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Update: Greetings from the future! We've made a few updates to the Seasonal Shopping Guide below. Find the 2014 version right here. Image via Garrett Leight/Instagram
From sassy swimsuits to chic sandals, there is one more accessory that no beach trip or poolside lounging sesh can be without: sunglasses. Given that LA is charmed with forever-sunny weather, cool shades are a year-round essential. Although their peeper-protecting powers are a key feature, it's the pair's instant outfit-boosting abilities that really sell it for Angelenos.
To help you nab the perfect pair (or pairs, you can never have too many) of sunnies for this season and beyond, we've mapped out 17 essential eyewear havens for you to explore. From Oliver Peoples's celeb-favored frames to l.a. Eyeworks legendary styles to Cateye Spectacles's retro stunners, there are stylish frames to be found all over town.
Eyewear guru Julia Gogosha is seriously committed to sourcing the newest and most unique glasses out there. From limited editions to collaborations and one-of-a-kinds from brands like Cutler and Gross, Salt. and RVS, the frames at times approach work-of-art status.
From Chanel to Celine to Versace, this is your place for top-tier designer frames. A favorite among LA's top artisans, Dan Deutsch operates eight locations in LA. We're frequent visitors of the West 3rd St store.
Three reasons l.a. Eyeworks is awesome: They have L.A. in the name, bangin' sales on a truly eclectic mix of glasses, and finally, Simpsons creator Matt Groening draws their ads.
What do Zooey Deschanel, Kristen Stewart, Robert Downey Jr. and Rooney Mara all have in common? Besides being screen-stealing brunettes, they're all high-flying fans of Oliver Peoples. Co-founded in 1987 by native Angeleno Larry Leight, the iconic eyewear house is known for producing classically cool specs that transcend trends.
Following in the footsteps of his parents (founders of Oliver Peoples!), Garrett Leight carried on his family's eyewear legacy with his own shop which stocks a variety of too-cool, logo-free shades that you'll want to wear season after season.
If you're on the hunt for vintage specs, this retro haven will satisfy all your needs. Cateye's lineup includes stunners by Christian Dior, Nina Ricci, Persol, Gucci and Ray-Ban. In addition to stocking one-of-a-kind pieces, the shop also has entire lines that are decades-old but still in immaculate condition alongside some new styles from Dita, Andy Wolf Eyewear and Victory Optical.
Founder Russ Campbell got his start in costuming, sourcing vintage specs and sunnies for the film and television industries. Now, he's got one of the biggest collections of old-stock eyewear in the city. Don Draper's Randolph Engineering aviators? They came from here.
This white-on-white shop is a collaboration between East Coast retailer Selima Salaun and Cali eyewear designer Benjamin Montoya. You'll find both their lines here, plus new and vintage looks from labels like Stella McCartney and Marc Jacobs.
Yes, it's a chain, but we've always been pleased with the selection and the service at Solstice. They have all the new styles from all the in-demand brands: Ray-Ban, Persol, Gucci, Oakley and more.
Sisters and frame obsessives Amy and Katie O’Connell have been serving the Eagle Rock population since 2007, offering retro-ish designs from cool brands both well and lesser known. On the shelves are styles by Garrett Leight, Francis Klein, Fiction, Dita and Salt., among others.
As the name states, this boutique specializes in men's vintage eyewear—specifically, from the 1920s through the 1980s. Owner Van de la Plante travels the world in search of pristine frames from years past. He sells his finds alongside other old school men's accessories; to complete the men's club vibe, scotch is on offer.
There are three locations of this vintage-focused boutique, and the merchandise at each is tailored to its respective neighborhood (Los Feliz, Beverly Blvd, Mississippi Ave on the Westside). Aside from a retro-feeling house line, they have shelves full of new styles, European imports and deadstock options.
RetroSpecs specializes in one-of-a-kind eyewear, much of it hand-crafted. They're also restoration specialists, and run every antique frame that they find through an intensive cleaning and polishing process.
Owner Sung Kim, an l.a. Eyeworks vet, has developed a following for his craftsmanship in fitting frames. His stock includes his own line as well as options from Paul Smith, Salt. and Bevel.
Eyewear guru Julia Gogosha is seriously committed to sourcing the newest and most unique glasses out there. From limited editions to collaborations and one-of-a-kinds from brands like Cutler and Gross, Salt. and RVS, the frames at times approach work-of-art status.
From Chanel to Celine to Versace, this is your place for top-tier designer frames. A favorite among LA's top artisans, Dan Deutsch operates eight locations in LA. We're frequent visitors of the West 3rd St store.
Three reasons l.a. Eyeworks is awesome: They have L.A. in the name, bangin' sales on a truly eclectic mix of glasses, and finally, Simpsons creator Matt Groening draws their ads.
What do Zooey Deschanel, Kristen Stewart, Robert Downey Jr. and Rooney Mara all have in common? Besides being screen-stealing brunettes, they're all high-flying fans of Oliver Peoples. Co-founded in 1987 by native Angeleno Larry Leight, the iconic eyewear house is known for producing classically cool specs that transcend trends.
Following in the footsteps of his parents (founders of Oliver Peoples!), Garrett Leight carried on his family's eyewear legacy with his own shop which stocks a variety of too-cool, logo-free shades that you'll want to wear season after season.
If you're on the hunt for vintage specs, this retro haven will satisfy all your needs. Cateye's lineup includes stunners by Christian Dior, Nina Ricci, Persol, Gucci and Ray-Ban. In addition to stocking one-of-a-kind pieces, the shop also has entire lines that are decades-old but still in immaculate condition alongside some new styles from Dita, Andy Wolf Eyewear and Victory Optical.
Founder Russ Campbell got his start in costuming, sourcing vintage specs and sunnies for the film and television industries. Now, he's got one of the biggest collections of old-stock eyewear in the city. Don Draper's Randolph Engineering aviators? They came from here.
This white-on-white shop is a collaboration between East Coast retailer Selima Salaun and Cali eyewear designer Benjamin Montoya. You'll find both their lines here, plus new and vintage looks from labels like Stella McCartney and Marc Jacobs.
Yes, it's a chain, but we've always been pleased with the selection and the service at Solstice. They have all the new styles from all the in-demand brands: Ray-Ban, Persol, Gucci, Oakley and more.
Sisters and frame obsessives Amy and Katie O’Connell have been serving the Eagle Rock population since 2007, offering retro-ish designs from cool brands both well and lesser known. On the shelves are styles by Garrett Leight, Francis Klein, Fiction, Dita and Salt., among others.
As the name states, this boutique specializes in men's vintage eyewear—specifically, from the 1920s through the 1980s. Owner Van de la Plante travels the world in search of pristine frames from years past. He sells his finds alongside other old school men's accessories; to complete the men's club vibe, scotch is on offer.
There are three locations of this vintage-focused boutique, and the merchandise at each is tailored to its respective neighborhood (Los Feliz, Beverly Blvd, Mississippi Ave on the Westside). Aside from a retro-feeling house line, they have shelves full of new styles, European imports and deadstock options.
RetroSpecs specializes in one-of-a-kind eyewear, much of it hand-crafted. They're also restoration specialists, and run every antique frame that they find through an intensive cleaning and polishing process.
Owner Sung Kim, an l.a. Eyeworks vet, has developed a following for his craftsmanship in fitting frames. His stock includes his own line as well as options from Paul Smith, Salt. and Bevel.
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