Who wants to go back to school? Thought not.
Who wants to go back to school to talk about themselves? Thought so!

We arrived to fabulous warm weather and proceeded to behave like tourists for a few hours. Of course this meant we had to visit the Duomo, but due to a prior engagement for Mr TOGS I set off on my own looking forward to a nice walk. As it turns out it was a nice walk but 5 miles in the wrong direction! Isn't Milan big. Luckily I found a Metro station and after some initial problems (yes, wrong way again) managed to end up in the right place. What an absolutely fantastic building - apparently the largest cathedral in Italy - beautiful.

Next up, Eataly!
A favourite of Mr TOGS, Eataly is basically an IKEA but for all things Italian - fresh food, meats, cheeses, wines (top floor!) , cooking classes, restaurants, utensils, etc etc. Spread over 4 floors the choice and quality is astounding and I was in my element. Mr TOGS introduced me to 'Aperitivo' - a sort of pre dinner tapas with wine... I decided I like aperitivo. In fact, the whole experience was amazing.

Whilst in Milan, one of our long standing favourites Les Pieces Uniques invited us along to their offices to see their latest designs (see below!).

We all know its best to go to dinner with a local so we then joined Mario of LPU for dinner. It is Italy so dinner was pizza of course (when in Italy it's a must). I'm gluten free but Mario had checked and was confident in his decision of an extremely popular local pizza restaurant. The restaurant had only been open for half an hour, and given that you can't make a reservation (its first come, first served) we were VERY lucky to get a table and it was already EXTREMELY busy - I have never seen so many tables crammed into such a small space - excellent I thought, this bodes well for a nice pizza!

High expectations, and Mr TOGS said it was easily one of the best pizzas he had eaten and Mario agreed. Unfortunately, whilst I wanted to agree, my disappointment was palpable - clearly these particular Italians have not mastered the art of gluten free pizza base...yet. After Mr TOGS' TWO desserts we left and were met with a queue of people so long that the restaurant was serving them hot dough balls outside whilst they stood and waited.

So in between the brilliant touristy bits and the awful pizza we spent some exciting time with Marco showing us Les Pieces Uniques' latest eyewear range and 'WOW' was I pleased! This brand has always garnered genuine respect because of the sheer quality of what they do.

I'm delighted to say we now have these frames in stock and on the website. Some of my favourites are Anna, Enea, Benji and the incredible DIABOLIK!

See the Les Pieces Uniques range here

Lucio Stramare grew up in the Veneto region of Italy. Whilst most of us are familiar with that area’s famous floating city, the region is to eyewear what the British midlands used to be to cars (or still is if you're a Jaguar / Land Rover fan).

Lucio’s parents worked in the glasses industry, and he developed a keen interest in all things optical. Actually ‘obsessive’ is probably a better word. He scoured second hand markets and antique shops, visited factories and generally learned all he could about eyewear - its history and development. As an adult this interest took him around the world.

What most people perceive as a ‘means to an end’, simply a way to keep our vision and an item to lose / sit on or try and stop the dog chewing, Lucio saw as magical objects. Glasses are incredible insights into history and places. Every frame represents someone’s dream, the emotion of the design, its life with its' owner, the love of the chosen materials and the ability to create something that is far more than the sum of its parts. An object with a story.

Lucio’s insights also highlight the practical. Would history be different if the ‘great and the good’ did not have glasses to aid their vision, to be able to carry out their research, to pen important documents, to continue to travel?

“Without glasses and the lens the cultural level of man wouldn’t be like it is now”

Lucio Stramare is a designer. He has what he calls a “consulting archive” of over 15,000 pieces collected over 30 years. This collection is now a brilliant itinerant exhibition and book of eyewear called

Regrettably I haven't met Lucio. I have, however, met the businessman who recently persuaded Lucio to create his own eyewear collection, Mario di Bello!

The designs take inspiration from what Lucio Stramare believes are the three key decades in eyewear history - 1920-1930, 1950-1960 and 1970-1980. The range is made from Lucio’s choice of ‘perfect’ materials and the final product represents his dream glasses, a brilliant, no compromise range of eyewear that makes you feel good and shows you just how fantastic your glasses should be.

