Filed under: Rigards
Where do we start the story of Rigards? En Paris, bien sur! Every year, the Queen of Specs travels to the fall eyewear show in Paris to discover new, tantalizing, eyewear that steals her heart. As you know, you cannot buy everything you want and love….but how could anyone say no to these buffalo horn sunglasses that are made-to-order?!? Impossible.
We did wait until the spring to order them, so we did exercise a bit of self-control:-)
BUT, since we waited until April and each pair is made-to-order, to our specifications of color & grain….we *just* received our order. It was worth the wait.
Every pair of frames is handcrafted with tremendous attention using time-honored methods of production and hand-finished with signature surface treatments, combining virtues of the past with modern sensibility. Both European and Asian fits are offered to provide maximum comfort for different face shapes.
The buffalo horns used are an organic by-product of water buffalo rearing on small African farm. In addition, the horn is a sustainable natural material that is lightweight & biocompatible. Natural horn has the remarkable quality of adjusting to the skin temperature, allowing for an almost seamless feel. The pleasant warmth distinguishes horn from the standard manmade materials used in conventional eyewear and offers a sensual frame-wearing experience—a big plus for many luxury eyeglasses wearers.
As a material of nature, horn has the extraordinary ability to age gracefully with use. The gradual evolution and organic patina embody the very characteristics cherished by selective eyeglasses owners. Sourced from sustained domesticated herds, the buffalo horns used have minimum negative impact on the environment. Leftover horn chips and shavings from the production process are recycled as fertilizers in agriculture. The humble horn wastes are actually a first-rate quality manure as horn is an excellent source of slow release nitrogen.
As with all items of value, your horn frames need to be maintained to keep them looking their best. Horn is a durable product of nature and, if cared for correctly, can last for many years to come.
So….stop by, try on a few pairs, and don’t be surprised when your hear skips a beat.
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Filed under: EVENTS!, Oliver Goldsmith, RES/REI, Unique Frame Lines
Come in on July 10th from 12-7pm and grub on hot dogs, s’mores, beer, and dance your face off with White Mystery!!!! White Mystery will be in full swing from 12-1pm. Don’t miss ‘em! Oh, geeze…we almost forgot to mention that we will have the whole RES/REI and Oliver Goldsmith collections in the house!!!
We know you secretly love #throwbackthursday. It’s ok, we do too! Well, we are bringing back some of our old Thursday activities. Back in the day, we had Eye Spy’s Battle of the Bands! Turns out that this throwback will not be a battle, but rather a killer set by the brother sister duo White Mystery! We are so pumped to share our afternoon with these gingers!
We have never, ever had a RES/REI trunk show!!! We are just a tid bit excited about this one! RES/REI takes classic Italian shapes, then updates the shapes and adds a touch of color and/or interesting modern detail. They are handmade with love in Italy. RES REI means ‘the thing’ in Latin. It means an existing object, with substance and form; but it also means a concept, an idea. RES/REI is the ensemble of things that make life around us, in all given forms.
Here are a few teaser images for RES/REI:
Now for some teasers from Oliver Goldsmith:
Did you know that Oliver Goldsmith made Audrey Hepburn’s sunglasses? Think of all those cult films, and 20th Century style icons… yeah, they made those sunnies too. They are particularly dreamy, in that old Hollywood sorta feel.
So come by Thursday, July 10th starting at noon for trunk shows & to rock out with White Mystery!!
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Filed under: Anne et Valentin, CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, Julbo
It’s a family affair! This trio was just too cute, so we made all three of them the Customers of the Week!!
Meet Kathy, Curt, and their little bruiser, Wil!
Curt has been coming to Eye Spy for frames for some time now. He’s gathered quite the collection of Anne et Valentin frames. His “Factory Eight” frames (pictured here) are his most recent addition. Since Curt developed such an appreciation for the designer, it was only natural that Kathy would end up being just as inspired!
When the family came in to pick up Curt’s glasses, our Anne at Valentin trunk show just happened to be in full swing at Eye Spy. Kathy hadn’t purchased glasses in years, but fell in love with the “Lou” frame in chocolate brown with pink accents. She decided that she needed to look as good as her husband, but needed a very comfortable frame. This titanium frame fit the bill…and will stand up to the wear and tear that certain toddlers can impose on glasses;-)
A special honorable mention goes to the little guy, sporting his super fly Julbo sunglasses. Maybe when he’s all grown up, he’ll join the ranks and carry on the Anne et Valentin frame tradition!
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Filed under: CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, Spectacular Sunglasses, Thierry Lasry
Proud to announce our newest Customer of the Week: Laura!
Laura holds a special place in my heart because she’s a fellow New Yorker. Laura’s subtle sass and sharp wit (authentic New Yorker traits) were perfectly complimented by the frames she chose. First up: The “Amy” frames by Rapp . This frame kind of called out to her, with the understated nude pink color and the edgy-ness of the brushed metal temples.
Next was the Anne et Valentin “Octet” frame. At first she questioned whether these frames were just “too much”. But I said “You’re a New Yorker…you can wear whatever you want.”
Finally, the cherry on top were the Thierry Lasry “Tipsy” sunglasses. We didn’t get to snap a picture of Laura wearing these glamrock frames, but I can assure you she looks like a badass.
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Filed under: CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, Oliver Goldsmith, Theo
Introducing our newest Customer of the Week: Lyn!!
