Coast into summer with a fresh pair of sunnies from one of these local retailers.
Soma Optical’s South End store. / Courtesy photo
For Hip Prescription Lenses
Soma Optical
This South End shop is a labor of love for husband-and-wife team Christos and Alissa Karabelas, who recommend that customers make appointments so they can give them their full attention. Featuring a midcentury vibe, the boutique feels more like a modern gallery than an optical shop—which is fitting given that most of the eyewear is crafted by artisans whose creations are true works of art.
8 Union Park, Boston, 857-220-7662, soma-optical.com.
Jacques Marie Mage shades from Lunette Optic. / Courtesy photo
For Hard-to-Find Makers
Lunette Optic
121 High St., Boston, 617-338-7200; and other locations, lunetteoptic.com.
Bold frames in rainbow hues from See Eyewear. / Courtesy photos
For Unconventional Colors and Silhouettes
See Eyewear
See produces its sunglasses, all priced at $149, in small batches from Italian materials, meaning you’re unlikely to see your chosen pair worn by others around town. The brand is known for its exaggerated shapes—from cat-eye to Coke-bottle round—and bold colors (see: the vibrant pink and orange frames as well as mirrored-purple and lime-green lenses). The shop stocks classic styles, too, but where’s the fun in that?
115 Newbury St., Boston, 617-236-0105; 1276 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-868-1500; seeeyewear.com.
For Frames with Icon Status
Oliver Peoples
With its herringbone-patterned floors, leather accents, and walls lined with rich wood shelving, Oliver Peoples’ sophisticated location in the Pru is a fitting backdrop for the brand’s handcrafted sunglasses, which veer toward tried-and-true shapes—think wayfarers and aviators. Bonus for tennis lovers: This year, Roger Federer designed a collection of lifestyle frames, as well as the brand’s first-ever eye-shield style suited for court play.
Prudential Center, Boston, 617-587-9845, oliverpeoples.com.
For Trendy Brands
Edge Luxury Eyewear
Want to be in tune with the new “it” shades? Drop by this Newbury Street boutique for a vast selection of top-tier designer sunglasses, including frames by Cartier, Celine, Lanvin, and Gucci. Employees are not only well versed in the store’s offerings, they’re also extremely knowledgeable about celebrity culture and can tell you what frames a slew of stars are wearing. While most pairs here cost a pretty penny, they’re sure to last for years to come, thanks to the full-service repair lab on-site.
219 Newbury St., Boston, 617-331-3678, edgeluxuryeyewear.com.
First published in the print edition of the June 2024 issue with the headline, “Shades of Summer.”