And what is his range of eyewear called? Archivio Moderno (Modern Archive), of course!

The Old Glasses Shop is not going to sell this range. We didn’t think you would want the chance to buy such historical and astonishingly brilliant glasses.

Just kidding! We are privileged to be launching Archivio Moderno on our site. We think the frames are genuinely stunning and they will sell because once you have experienced this level of design and quality you will never look back. No, really. Ideas such as

• Arms that are superbly engineered to be easily extended from between 135mm to 160mm for your perfect fit.
  
• Sunglass clip ons which fold so that they conveniently slip into a small pouch and your pocket when not in use (11 months of the year in the UK !). 
  
• Build quality absolutely second to none.
  
  
          

One more thing. To celebrate this truly historic new brand, Archivio Moderno have create a 24kt Gold and Palladium plated model of which only 500 will be made and each is stamped with its own number. Not just a pair of fantastic glasses - a conversation piece and the culmination of 30 years of research. We have secured 4 - see the limited editions in the Archivio Moderno category HERE

As we always say at The Old Glasses Shop - Why Wear Ordinary? And in this case, you can so easily wear the Extraordinary!

SEE THE FULL LUCIO STRAMARE RANGE HERE

Based at the Algha Works in the East End of London - a building that still has green tiled stairways and ignores the modern world - little has changed since opening in 1932. 

During the war they made aviator glasses for pilots. Readers of “a certain age” will know that they were awarded the contract for making spectacle frames for the National Health Service, something they did for 40 years until a Thatcher government deregulated the market. 

At this point, Savile Row Eyewear was created.

The only complete manufacturer of metal glasses left in the UK, their styles and shapes have become iconic classics, worn by the great and the good the world over. From John Lennon to Eric Clapton, Harrison Ford to Denzil Washington.

The Old Glasses Shop started selling Savile Row a few years ago when I had the pleasure of dealing with the then owner Peter Viner. There is a good BBC short video from 2013 featuring Peter here .Their round style glasses were a perfect fit for us, as we had become known as the “go to“ online shop for that style. Our Rachel has become a bit of a Savile Row expert over the years and has advised potential customers in every corner of the world. Its been great.

But - as the saying goes - all good things must come to an end. Their acquisition by InSpecs brought them a welcome investment and we have genuinely enjoyed working with them. Last month, however, I received a sad phone call telling me that online sales are being taken “in house” and that we will not be able to place orders with them after the end of September.

Clearly, little Old Glasses Shop is in no position to judge this decision, so from that view point there isn’t much to say.

What does this mean for you? Well, all warranties etc with our customers are totally unaffected.
Our overseas customers have been able to order directly from Savile Row for some time.

I’m sure Savile Row bespoke will continue to do well and you will be able to order them directly online, however you will most certainly pay more. I suspect Savile Row will charge full RRP for their direct online sales (as they themselves set the Recommended Retail Price how could they not charge it?!).
The good news is that If you want a bespoke Savile Row frame below RRP then you still have time! We are still able to take orders until the end of September and our pricing represents a genuine saving. Give us a call / email if you need advice, and see the current range here.

Don't forget we also have an absolutely brilliant range of vintage Savile Row - rolled gold frames that were made 20 - 30 years ago by Algha Works, new and unworn, same design, under both the Savile Row and Hilton branding. We obviously have limited stock and some models are down to single figure stock levels. Take a look - see the range here.

We are genuinely disappointed that we will no longer be able to order new frames from Savile Row, I’ve always felt that we were in some very small way a tiny part of their story.

We wish them well.

It was in this idylic setting that I was invited to the home of a wonderful family whose entire DNA seems to be rooted in the eyewear industry. From manufacturing locally in the 1950s to
being the original founders of MODO Eyewear (a hugely successful and respected international business to this day), the family is still involved in the glasses business. Having an address in the mountains, however, didn’t make the house easy to find.

