L.A. Eyeworks Sale - 2006

It was so hot and sunny, that L.A. Eyeworks

handed out parasols for their clients in line

Every year L.A. Eyeworks on Melrose in West Hollywood has a faboo eyeglass frame sale. Their designs are wonderfully different than the ones you'll see in your local LensCrafter, that's for sure!

Since I started wearing glasses, about 10 years ago, I have considered them a fashion accessory. By treating eyeglasses like jewelry, it doesn't seem so difficult to accept the fact that I'm getting old and can't see the small print in the L.A. Weekly anymore without help. The frames are really discounted. You can find $300 frames for $95; $225 frames for $55; $150 frames for $25, etc. Such a bargain!

Larry went to the sale when it started on Friday morning and picked up a couple of pairs. Larry has been wearing eyeglasses since he was 9 years old, so he's a real pro at choosing just the right frame. He's also kinda' hard on his glasses, so he requires multiple frames. He saw our friend Christian in line. We usually see at least a few people we know at the sale.

Christian M.

Eventually, by the end of a shopping session at L.A. Eyeworks, you've made lots of new four-eyed friends. Everyone is squeezing in front of the mirror to see how they look and asking others how they look. This year, Larry took his digi-cam and took photos of some patrons while they were trying on frames. Then, after they'd put on their REAL glasses, they looked at his digi-pix so they could see how they looked in the new frames. Larry likes to perform this public service.

Gay and her faboo frames!

Larry accompanied me to the sale after work on Friday. It's best to go during the dinner hour when the store isn't so crowded. We did have a fun time trying on glasses. One of the owners of L.A. Eyeworks, Gay, had on this fabulous pair of pink and red eyeglasses. I had to try on a similar pair. Of course, I bought them and a few more pairs.

After the frenzy of eyeglass shopping, we zoomed over to Canter's Deli on Fairfax for dinner. You can read about our dinner here. Thanks to Larry Underhill for his photos of this event!

Telephone Wire Art Over Melrose Avenue

You Asked For It

Everyone always asks me where I get my faboo eyeglass frames. I buy them at the yearly L.A. Eyeworks sale. I've posted about the sale in the past. It's a glorious sale. It doesn't matter which day you go because L.A. Eyeworks just keeps pulling out boxes and boxes of frames from their warehouse during the entire 3-day sale. It is quite incredible.

L.A. Eyeworks is located at 7407 Melrose Ave. (near Poinsettia), WeHo. The sale is this Friday (10-9), Saturday (10-8) and Sunday (11-5). See you there.

Ellen's Collection of L.A. Eyeworks Frames

The Big Eyeglass Frame Sale of 2018

OK! This is it! People are ALWAYS asking me where I buy my eyeglass frames. Every year in October L.A. Eyeworks has this AMAZING sale. You can buy frames for as little as $25 and as much as regular price (which is a lot)! I used to go crazy at this sale, but now I'm slightly more conservative in my choices and with the amount of frames I purchase. If I find one or two good ones, I'm happy!

2006. Sometimes, during the day it's hot. When there's a line outside, L.A. Eyeworks provides parasols to its customers!

Larry and I have been attending this annual sale for at least 12 years! It's always a fun evening. We tend to go during the dinner hour. It's less crowded then. You don't have to worry that you may miss something. They offer multiples of every style and they keep bringing out boxes and boxes of frames throughout the weekend!

2010. Owner, Gai, Ron (RIP) and Tetsuji

We almost always run into friends at this sale. We also usually make some new friends. When trying on eyeglass frames, it's always good to get the opinions of others, especially if they don't know you. Honesty helps.

Natalie and I like to be twinsies! I bought the orange frames. Why didn't I buy those aqua ones?

2010. Rhoda almost ALWAYS buys red frames!

Stephanie and Diane are excellent shoppers

I told my ukulele teacher, Cali about the sale and she went NUTZO, purchasing many pairs of frames, including these adorable hot pink ones! Photo by Craig Brandau

Larry tries on everything, but usually ends up buying the same style every year!

One year, Ruth and I bought the same frames. These are my faves. I wear them all the time.

2009. Natalie and Joe with that Italian Riviera look

So, next weekend, if you have an hour or two to spare, hop on over to Melrose Avenue and check out the frames at the L.A. Eyeworks sale. You will not be disappointed!

Eyeglasses

Some of Ellen's Eyeglass Collection

For me, eyeglass frames are a fashion accessory. Of course, I do need my glasses so I can see properly. Since this blog is all about my hobbies, travels and ME, ME, ME, I thought I'd inventory my eyeglass frames. Yeah, it's a slow blog day.

All of the frames pictured above were purchased at various L.A. Eyeworks' sales within the past 5 or 6 years. I do wear other glasses from other shops too.

I go through eyeglass phases. For awhile, I was only wearing my red glasses (lower right). I would switch off with my green glasses (upper right) for variety. Depending on what I'm wearing, I'll switch off to my basic black glasses or my flashy pink/red combo. I'm waiting for the orange/camel combo from L.A. Eyeworks to be on sale. Right now, I've been wearing my tortoise shell glasses, almost exclusively, except for special fashion occasions.

Larry and I missed the L.A. Eyeworks sale this past season. I suppose that's a good thing. I really don't NEED any new glasses, but I do want some! What's your favorite fashion accessory?

L.A. Eyeworks Sale!

