Vintage Eyewear Goldmine |

By Myriam ‘M♥’ Richard

A little more than a week ago, Gerardine and I stepped into a world where Hip Hop was real. It’s not all about rap and floor rock. It’s a lifestyle. And there we met Corey Shapiro, a man whose very brain is a gold mine in Hip Hop history, and is a tangible proof of its classic and perennial status.

Though I could spawn a book-ful of articles about him and the content of his cerebrum, it’s more about him as an eyewear stylist and moreover as the head of the Vintage Frame Company, the World’s largest authentic designer vintage eyewear distributor, that I will share with you. With approximately 2800 labels like Cazal and Gaultier, spread in 1.4 million frames to choose from, ranging from 150$ to 25 000$, Vintage Frame Company is undoubtedly the mecca for vintage eyewear. Clearly the place to prove that 60 years of eyewear style can keep its classicism.

Finnalli

Christian Dior

A purchase at Vintage Frame Company gives you a frame that is un-worned and always catered to the person who will wear them. “The glasses are not about how they fit your face, its about the personality, the attitude”, Shapiro adds. Having styled such celebrities as Pharell Williams, Ryan Leslie and Rick Ross, the stylist consultant (he also takes care of the branding for certain artists) keeps piling up names to his roster of clients. Recently in Ottawa, he met with none other than Lady Gaga, a notorious and fervent wearer of unconventional glasses, for a private showing. He is also partnering with Ms. Amber Rose, ex hip-hop video girl now turned business entrepreneur, for the opening of a new vintage eyewear store in Los Angeles.

Lady Gaga wearing vintage Dejour View 1961

Amber Rose in Ultra Caviar Collection

Of course we couldn’t leave without having the pleasure of trying a couple of frames, and one of us (not me, hehe) clearly was like a kid in a candy/chocolate/toy store. We finally put Shapiro to the test and asked him to style us on the spot. And truth be told, the result was nothing short of fabulous. He chose for me the X Cazal 951 Limited Edition, which I fancied the second I saw myself in the mirror. Red frames that matched my red highlights… perfect!

Flat top Cazal

Cazal 951 Limited Edition

Bausch & Lomb

Vintage Prosight (lenseless)

As the company has taken care of celebrities since 2003, it now wants to appeal to the mass. For this purpose, it just launched its strategically curated online shop www.vintageframesshop.com. You can also purchase their vintage frames at boutiques such as LXR and Three Monkeys.

Hip Hop is a form of freedom of speech, and though sunglasses can’t speak, they can be loud with style. And if you crave that loudness, you’ll know where to go.

Eyewear creativity at its best!