Finding the road itself was relatively easy, but as it climbed higher it turned from tarmac to loose track. Italian roads aren’t exactly wide at the best of times and rural residential roads seem to assume you are on a donkey. This meant that I couldn’t turn around mid point and each unsuccessful search culminated in a spin around in the oddly located (but conveniently sited for me) Golf Club car park. Eventually I encountered another car which as luck would have it was a family member and we recognised each other from a meeting in London earlier in the year. As it turned out I had only passed the house 4 times…

Shared expresso, and then we dived straight into the predominantly MODO old stock kept in the basement. It was like an eyewear modern history lesson, and one that the father was clearly very proud to give. He had designed most of it and pioneered clever production techniques. He was also instrumental in getting certain frames manufactured in Japan - itself another huge eyewear centre in former years. MODO is not a cheap frame but this stock was proof that their price is justified.

One model in particular caught my interest because it had the old fashioned hooked earpieces or curlsides as they seem to be called now. These wrap around the ears for a secure fit - great for any activity where there is a risk of your glasses falling off - and are a rare find indeed. My only concern was that the arm length is a little shorter than I would have liked, making them quite a small fit - a fashionable feature in its day. However, the curlside is very flexible and I think as long as you try them before you have lenses fitted you will soon know if they fit ok. Textured metal finish added to their impressive pedigree - they do look rather cool! Then a brilliant discovery - there were still a handful of clip ons for them too!
Curlsides AND some clip ons - a handshake and they’re ours.

To see these curlside MODO models click here.

There was also a very classic acrylic design from the 90s - a fashionably slim rectangular shape with beautifully subtle metal frame arm design fully sleeved in tortoishell colour acrylic. These shout quality and sophistication, that ‘something extra’ which is so hard to define. Its like a great photograph - sometimes you cannot explain why it is a great photo, but you just know it is.

To see these 2 lovely acrylic models click here and scroll down to the bottom.

Lovely family and lots of lovely stock. I hugely overspent, but quality stock with full provenance like this just cannot be refused.

We get a lot of questions about how The Old Glasses Shop actually works - this mainly relates to whether our stock is new or used, where does it come from etc. So here goes!

In June I was fortunate enough to have a trip around Italy looking for glasses. I know, its tough but I do it for you, our customer. Fortunately my wife is also a Director of the business and so she made the sacrifice too.

Italy used to be THE eyewear capital of the world and still has a huge number of eyewear businesses based there (although most don’t manufacture there anymore… no prizes for guessing where that happens!).

I am terrible with languages. I can just about muster the basics - hello, goodbye, please and thank you - in Italian, but not much more. But I like to try. After all, infant school hand gestures and making a stab at pronunciation are part of the fun of foreign travel, even if you do look a complete idiot.
I also get tripped up by Italian words we use here in the UK - I asked for a Latte in a cafe in Bergamo and got a glass of milk. All good fun.

As such it was a great relief to find that there was always someone who spoke english at the businesses we went to.

Many of the companies I visited used to manufacture and still have stocks of frames sitting on their premises - in one case some of these dated back to the 1950s! Most of the brands were certainly well known and highly respected in their day, even if some names no longer exist.

This is the sort of stock, from all over the world, that forms the backbone of what we sell at The Old Glasses Shop - branded, genuinely high quality frames made in Italy, Japan, Austria, Germany, France, the UK etc. etc. This type of stock isn’t retro (i.e. made today to the same design as years ago), it is the ‘real thing’ - it IS from years ago. And its bloody fantastic stuff.

From the quality of materials to the standard of finish I am always reminded of the cliche “they don’t make them like they used to”. I feel better just looking at them!


On this trip we also had a major surprise. We uncovered an unexpected gem. A tiny young business in the northern hills that hand makes some of the best frames I have ever encountered.

The region used to be known for its wood carvings - both decorative and practical - and so it is fitting that this company make eyewear out of wood. If that conjures up visions of heavy, thick, clumsy designs that make you look like you left the opticians wearing the test equipment then you couldn’t be more wrong.
They are a gloriously brilliant blend of artisan skills with modern design and technology, strength and lightness. From men using electric hand drills to perfect shapes, to women using sand paper to smooth edges by hand (apparently they have found women do this best), we were genuinely knocked out by this little business. They are very big on sustainability too, from the wood to the packaging - "We could buy at a fifth of the price we pay but it goes against what we believe in". If you want to see the designs they created for us and read more about them see here http://www.theoldglassesshop.co.uk/feb31st/ (opens in new window).  We have one of each design, after that they are (beautifully) hand made to order.

