Village Optique Rocks! Casually, that Is......

This is my first post in a series about shops that I really love. When you work 40+ hours in a retail store like I do, the last thing you want to do on a day off is shop. Unless the shop is like Village Optique. More than cool eyewear - VO is the most comfy, chill, laid back place to try on some of the coolest eyewear in the Triangle. No stuffiness. No looking at you up and down to see if you're "worthy". A mix of exclusive eyewear and modern art. Plus, the best chairs & sofa in retail, period. The shop's owner, Marla, will greet you like she's known you for years.

But let's talk frames: They have the area's only collection of Theo Eyewear. These frames are like wearable works of modern jazz- flat, titanium frame fronts in vintage inspired shapes, but totally modern at the same time. Outrageous. Accessible. Contradictory. Cool.
Mad in Italy is a wicked new line they have and features some really great twists on vintage shapes- cork, burlap or carbon fiber covered temples mounted on edgy, colorful frame fronts.
Other hard to find brands include Zero Gravity, Etnia, Italee, Kala (made in USA!) and a full line of one of my faves, Anglo American. Timeless cool. They also have other upscale brands that I'm not personally into, but if you're looking for a David Yurman or Tom Ford this is the place to go.
Their prices aren't bad, either. Long Live Village Optique!

Dread Matte(y) Dread

I don't know how long this will last, but I've gone matte crazy. I've taken 3 of my frames and destroyed the shiny finish. I want it matte. No shine, no bling, nothing to hide behind. Just the raw colors and textures of 100% unnatural, unorganic acetate. I think by the time I post this I'll be out of this phase, as it takes hours to sand off that top coat. I'm still trying to find a way to add texture to the finish. Here's the 3:




The top picture shows a shiny black and clear inexpensive reproduction frame that I purchased for $30. I "matted" it and then using a combination of different dyeing techniques, got the clear portion a yellow-amber to give it more age. The next frame was another cheap repro that was completely clear. Same techniques used to give it a brown/amber color. The last is a brand new Ray Ban frame that, I think, looks much better with a matte finish.