STYLE See, and be seen By Jana Eisenberg; photos by kc kratt In the research for this story, we’ve come across frames that cost anywhere from free to $1,500 and beyond. From left: Lafont “Denise,” $429 at Council; OGI, “MOD 9062,” $199 at Hogenkamp Optics; IC! Berlin “Kalya,” $450 at Visualeyes. We have heard tales of women who own fifty pairs of glasses, whose frame-addictions are akin to the shoe or bag obsessions that others alternately indulge or try to kick. We’ve heard stories of mothers-of-the-brides who purchase frames just to go with their wedding-day outfit. And we’ve seen for ourselves just a small portion of the rich assortment of styles and service that professionals in WNY provide. Here is a sampling of the beautiful, fun, classic, and trendy frames that are currently available. Council Eye Care Susan Spencer, along with Robin McCarriagher, does the buying for this shop, which has been around for over forty years. Spencer’s style is to start with the customer’s prescription. “The prescription in part dictates the frame,” says Spencer. “Then we go on from there. It’s good to have a few ideas, but it is difficult when someone comes in with a long list of ‘won’ts.’ If you’re allergic to something, like nickel, definitely let us know. That’s a valid ‘won’t.’ “Aside from that, it’s great to be open-minded when considering frames,” she adds. “Sometimes you’re surprised.” She cautions that there is no one set way to fit glasses, stating, “Rules about frames based on the shape of your face don’t really work. There are so many combinations; you could have an oval face with a boxy jaw, or wider-set eyes. So it’s really not by face shape, but what fits each individual.” From left: Oliver Peoples “Albert J.,” $285 at Visualeyes; Anne et Valentin “Grigri,” $550 at Frame Up; l.a. Eyeworks “Chief Busy,” $450 at Frame Up. Frame Up Eyewear Helene Goldschmidt possesses the ability to bring out her customers’ features; her main tactic is one-on-one service, much like a higher end jewelry store. Another of her tactics is to use a digital camera to examine each frame on the face—it’s more revealing than just looking in a mirror. “I will usually ask the customer to put on their existing glasses,” Goldschmidt says, “and then ask what they would like to change about them.” There are many standard measurements that indicate a well-fitting frame. One is that the pupil of the eye should be in the middle of the glass. Another is that the eyebrow is in proportion to the top of the frame. It’s nice to have the top of the glasses echo the eyebrow line. If the frame is too wide, it can look clownish. While Frame Up carries high-end frames, Goldschmidt also has frames that are free. “It’s important to us to service everybody; if someone can’t afford frames, we only charge them for lenses. … People generally don’t come here unless they want something different. The best advertisement I get is when someone asks one of my customers, ‘Where’d you get those glasses?’ My goal is not to sell a pair of glasses; it’s to have a customer.” Hogenkamp Optics Brothers Dan and Joe Hogenkamp seem indefatigably cheery. Third-generation opticians, the brothers work in their charming shop in Orchard Park, where their family has owned the business since 1937. They specialize in complex prescriptions, and also brag about their expertise in selecting frames taking into account color, design, and shape for the personal style of each customer. Right now, says Joe Hogenkamp, “What’s old is new again.” All the kids want the thickest frames possible. “In this area, ‘geek chic’ is going strong,” he said. “They can’t get it big enough.” For those who seek a merely fashionable frame, Joe adds, “Fit is the most important thing. We look at facial structure, skin tone, hair color, nose bridge, and the person’s style—what are they wearing, what do they do for a living.” “Frames should be age-appropriate; they should made you feel prettier and more confident,” says Dan Hogenkamp. “We take the time to find that. We don’t just pick a frame and say ‘that’s it,’ even if there are six people waiting.” From left: D&G, “dg1182,” $309 at Hogenkamp Optics; FACE a FACE “Ivory 1 co. 513,” $475 at Visualeyes; Orgreen “Hexley,” $620 at Frame Up. Visualeyes Dawn Littlefield and Dr. Daniel Leberer are the team at Visualeyes. They are evangelists for the brands they carry, which include Oliver Peoples, ic! Berlin, and FACE a FACE. Littlefield echoes a common sentiment amongst opticians: “We ask people what they are looking for—and often what they end up with is far off from that expectation.” “The designs from FACE a FACE are not trendy, they are classic and stand the test of time,” adds Leberer. “And, now, with eyewear as its own separate category and as a total accessory, there are no rules to follow face shapes or to match the colors of the frame with a person’s clothing. Eyewear is its own thing.” There are plenty of great options for eyewear in WNY, many of them locally-owned. Check out the Optical Store and Buffalo Optical, just to name two of the excellent venues we didn’t have a chance to visit this time. Council Eye Care 4243 Transit Rd., Williamsville, 633-2440 councileyecare.com Frame Up Eyewear 4498 Main St., Snyder, 839-9545 www.frameupeyewear.com Hogenkamp Optics 6404 W. Quaker Rd., Orchard Park, 662-5050 Visualeyes 3945 Main St., Amherst, 832-3452 www.visualeyeswny.com Optical Store 3750 Delaware Ave., Kenmore, 874-2455 www.buffaloeyecenter.com Buffalo Optical Several locations in WNY www.buffalooptical.com Jana Eisenberg doesn’t need glasses all the time, but loves the idea of another accessory to collect. SUBSCRIBE NOW Back to the Table of Contents Back to Top