It did turn out to be a very expensive visit - my wife fell in love with the model “Jacky” glasses and ordered some on the spot … when we got back, our daughter absolutely adored them and wants a pair for her birthday!

CARRERA 5670 PORSCHE PORSCHE DESIGN GLASSES BY CARRERA Stunning Vintage Half-Rim Frames

The unusual detailing on the bridge of these classic half rim glasses highlights the stunning red lacquer design on the frames and the arms. Who needs a 911, when you face is framed with such style?

These frames are brand new and have never been worn. They are complete with all their original packaging and Porsche Design case.

VINTAGE PORSCHE DESIGN GLASSES BY CARRERA 5675 Unique Lower Half-Rim Matt Gold Frames
Like an elegant vintage car parked outside an old country pub, these frames are not your run-of-the-mill spectacles. Prepare to be admired in these lower half-rim matt gold frames. The glasses are brand new and have never been worn. They come complete with all their original packaging and case, although the packaging – like all Old Masters – is showing signs of age.

VINTAGE PORSCHE DESIGN GLASSES BY CARRERA 5679 Gold & Silver Frames
For the lover of the more classic shaped spectacle, this superb design comprises a bridge with silver oval rims, seated on a gold finish wrap metal bar. The frames are of an exceptional quality and again are brand new and have never been worn.

Ferdinand Alexander Porsche believed that “Good design must be honest.” These frames are suitable for prescription lglasses lenses or sunglasses, but we’ll be honest and say that the Miami Vice colour combinations of the 1980s were probably ‘of their time.’
That’s why we recommend that, like Steve McQueen, in his Slate Gray 1970 Porsche 911S in the opening three minutes and 40 seconds of Le Mans, you take the classic route and take the classic brown, grey or green tint options. That way, if you ever find yourself snarling a 911 through the bucolic French countryside, you’ll be doing so in steely-eyed style.

“A Porsche will always look like a Porsche.” 
Ferdinand Alexander Porsche

Here at The Old Glasses Shop we stock all manner of styles, shapes and sizes of old fashioned prescription glasses and eyewear. It’s like an Aladdin’s Cave of Optical Delights. And we specialise in vintage designer glasses.

Staying with Christian Dior for the moment, we can find his eye for exquisite detail in these three frames:

Christian Dior 3519

The classic oval frames of Christian Dior style 3519 have a delicate and distinctive woven design, like an intricate lace finish, in the gold finish around the lenses.
The frames have the Dior logo at each temple and on the nose pads and the glasses are complete with their original demonstration lenses, classic Dior case and branded cloths.

For a darker shade of metal, to suit darker complexions or to add contrast to your look, the same frames are available in a bronze finish. And, like the gold glasses, the frames are suitable for prescription lenses.

The classic oval frames of Christian Dior style 3520

For a truly distinctive look, the elegance of the Christian Dior style 2075 vintage glasses will ensure that you stand out from the crowd. With their two-tone black and yellow gold finish, these oval frames are shaped in the classic high bridge reading style. 

Lose yourself in the classic spy novels of the 20th Century with an added element of mystery with a pair of these hard-to-find stylish spectacles.

Christian himself would want you to: “My dream? To make women happier and more beautiful.”
Christian Dior 1905-1957

1985. The year Billy Idol let out his ‘Rebel Yell’. The year that Jennifer Rush felt ‘The Power of Love’ – and for spectacle wearers the year that the NHS in England discontinued their dedicated range of glasses and replaced them with practical – but soulless – vouchers.

While Billy and Jennifer may have had their 15 minutes of fame, the nation’s love for NHS-style glasses hasn’t dimmed.

According to The College of Optometrists, “The high quality of NHS spectacles has meant that many frames have survived to the present day and they have now taken on a new identity - as desirable retro-chic eyewear.”

