Find gorgeous glasses at these Vancouver eyewear shops
Wearing glasses need not be nerdy – nor a nuisance. Next time you need to upgrade your lenses, pay a visit to these independent optical boutiques in Vancouver, where fashion-forward frames, savvy staff and cozy environments combine to make shopping for specs as fun as hunting for a new pair of shoes. [Photo credit: Bailey Nelson]
Bruce Eyewear Inc
219 Abbott St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2K7This modern optical boutique specializes in unique glasses that are often thick-framed and always ultra-modern. If you’re in the Gastown ’hood, Bruce’s flagship location is bright, clean and stocks all the latest and greatest brands, so be sure to check your inner-nerd at the door while helpful staff deck you out in Ahlem, Gold & Wood, Anne et Valentin, Karen Walker, Oliver Goldsmith and more. Tip: most eyeglasses can be made into sunglasses upon request.
The Optical Boutique
2265 41St Ave W, Vancouver, BC V6M 2A3The folks at The Optical Boutique knew glasses were cool long before the hipsters did. Founded in 1979 in the heart of Kerrisdale, this quaint shop offers independently designed eyewear as well as a wealth of high-end luxury brands. Frames are often handmade and hail from far away cities, picked up on global scouting trips made by Optical’s eagle-eyed, fashion-forward buyers. Back in Vancouver, in-house opticians provide informed advice while you browse.
Eyes On Twelfth
1493 12th Ave W, Vancouver, BC V6H 1M6Fans of Eyes on Twelfth in South Granville often remark on the shop’s asymmetrical window displays of colorful glasses juxtaposed with funhouse inspired mirrors. Inside is just as fun, where you’ll discover row upon row of delightful lenses in exotic frames. Known as much for excellent customer service as for vibrant glasses, Eyes on Twelfth’s in-house optometrist is available by appointment, and several licensed opticians are always on-hand to help you find the perfect fit.
Ollie Quinn Canada Inc
303 Cambie St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2N4Australian-born brand Bailey Nelson takes a visionary approach when it comes to eyewear. All of the fashion-forward frames at this hip Gastown optical boutique retail for the affordable price of $145. Style-savvy men and women can shop for prescription and non-prescription glasses and sunglasses that are locally designed and handmade with high quality Italian acetate. Whether you’re hunting for vintage inspired tortoise-shell spectacles or oversized cat-eye shades, you’ll find on-trend glasses to match your personality, and your budget.
Spectacle Shoppe
5683 West Boulevard, Vancouver, BC V6M 3W7The best thing about Spectacle Shoppe isn’t its trendy frames, but its unmatched selection. Here, you’re sure to find your perfect pair with oodles of glasses in just about every size, colour and shape. Though the inventory may be vast, the experience is never overwhelming; upon arrival, you’ll meet with a staff member who will quickly determine what you’re looking for, and how to find it. For those with children in tow, the shop has plenty of frames for little ones, too.
Karma Optical
1325 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC V5L 3X5With so few eyeglasses shops in East Vancouver, we’re lucky that Karma Optical set its sights on Commercial Drive and is here to stay. This laidback, socially conscious boutique offers all the latest styles as well as trained opticians to help find your perfect prescription. Feel good while you shop by donating an old pair of shades or spectacles to Karma’s charity program that sends hundreds of used glasses to communities in Zanzibar and Tanzania. So, why not kill two birds with one stone, and help others see as well as you do?
Spectus Eyewear
2209 4th Ave W, Vancouver, BC V6K 1N9For more than 17 years, Spectus Eyewear has wowed four-eyed Vancouverites with its conscientious, practiced approach to eyewear. Self-described as a “tightly-knit team of specialists,” Spectus’ staff of opticians are dedicated to ensuring your experience is memorable and fun – all but owner Todd Crichton, perhaps, who is often away from the shop, travelling from New York to Paris in search of the latest trends in quality eyewear. Go here for excellent glasses, and you’ll come back for the lasting relationships you’re sure to create with such cheerful opticians.
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