Big chunky glasses sources

January 30, 2023 12:05 PM

Inspired by this question, where are you all getting your big chunky glasses? I am aware of zenni and have been using them for almost as long as they've existed. But I was at the eye doctor last week and all their frames were small and boring.

Or perhaps the issue is that I have a big round (fat) face, and the smallest I'm really willing to go is about 135mm wide.

So, aside from Zenni, where should I look?

posted by misanthropicsarah to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (20 answers total)

Warby Parker!
posted by cimton at 12:09 PM on January 30, 2023 [1 favorite]

Seconding Warby Parker. I just bought my first pair from them, and it was soooo much cheaper than my optometrist’s office. And they have wide and extra wide frame fits! If possible, I’d recommend going in person. It was really nice to see all the options at once.
posted by bluloo at 12:15 PM on January 30, 2023

Caddis. I have a wide face and nothing at Warby Parker was chunky enough for me. Caddis started as readers only, but now they offer prescriptions, including progressives. I tried some on in a boutique selling the readers to be sure I'd like how they fit. Then I ordered them online with my prescription.
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 12:24 PM on January 30, 2023 [1 favorite]

My husband has recently purchased what I think are chunky frames from eyebuydirect
posted by Tandem Affinity at 12:33 PM on January 30, 2023 [1 favorite]

EyeBuyDirect. Been using them for years, quality has always been excellent*, customer service the couple times I've needed it has been great.

*My husband just recently made the same mistake I did early on and ordered a pair of Transitions lenses, the ones that darken in sunlight. Except it's not exactly bright light that makes them turn, and they don't get as dark as true sunglasses. And as far as I can tell, that's just the available technology - it's not great. They are kinda disappointing but probably better than nothing if you have mild eye damage or very specific light-related migraine triggers. Just don't get those, it's not worth it.
posted by Lyn Never at 12:33 PM on January 30, 2023 [1 favorite]

We buy ours in person from a fancy optician. Our eye doctor is a literal block from K Street in DC, which means most of his clients are lawyers and lobbyists. He always comments on how much he loves our frames but none of his clients would buy anything that interesting, so his selection of frames is pretty conservative. I think the funkiest brand he carries is Salt.

For OTC reading glasses I'm fond of eyebobs.
posted by fedward at 12:58 PM on January 30, 2023

Goggle4U.com has more "plastic/acetate" chunky frames, and may be even CHEAPER than Zenni, in some cases.
posted by kschang at 1:00 PM on January 30, 2023 [1 favorite]

Moscot

Fabulous Franny’s

Firmoo
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 1:04 PM on January 30, 2023 [1 favorite]

I have ordered a few pair of chunks from Goggles4u and have had really bad luck, FYI. Zenni and Warby Parker have been solid.
posted by tristeza at 1:25 PM on January 30, 2023

I just got new glasses from BJ’s optical and you don’t need a membership to buy glasses there. Would assume same is true for Costco and Sam’s Club but we don’t have either of those locally. I was able to get 3 pairs for about what it would cost to get 1 pair from the shop attached to my local eye doctor.

They had a good selection of frames. Wouldn’t hesitate to check them out.

The clerk did steer me away from transition lenses. If you are someone who works on a computer a lot you might not like them. YMMV but I would definitely recommend putting on transition lenses and looking at a computer screen. Did this and it was an immediate nope for me. So I ended up getting two pairs of normal lenses and 1 pair of true sunglasses.
posted by MadMadam at 1:55 PM on January 30, 2023

Zeelool has been the place I’ve seen the most chunky funky glasses.
posted by Crystalinne at 2:03 PM on January 30, 2023 [1 favorite]

This isn't necessarily a budget option, but I've never found a sturdier, chunkier pair of frames than the OG Ray-Ban Wayfarers (Model RB2140). I bought my most recent pair from a reseller on Etsy for just under $100, knocked out the dark sunglass lenses, and had my Kaiser Permanente optician put in prescription lenses.
posted by flod at 2:09 PM on January 30, 2023 [2 favorites]

See Eyewear is great for stylish chunky glasses (not too cheap, though!)
posted by LKWorking at 2:54 PM on January 30, 2023

I get all my chunky frames from DL Eyewear, and then take them to an optician (or send them to LensDirect) to have prescription lenses put in.

It’s an extra step, but I love the frames and appreciate their business model - and the slogan, “see with love”.
posted by okayokayigive at 3:10 PM on January 30, 2023

I've had good luck with Zeelool - two frames and counting. They're not ultrasturdy, but so far they seem fine and were pretty cheap.
posted by Ink-stained wretch at 3:21 PM on January 30, 2023 [1 favorite]

Bailey Nelson worldwide (it’s an Aussie company)

Ollie Quinn. There’s also a site for USA

We like chunky here in Vancouver. Both of them ship outside of Canada.
posted by seawallrunner at 3:56 PM on January 30, 2023

Cubitts. Nicer than Warby Parker, based in London.
posted by homesickness at 4:37 PM on January 30, 2023

Liingo does the free at-home try-on. I've never found any Warbys I like but I love Liingo's stuff.
posted by Threeve at 4:45 PM on January 30, 2023

I've also been using zenni for more than 12 years....and zeelool looks interesting.
posted by lalochezia at 2:14 PM on January 31, 2023

I got a great pair of Balenciaga chunky frames from Glassesusa.com. I found the quality really lacking in the ones from places like Zeelol and Firmoo (I returned a pair to each place). The price is nice but that's about where it ends. YMMV.
posted by simonelikenina at 7:02 AM on February 2, 2023