The true round NHS style spectacle

Here at The Old Glasses Shop we know this to be true. One of our best-selling vintage frames is the true round NHS-style spectacle, made by the original manufacturer under the Savile Row brand. The frames are handmade to order at the Algha Works factory on Fish Island in east London, where employees still use some of the same imported German machinery that has been in place since the factory opened in 1932.

Where some sellers don’t stock any styles of true round glasses, here at The Old Glasses Shop we stock over 20 different pairs. From gold and silver frames - to the more unusual acetate and turtle-patterned frames, there’s a round glasses style to suit every colouring.

The John Lennon style spectacle

John Lennon of the Beatles was often photographed in this style of round glasses. In fact a quick Google search under his name reveals an array of images of the singer songwriter wearing versions of both metallic wire frames and black frame round frame glasses.

The Ozzy Osbourne style spectacle

Rock and TV reality star Ozzy Osbourne is another musical fan of the round glasses style. The self-styled ‘Prince of Darkness’ - and one time lead vocalist of British rock band Black Sabbath - is often to be seen rocking a tinted lens with his true round glasses in a rainbow of shades from blue to pink, to a suitably gothic black.

Google images screen grab Ozzy Osbourne in true round glasses, March 2015

Where Harry Potter meets Morrissey

In recent years Daniel Radcliffe’s portrayal of the boy wizard, Harry Potter, has increased the popularity of the NHS style round glasses. Like Morrissey, with his Elastoplast glasses repairs, the young Harry Potter struggled with keeping his frames intact.

When Harry and Ron Weasley first met Hermione Grainger on screen – in Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone, way back in 1991 – it was aboard the Hogwart’s Express. Hermione popped her head around the carriage door in search of ‘a boy named Neville’s toad.’ On facing Harry for the first time, she pointed her wand at the bridge of his glasses, which was held together by Sellotape.

“Oculus reparo!”

Harry and Ron gasped as the glasses mended, instantly.

“That’s better isn’t it?” she said, as Harry examined them.

Hermione then caught sight of the scar on Harry’s forehead.

“Holy Cricket! You’re Harry Potter!”

Now, we can’t promise to issue an “Oculus reparo” spell with our vintage eyewear. But we can promise that we can help you find the style of glasses you used to love years ago.

From the Jack Duckworth and Morrissey style heavy-rimmed NHS style of spectacle frame, to the classic and lightweight true round glasses style, all the stock we hold is genuine and brand new. Our glasses are not replicas or reproductions but are hidden treasures, gems that we have discovered in the dusty and forgotten corners of warehouses around the globe and brought to you for sale.

Happy customers worldwide

Here’s what some of our happy customers around the world say:

“I already own a pair of round John Lennon style glasses made at the Alga Works in London. I needed another pair as mine were getting a bit tired and I needed a pair for best. After some research I found the OldGlassesShop.co.uk. I was going away for a while so phoned them to make my order, requesting they hang on to the frames till I notified them again. On returning home I phoned and left a message. The glasses arrived the next morning. I am extremely pleased with my purchase from theoldglassesshop.co.uk and will definitely use the in future and would strongly recommend them to anyone looking for quality frames."

"Despite what several opticians told me it is possible to buy glasses with round lenses and not for an earth-shattering sum. The service was amazingly fast and the glasses themselves faultless."

"Round style glasses are increasingly difficult to find so I was very pleased to find this site.
Even more so for their super service and fast delivery (I live in France) for a top quality product."

So, whether you’re looking for true round glasses or an old fashioned prescription glasses style you thought was no longer available, we’d love to help you find a style that suits you.

But, with so many shapes and styles to choose from, how can you find out which shape and style of glasses will suit you?

How to find out your face shape

Different frames and different styles of glasses suit different face shapes. And it can be hard to work out what your actual face shape is. Your hairline, jawline and facial features can all get in the way and distract you when you look in the mirror.

So here are two quick and simple methods you can use to work out whether your face is classically ‘square’, ‘round’, ‘heart-shaped’ or ‘oval’. This will help you choose from the wide range of old fashioned glasses we have in stock.