Our favorite Aussie, Lyn, is one smart cookie! She knows how bright it can get in the winter with all the snow and glare!! So…she had to add these beautiful Oliver Goldsmith Hex sunnies to her collection.
In addition to her sunnies, Lyn –after much debate about the color– also decided on these quirky and unique Theo “Coratina” frames. Keep it fabulous, Lyn! Cheers!
Want to get a closer look at Lyn’s new signature pieces? Here they are….
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Filed under: Anne et Valentin, Anni Shades, Francis Klein, Mykita, NEWS!, Oliver Goldsmith, Rapp, Super, Theo
Documented for the Capture the Road, a cross country photography project by Chris Hershman & Amanda Farmer…Eye Spy’s new video lookbook is nothing short of fabulous! Sit down, relax…and feast your eyes on the hand-crafted eyewear and beautiful scenery.
Capture The Road Presents: An Eye Spy Optical Film from Chris Hershman on Vimeo.
Chris and Amanda are city dwellers and long-time friends with one thing in common; their many passions and talents don’t fit neatly inside “the box”. On July 16th, they took a break from their 9-5s and made a 12-day-long road trip across the country.
Their goal on this journey was to step outside of the box, meet new people, see the countryside, capture beautiful images, and explore the many facets of themselves. This is where they documented their journey as artists, philosophers, travelers, and lovers of people. This is where they captured the road.
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Filed under: FASHION!, NEWS!, Oliver Goldsmith
We here at Eye Spy would like to take a moment to get on our collective soapbox and share some information we find essential to the eyeglass shopper. A lot of folks get caught up in labels. Others think big, recognizable brand means good quality. And in some instances that would be correct. But in the world of eyewear, Gucci doesn’t mean good, and D&G should stand for dead and gone.
Some of us here have worked in the the corporate driven eyeglass world, where big names mean big sales. Customers drop a lot of $$ just because they want to have Prada written on the side of their head, or gold and crystal encrusted Fendi decals. But my, oh my, how quickly those crystals tarnish and fall off!! And even more frequently, how quickly that spring hinge snaps right out of its socket.
Here’s a little secret: These label frames didn’t come off of a runway in Milan. They were not featured in anyone’s Spring Collection. Heck…they weren’t even designed by the designer whose name is on them! Most of these frames are made the exact same way that those frames you wouldn’t be caught dead in are made. Someone just bought the rights to slap on some glitter and etch a name into the plastic. (By the way, Randy Jackson doesn’t even wear his own line.)
That’s why we at Eye Spy take such pride in our collection of frames. And why we have respect for anyone and everyone who can appreciate them. These frames are actually HANDCRAFTED by experts who only make eyeglasses. And when I say handcrafted, I mean they are designed, created, painted, and decorated by human hands. They are engineered to last and withstand the abuse of the one-handed pull-offers, and the i-sleep-face-down-in-my-frames people.
So, take a peek at this Oliver Goldsmith video to see exactly what handmade eyewear really means…
and forgive our sour-puss faces when you make the mistake of asking if we carry Chanel and the like. It’s just because we like to take care of our customers and adorn their faces with real luxury. 
**hops off soapbox**
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Filed under: EVENTS!, Spectacular Sunglasses, Unique Frame Lines
We have had many requests to open up an Eye Spy Optical in other locations so…we are doing the next best thing: an Eye Spy Pop-Up Shop! Yahoo!
Would you like us to be in your ‘hood for an event? Please let us know! We are lining up dates through September…or whenever the cold weather decides to hit Chitown!
Come visit us at:
Printers Ball at Spudnick Press on Saturday, July 27 from 12-6 PM.
First Fridays on Southport on Friday, August 2 from 5-8PM.
Third Thursdays at the Smart Museum at University of Chicago on Thursday, August 15 from 5:30-7:30 PM.
Lill Street Art Center’s 10th Anniversary Party on Friday, August 23 from 6-9PM.
Wolfbait at Summers Sessions on the Square on Saturday, August 24 from 5-9PM.
Quickies:Short Story Reading Series at the Hideout on Monday, August 26 from 8-10 PM
White Mystery at Riot Fest, Sunday, September 13 from 12-8PM
At The Threshold at the Smart Muesum at University of Chicago on Thursday, October 3 from 5-7 PM
We will be sampling adult-beverages while showing a portion of our fabulous eyewear and sunwear collections.
See you there!
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Filed under: Julbo, Kaenon, Maui Jim, Mylon By Mykita, NEWS!, Oliver Goldsmith, Persol, Spectacular Sunglasses, Thierry Lasry
Ok, we know it’s real sunny out there… and typically we have an August sunglass sale. However, this year we decided to mix it up a bit and start it NOW!! Can you believe it?! We know, we can’t really either, but what a treat! Get some sunnies before you leave for August! Brilliant! The sale will range from 10-40% off!
We might even have some other things on sale…such as our entire collection of Lafont frames!
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Filed under: CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, Spectacular Sunglasses, Super
Horray the sunshine of spring is finally here! Our customers of the week swung by and scooped up some awesome RetroSuperFuture Sunglasses.
Lori looks awesome in her new Supers! They have a vintage illustration of muscles on the inside!! Luke is traveling and needed some new sungless for his adventures! These two look awesome in their new RetroSuperFutures!
Thanks for being our Customers of the Week! You both look awesome!
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