Jacques Marie Mage in Chicago is available at one location only: CustomEyes River North, at 607 N. State St. The brand’s deliberate rarity (some styles are produced in only 200 pairs worldwide) means that finding JMM in the city is worth a dedicated visit rather than a casual stop. If you’ve heard collectors talk about… […]
Read More… from Jacques Marie Mage in Chicago: What to Know Before You Buy
The story behind Ahlem Ahlem Manai-Platt grew up in Paris and cultivated her style in the French fashion industry, working as a buyer for Acne and Miu Miu before starting her own marketing consultancy. Eyewear wasn’t the plan. As Ahlem tells it, the brand started during a conversation at a Paris café, when friends reacted… […]
Read More… from Ahlem Eyewear in Chicago: Parisian Frames at CustomEyes
DITA frames in Chicago are available at 6 of the 8 CustomEyes locations (Southport, LaSalle, Ogilvie, Roscoe Village, Broadway, and Logan Square). The brand is known for Japanese-finished titanium and acetate frames that can take up to 8 months and 350 production steps to build, which makes them a genuine investment piece rather than a… […]
Barton Perreira glasses in Chicago are available at all 8 CustomEyes locations across the city and Evanston. The brand, founded in 2007 by Bill Barton and Patty Perreira and acquired by LVMH’s Thélios eyewear group in 2023, is known for Japanese-handcrafted frames with a following that spans Hollywood to James Bond. If you’re new to… […]
Read More… from Barton Perreira Glasses in Chicago: Frames, Fittings, and Where to Buy
The right contact lens replacement schedule depends on how often you wear lenses, your eye health, and your budget. Daily disposables offer the lowest infection risk and no cleaning. Monthly lenses cost less over time and produce less waste, and extended wear contacts let you sleep in them, but carry a higher infection risk that… […]
Read More… from Daily vs. Monthly vs. Extended Wear Contacts: Which Is Right?
Designer eyeglasses Chicago shoppers love are best found at independent optical boutiques that carry curated selections from small-batch makers like DITA, Barton Perreira, Ahlem, and Jacques Marie Mage. If you’ve grown tired of mall chains stocking the same ten logos on every wall, we’ll share what actually makes a frame “designer,” which brands are worth… […]
Read More… from Designer Eyeglasses in Chicago: Brands & Boutiques
You’re in the middle of a meeting and your glasses keep sliding down your nose. Again. You push them back up. Five minutes later, they slipped again. By the end of the day, you’ve adjusted your eyeglasses so many times you’ve lost count. Glasses that won’t stay in place are more than annoying. They affect… […]
Read More… from Why Do My Glasses Keep Sliding Down? Fit Problems and How to Fix Them
You finally found the perfect pair of frames. They fit your face beautifully, they suit your style, and they feel like they were made just for you. Then your vision changes, and the question hits: Do you really have to start over? The good news is that in many cases, you do not. Putting new… […]
Read More… from Can You Put New Lenses in Old Frames? What Chicago Eyewear Wearers Should Know
If you find yourself lying awake at night with tired, achy eyes or a dull headache behind your brow, you are not imagining the connection. The relationship between eye strain and sleep is real, and many people in Chicago and Evanston do not think to address it until it starts affecting their daily lives. Whether… […]
Read More… from How Eye Strain Affects Your Sleep (And What to Do About It)
When it is time to update your eyewear, the price gap between a $15 pair of readers and a $400 handcrafted frame can feel hard to justify. But that gap exists for a reason, and it goes well beyond a brand name printed on the temple. What you choose to put on your face every… […]
Read More… from Cheap Glasses vs. Designer Frames: What Are You Really Paying For?