dress? I sure hope so. :)

Let’s get to know Meghan!!!

  1. What do you do for a living? Event Planner at Revolution Brewing  

    She planned the fiesta themed employee party...and even had Beer Serapes!!!

    She planned the fiesta themed employee party…and even had Beer Serapes!!!

  2. How many glasses do you have? 3
  3. What is your astrological sign? Gemini
  4. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would that food be? Pizza
  5. What is your beverage of choice? Beer (Duh, I work in a brewery.)
  6. Do you have a hobby? Tell me about it! Reading. I can drink beer while I do it, and it keeps me off my feet.
  7. What is your secret talent? I play saxophone, specifically the baritone sax (like Lisa Simpson) The_Simpsons_3G02
  8. How long have you been wearing glasses? Full time for 6 years, off & on for 20
  9. Would you rather: tap or swim for a whole day? Swim. I was a lifeguard for many years, and had my first swim lesson when I was 9 days old.
  10. What is your guilty pleasure song? I Knew You Were Trouble by Taylor Swift
  11. What is your favorite place on earth? Anywhere with a beautiful view of nature and no cell reception.
  12. What is your favorite moment? Having a beer with my husband at the end of the day

Congrats to Meghan and her new specs!!! She looks fantastic in her fabulous new frames. And if you are thinkin’ about having a party of your own, get in touch with Meghan and you may get a chance to be dazzled by her new glasses yourself!

Continue Reading >

Filed under: CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, FASHION!, Francis Klein, Unique Frame Lines

Customer of the Week! Jen and her new Francis Klein Glasses!

Written by on January 18th 2016

Jump for joy for Jen, our new Customer of the Week!

JENNIFER_VOUDRIE (2)

Jen came into the store a couple years ago for her first pair of Eye Spy specs and chose a beautiful classic tortoise Caroline Abram cat-eye frame that was neutral and easy to wear with anything. She wore them for 2 years, loving them every minute but needed to update her prescription. This time around she decided she wanted something a little more fun, something with a little more punch so she came back to Eye Spy and Sara, our Design Maven, knew just what would make her heart sing. Together they created her very own personalized pair of Francis Klein frames.

Francis Klein frames are a favorite of so many people for a reason. They are very customizable – with hundreds of combinations of shapes, colors and decor options to choose from. The result? Dream Glasses!!!!

FK_macaron_custom

We think Jen wins the frame game…these are the perfect shape and hot pink is a most amazing color with her complexion and her hair!

This process could be overwhelming for some, but Sara made it easy. They started by selecting a shape.  Jen has a rounded face and high cheeks, so cat-eye frames are a natural fit.  The angles balance her face and the uplifted shape make her look even happier than she already is. The color choices were probably the hardest part but there was something about that hot pink that just felt right for the front.  They balanced this out with a soft jade green on the temples. Finally they looked at the decor choices and decided on one that features hand-painted flowers with glittery Swarovski crystal centers.  So sweet!

pretty-in-pink-67

Pretty sure she needs to wear these at Pretty in Pink when it is in the theaters on Valentine’s day!

 

Lets get to know Jennifer!!!

1. What do you do for a living? I make hand-crafted herbal tinctures and essential oils at an integrative health clinic. You can call me a potion master (Oh…WE WILL!)

potion
2. How many glasses do you have? 2 with my current prescription, but altogether, about 15
3. What is your astrological sign? Scorpio, of course
4. What is your beverage of choice? This week it’s the Moscow Mule.
5 What is your secret talent? I play the French Horn (38 years) and the Mandolin (3 years)
6. How long have you been wearing glasses? 34 years
7. What is your guilty pleasure song? Mr. Blue Sky, but This Corrosion runs a very close second.
8. What is your favorite place on earth? Any place that has trees or water as far as they eye can see, which is pretty far with my awesome glasses!

JENNIFER_VOUDRIE

Jen’s new frame is as unique as she is and we can’t wait to see her again. If you are feeling a little bit envious, you should come in and ask about designing your own custom frame. We’ll make sure the process is fun and easy and that you get a frame that is perfect for you.

