These are some notes and links for a workshop I did with Morgan Gasman at #CostumeCollege2024 on “Tips for finding low-cost high style prescription glasses and ways to modify them for aesthetics and comfort.” Photos from the workshop will appear here when I get some. (Did you take pictures during the lecture? If so, send them to tara@costumes-org ) Meanwhile, here are the useful links for workshop goers and others:

ALERT! Someone at the workshop inadvertently left a pair of their own Zenni animal print glasses amidst my show-and tell glasses that were packed up and taken home to San Rafael! To have me send them to you Text (or phone) me at 415-272-5157 and give me your name and address so I can mail your prescription peepers back to you!

Online Purveyors of good wild and mild prescription fashion glasses at prices too cheap to fathom:

• Muukal (use code ENJOY3 at checkout to get 3 pairs for $119) https://muukal.com/eyeglasses/index/set/3pairsave.html REAL PRESCRIPTION GLASSES, NOT READERS!
• Wherelight (use code PAY3 at checkout to get 3 pairs for $169) https://www.wherelight.com/ REAL PRESCRIPTION GLASSES, NOT READERS!

Online Glasses at higher prices than these crazy deals, but still good rates. If you sign up for spam, you can often also get BOGO and other offers in your weekly spam from them.

• Payne Glasses Very good prices. They also sell a lot of prescription sports goggles which might be useful for cosplay. https://www.payneglasses.com
• Zenni Very high quality, at good prices with lenses made in Ignacio, California – Really great safety glasses also! Check out the collection created by the late Iris Apfel for some extremely fun styles. https://www.zennioptical.com
• Vooglam is nearly all big wild “statement” glasses in fun colors and patterns. If you are looking for something you want for a Rita Skeeter cosplay or have have seen an over the top style somewhere that is not already at Wherelight, this is your best shot at finding it. https://www.vooglam.com/
• Aoolia is where i go to drool over glasses that I’m typically too cheap to buy. They sell ones that look like they escaped from a 1980s futuristic space comedy designed by “New Wave” Italians. They sell for what you would pay at your doctor’s office, https://www.aoolia.com/category-high-end-designer-glasses-520 happily quite a few of their styles filter into Wherelight eventually.

Where to get any type lenses put into glasses you own:

• https://www.lensdirect.com/
• https://lensfactory.com/
• https://www.lensabl.com/choose-my-lenses
• Replacement Lenses (for Eyeglasses, Readers, and more) (39dollarglasses.com)
• https://www.eyeglasses.com/replacement-lenses
• Explore Replacement Lens Options | ReplaceRxLenses
• Lens Replacement: New Lenses for Your Frames, Free 2-Day Shipping (overnightglasses.com)

Links on Glasses History & Places to Purchase Reenactor type Glasses :

• The Historic Eyewear Company http://m.historiceyewearcompany.com/ has a useful downloadable article on History on Your Face – Common Spectacle Styles Before,
  During and After the Civil War, 1835 – 1870 and sells styles reproduced from American history from the 1830s to the 1930s.
• The Sunglasses Museum sells only single prescription readers and sunglasses, but their “steampunk” collection includes a number of 19th Century historic styles, and they have lots of big classic 1970s and 1980s styles also. My favorite are these early 19th century repro sunglasses perfect for a Bridgerton party: https://www.sunglassmuseum.com/collections/steampunk-signature-collection/products/tiny-oval-spectacle-sunglass-with-sliding-temples?variant=41258028499125
• Want 18th century style specs like the sunglasses you can buy in Colonial Williamsburg? You can get them with a prescription here, but for mucho $$$: https://eyeglass.com/collections/retro-eyeglass-frames/products/funky-little-round-eyeglasses-30mm-gl791
  • Etsy is the Big Kahuna for finding historical and fantasy styles, shipped from all over:
    • https://www.etsy.com/shop/BijouxGiftBoutique sells Lorgnette and Pince-Nez readers as well as fancy sewist attachments for chatelaines.
    • https://www.etsy.com/shop/ZanozaWorkshop in Moldova sells laser cut replicas of Medieval and Renaissance eyeglass frames. You can get them with reader lenses for a bit more, or stick in and old lenses of your broken glasses by cutting the edges down to size of the frame.
    • https://www.etsy.com/shop/Themouseandshield also makes these in a slightly different aesthetic.
  • https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheMedievalForge in Germany does similar frames, plus they sell 15th-16th century style shoes.
  • https://www.etsy.com/search?q=pince%20nez&ref=search_bar Pince Nez
  • https://www.etsy.com/listing/1698845884/blue-eye-samurai-mizu-glasses-antique Anime Glasses
  • https://www.etsy.com/shop/Arturokyy sells reproduction Antique Chinese items including repro historical sunglasses!
  • https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheWickedLotus sells glowing anime goggles.
  • https://www.etsy.com/market/rezz_hypno_goggles More light up weird goggles and glasses

Actual Vintage and Antique Glasses

• While you can also hunt on Etsy for Pince-nes and other vintage glasses, the best deals can be found on eBay simply by typing in the search “vintage eyeglasses lot”. If you bid low on several group sets you usually will find one or more lots come your way

Stick On Lenses

• eBay is also the best place to order Bifocal Liquid Silicone Reusable Reading Stick-on Magnification lenses at a low price, These can cheaply be used to turn any sunglasses or party glasses into readers.

Vintag-ish readers, Party Glasses and Blinged-out Fashion Sunglasses

• https://amazon.com has plenty, with fast shipping: check out some at my list https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/252SCKCUV3FDS?ref_=wl_share

Other Glasses I Just Learned about…..

• Wondered why guys in prison wear funky looking glasses? They are designed to not be capable to be turned into weapons by having no metal parts. You can buy these here: https://eyeglass.com/collections/prisoner-and-military-glasses