Method one

You will need:

• A mirror
• A soft eye make up pencil or lip liner
• A hairband or tight beanie-style hat

How to do it:

1. Place your mirror in a good source of light and make sure it’s clean.
2. Pull your hair back from your face with either a hairband or a tight beanie hat. (You need to be able to see your forehead without the distraction of any hair.
3. Pick up the eye pencil or lip crayon.
4. Look straight into the mirror.
5. Keeping your head still, mark a series of dots on the surface of the mirror, around the reflection of your face. Move in a clockwise motion from your forehead to your cheeks, your cheeks to your chin and around to the other side of your face. (You don’t need to include your ears in your outline.)
6. Keeping your face in the same position, gently sketch a series of short lines between the dots on the mirror to join them up.
7. Move your face away from the mirror.
8. There you will see your actual face shape. (We’ve added some extra descriptions below to help you make sure you’ve got it right.)
9. Remember to clean the mirror!

Method two

You will need:

• A printed headshot-style photograph of your face, looking straight into the camera
• A piece of tracing paper
• Two paperclips
• A soft-leaded pencil

How to do it:

1. Position the tracing paper over the photograph and clip it into place with the paperclips.

2. Carefully trace the outline of your face shape with the pencil, taking care not to damage the surface of the photograph.

3. Remove the tracing paper and look at the shape you have drawn. This is your actual face shape. (We’ve added some extra descriptions below to help you make sure you’ve got it right.)

How to define your face shape

If your forehead, cheekbones and jawline are almost exactly the same width apart…

Your face shape is SQUARE.

You join women like Angelina Jolie and Winona Rider and men like David Beckham in having strong features, defined cheekbones and an angular jaw.

Your ideal glasses style is ROUNDED – look at rounded aviator-style frames, rectangular frames with soft, rounded corners and frames with minimal detailing. Consider frames that are slightly wider than your cheekbones to avoid overwhelming your features.

Look at designers like Avalon, Burberry, Carrera and Winchester.

AVOID: narrow, boxy frames as these will get lost on your face.

If your face is as wide as it is long, with the maximum width at your cheekbones…

Your face shape is ROUND.

Look at Drew Barrymore, Charlotte Church and Mila Kunis for women with your face shape and men like Jack Black, Kanye West and Elijah Wood.

Your ideal glasses style is RECTANGULAR – look at frames with bold, angular lines and styles where the bottom rim sits just above your cheekbone. Large glasses are an ideal style for you. Choose a solid frame with a defined, angular line to elongate your face.

Look at designers like Hugo Boss, Burberry, Ray Ban and Versace.

AVOID: round, circular style frames as these will shorten the appearance of your face.

If your face tapers clearly from your forehead and narrows at your chin, which tends to be pointed…

Your face is HEART-SHAPED.

You join women like Cheryl Cole and Naomi Campbell, Reece Witherspoon and Scarlett Johansson and men like Leonardo di Caprio, John Legend, Colin Farrell and Justin Bieber.

Your ideal glasses style is OVAL – look at frames that are bottom-heavy and lower at the temples to add balance to your face. Oval shaped frames draw attention to your eyes. You can also carry off a rimless or light-framed style with ease.

Hea

Look at designers like Boucheron, Burberry, Versace and Yamamoto.

AVOID: frames with detailed embellishments on the outer edges, frames that are top heavy or wider at the top.

If your face is longer between your cheekbones and your chin than it is across from cheekbone to cheekbone…

Your face shape is OVAL.

Uma Thurman, Elle MacPherson and Jessica Alba all have oval faces. As Jude Law, Jake Gyllenhaal and Hugh Laurie. You have the most versatile face shape of all and can experiment with almost all frames. Feel free to play with colours and textures too, you suit most frames.

Your ideal glasses style is BOLD – think oversized frames and strong colours and textures. Consider your features; the more angular your nose and jaw, the rounder the frame that will suit you.

Look at the hexagonal, cat eye and panto-shaped glasses on the site for something a little different. Designers like Carrera, Roberto Cavalli and Winchester offer something a little bolder to suit your face shape.

AVOID: taking the safe option, you’ve got the face shape to carry off even the boldest style.

Any questions? As ever, feel free to email or call us 01434 221122 with any questions you might have. We want you to be delighted with the glasses you order from us and will do our best to help you choose which ones are right for you.