Over the years, I've written ALOT about L.A. Eyeworks. I'm addicted to fabulous eyeglass frames. L.A. Eyeworks has a great sale once a year. We ALWAYS try to attend. Larry is there right this minute scoping out some cool Buddy Holly frames for himself. I have almost every color imaginable. This year, I'm looking for frames in the orange, rust terra-cotta color family. I plan on going Saturday morning. It's always jam-packed, you have to wait in long lines, but it's soooooo worth it! The prices are amazing! See you there!

7407 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood

Addiction

The selection of frames is unending!

I tried to resist, but I just could not hold myself back!  After hitting a book signing and art show on Melrose Friday night we sidled down the block to the L.A. Eyeworks eyeglass frames sale.  Really, I have more than enough eyeglass frames in my possession.  About four of my frames have my current prescription.  I should have some of my older frames upgraded so I can see through them.  However, I felt that I "needed" a new pair of black frames in my collection.  I already have a few pairs of black glasses, but none of them are REALLY comfortable to wear all day.  I was on the search for a pair of GRANDMA GLASSES!

NOT my grandma, but I LOVE those glasses!

Larry assisted me in trying on glasses.  He's an expert.  Besides being an art school graduate, he has an excellent sense of proportion and has been wearing glasses himself since he was a child.  He knows all about bridge width, temple size, etc.

4-Eyed Larry, around 7 years of age

I tried on a number of black, silver and marbled frames.

 

We were at L.A. Eyeworks around dinnertime....the best time to shop.  There were plenty of people to help!

I found my PERFECT pair of Grandma Glasses after looking at everything.  Sunday, I took them to the optician to have the glasses made.  Hopefully, I'll be able to show you my selection next week!

Co-Owner, Gai Gherardi, behind the counter

See the "Googly Eyes" on the roof?

L.A. Eyeworks likes to make artistic statements, inside and out!

L.A. Eyeworks Sale 2017

The anticipation was killin' me!

Last Friday night Larry and I drove over to L.A. Eyeworks on Smelrose for their annual eyeglass frame sale. Hi, my name is Ellen and I'm a frame-a-holic. Yes, it's true. Colorful and wacky eyeglass frames are a fashion accessory for me. I'll do anything to camouflage my old eyes from the world!

Friday night at dinnertime, during the World Series! A perfect time to shop!

I own so many different frames in various colors. No, this is NOT my frame collection below. These are just some of the frames that were available to buy last weekend!

This year I zeroed in on the silver and light eyeglass frames. I feel that this non-color blends in with my silver hair and gives me a less choppy look. There were many frames in this category to choose from!

LOTS of silver and white choices!

We always see people that we know at the sale. The store is so full of friendly 4-eyed people, that we often make new friends too!

My glasses twin, Ruth!

Ruth and I tend to buy similar eyeglass frames. We've known each other for years. Ruth has excellent taste! Click Here to see us a few years ago, modeling our lovely frames, circa 2013. I must say, that was my favorite frame year. I'm still wearing that pair.

How much more can I blur this photo? We look so ethereal 

I ended up buying ONE pair of frames, top left in the collage above. I shall have the prescription filled soon! Larry also bought one pair...just like all of his other pairs!

Really! Follow L.A. Eyeworks on Facebook so you'll know about their upcoming sales. You will be amazed and delighted!

L.A. Eyeworks Sale

Stephanie, Diane and Larry

It was a foggy, cool Sunday morning when we arrived at the L.A. Eyeworks eyeglass frame sale.  There was a short line to get in.  We always meet interesting people in line.  Diane, Stephanie, Larry and I spied Jenna, her roommate and Todd through the window.

Jenna, behind the glass, sportin' some cool specs

Once inside, we tried on numerous frames while elbowing our way around the crowded tables.  I found at least 4 or 5 frames that I loved, but narrowed it down to just one fantastic pair. 

My 4-Eyed Friends

We were probably inside for almost an hour.  By the time we emerged, the sun was shining and the waiting customers pulled out the L.A. Eyeworks complimentary parasols for their wait.

We were in need of sustenance after all that shopping....next door!

Kinda' pearly beige on the outside, caramel and brown on the inside...yummy!

Vintage Photo Friday with My 4-Eyed Friends

This is it.  The big weekend.  L.A. Eyeworks is holding it's annual sale.  Larry and I have been going to this sale for at least 10 years, since the advent of digital photography.  It's most convenient to have a digi-camera or phone with you at these sales.  There's always a mad rush for mirror space to see yourself in possible frames.  However, when I look in the mirror I usually cannot see what I look like, because I NEED my real glasses to see!  Argh!  Larry takes a digi-pic of me in the new frames.  Then, I can put my prescription eyeglasses back on and view the photo to see if I like how I look.  We come away with lots of crazy photos.  Larry  has even helped strangers in the store by taking pix of them.  We've made many new friends this way.

2010 with Owner Gai, Ron (RIP) and Tetsuji

I own sooooo many eyeglass frames, that I really should NOT go to the sale and be tempted.  We'll see if I can sit out the weekend.
In accordance with the "rules" of Vintage Photo Friday, here are a few pix from some years ago, trying on eyeglass frames. 

2009.  Trying to go green.  Nope.

2009.  Natalie and Joe look like movie stars!

Last year's frames are very popular.  2013.  Ellen and Ruth.

1978.  Mr. Larry is Mr. Eyeglass

2005.  Waiting in the hot October sun to get inside.

2009.  Ellen and Natalie of Hollywood

2011

If I do pop over to the sale this weekend, it will be spur o' the moment, probably close to dinner time to avoid the crowds.  The L.A. Eyeworks staff keeps bringing boxes and boxes of frames from the back room all weekend long.  

I want to look like a movie star too!