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!