Specs....

December 21, 2007 8:46 PM

Where can I get great glasses frames in LA?

I’m looking for a kick-ass pair of men's frames… maybe even a nice 50’s vintage pair. Something nice and chunky. Anyone have a favorite spot in LA?

posted by dentata to clothing, beauty, & fashion (11 comments total)

My boss mentioned a place on Melrose where he got some 50's vintage frames (American Optical Company?) from the owner's private collection. I'll be damned if I remember the name of the firm, but I think it was a red-white-and-black shop somewhere between Fairfax and La Brea, closer to Fairfax.
posted by infinitewindow at 8:58 PM on December 21, 2007

Old Focals in Pasadena has mainly vintage frames. Happy Eyes in Glendale also has a small selection of vintage, as well as probably the best prices for lenses.
posted by chez shoes at 9:22 PM on December 21, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

For vintage, Allyn Scura has an amazing selection. They don't have a retail store, but you can often find them at flea markets around LA. Here's their schedule for 2008.
posted by kitty teeth at 9:33 PM on December 21, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

LA Eyeworks.
posted by univac at 3:32 AM on December 22, 2007

Infinitewindow, was it Positive Eye Ons? We've bought several pairs of great frames there, and they are very friendly. It's on Melrose between Fairfax and LaBrea.
posted by faustessa at 9:21 AM on December 22, 2007

faustessa, Positive Eye Ons sounds awfully familiar... but I can't be 100% sure until Monday.

Seriously, dentata, there are a lot of hip optical shops on Melrose—Positive, LA Eyeworks, Dita, Optical of Aspen... one of them will have what you want.
posted by infinitewindow at 10:19 PM on December 22, 2007

Positive Eye Ons is my optometrist! How funny. They have nice frames, though none of them vintage, but I can't recommend them enough for eye exams. They are incredibly nice, very thorough, and very thoughtful.

They even feed your meter for you if you forget. How's THAT for customer service.
posted by dentata at 5:15 PM on December 23, 2007

Not for vintage, but I like LA Optometrique. I think there's one in Silverlake, one in West Hollywood, and one in the valley somewhere.
posted by PandaMcBoof at 1:13 AM on December 24, 2007

Panda, that's where I got my Silhouettes and my backup pair, and I love them so much.

Their Valley office is on Ventura at Hazeltine.
posted by infinitewindow at 9:50 AM on December 24, 2007

Got an appointment at Positive Eye Ons - thanks for the recommendation!
posted by Space Kitty at 4:53 PM on December 26, 2007

Just as a follow-up.. I ended up getting some really beautiful but horribly overpriced glasses from RetroSpecs, and the experience was awful. It took nearly two months to get both frames. I wouldn't recommend it.
posted by dentata at 7:17 PM on April 15, 2008