Continue Reading >

Filed under: CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, Theo

Green Cat-Eye Glasses for our Customer of the Week!

Written by on January 13th 2016

New Year, New Unique Glasses!

Get ready to do the wave (yes people still do that!) in celebration of Karen, our Customer of the Week! Karen’s new specs are winners and so is she!!!

Karen in her colorful green Theo eyeglasses frames

New Glasses, Oh JOY!!!

It is a new year and we are happy to ring it in with a face you may recognize.  Karen has been a customer for ten years and is now a two time Customer of the Week winner! (Last time she got a particularly cool pair of  Gentle Monster frames.)

eye spy optical glasses, gentle monster frames

Karen is one smart cookie. She is a a businesswoman – she is the Founder and Executive Director at the Chicago Mosaic School, a teacher  – check out all the amazing classes over at CMS – you need a new hobby right?!? – and an amazing mosaic artist who has shown internationally in Italy, Japan and France (just to name just a few.)

chicago mosaic art by Karen Ami

Onward, 2015

Don’t let her impressive resume intimidate you…she is full of sass and you will probably find yourself laughing your face off if you spend any time with her.

Anne et Valentin and Theo eyeglasses frames. Custom colorful handmade

Karen has a love for funky eyeglasses and with the help of her trusted friend and optician, Patsy the Spex Wrangler, she always manages to leave Eye Spy Optical with a frame that fits her personality to a T.

green cat-eye glasses

 

This gorgeous Theo Mille+12 is the newest addition to her eyewear collection. We think they are a perfect pair for her frame wardrobe. Theo makes bold and chunky acetate glasses that make a statement.  The Mille+12’s structured cat-eye shape is modern and has all the right angles – and the color of this frame is to die for!

If you see Karen out and about ask her for her secret to winning COTW twice and find out where she is headed next. We guarantee you will love her as much as we do!

Continue Reading >

Filed under: CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, EVENTS!, KIDS!, Swissflex

Our Best & Final Customer Of The Week for 2015! Kids Glasses!

Written by on December 28th 2015

We saved the best for last…Welcome Noa and her new purple eyeglasses to the prestigious Customer of the Week Club!

NOA

Noa came in for an eye exam with our fabulous eye doctor one Saturday morning and was HAPPY to find out that she needed prescription glasses.

Gail and Ari in their custom, colorful, handmade eye glasses.

Ari in his slick Theo Mille +23 frame and Gail in her gorgeous Anne et Valentin Modern Love frame.

Both of her bespectacled parents have excellent taste in eyewear, so she was brimming with excitement at picking out a fun pair for herself.  As it turns out, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree…she also has an eye for eyewear and found a pair that put a smile on her face.

 

kids eyeglasses

With a little help from Clara, the Optical Oracle, she tried on a handful of frames for kids and decided to select a lovely lavender Swiss Flex Kids frame in a simple rounded rectangular shape. Noa knew exactly what she did and didn’t like and once she put on that purple frame, she wouldn’t have changed her mind if you had offered her a box of the world’s softest kittens and snuggliest puppies.

We think Swiss Flex frames are a great choice for kids like Noa because they are available in a big variety of bright colors (you know how we love bright colors!), and a bunch of easy to wear shapes & sizes that will fit most children. The temples were custom fit so they curve perfectly around her ears and won’t budge no matter how much running around she is doing – which is a lot!

kids glasses frames

Noa and her dad Ari bringing the sass in their excellent Eye Spy Optical eye wear.

And the best part about Noa’s new spectacular specs…she can now see clearly! It is easy to forget what it felt like to get prescription glasses for the first time, but seeing the world go from a blur to crystal clear thanks to a pair of glasses is always a joy to witness!

Noa and her fam are now a walking endorsement for Eye Spy Optical…who doesn’t love that?!?

 

Continue Reading >

Filed under: Shop Local. Shop Lincoln

Shop Local. Shop Lincoln: Pleasure Chest!

Written by on December 13th 2015

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.

PLEASURE CHEST_SARA

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.

PleasureChest3

************************************************************************************

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

 ***********************************************************************************

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

Continue Reading >