The Blog

· December 13th, 2024

TO READ · 02/16/2018

Books We Love: “Tokyo Fiancée” by Amélie Nothomb

“Tokyo Fiancée” is a charming and poetic (and highly autobiographical!) tale of two unlikely beings merging

It’s 1989 in Tokyo, Japan. Amelie is a 22-year-old Belgian on a quest to reconnect with her Japanese roots. She needs a job and puts up a notice offering her services as a French tutor. That very evening, the phone rings. On the other end is her one and only student, Rinri.

“Tokyo Fiancée” is a charming and poetic (and highly autobiographical!) tale of two unlikely beings merging. With cultural differences and language barriers galore, Rinri and Amelie discover each other, their friends, family, and Japan. It is a story about koi, rather than love. What is koi, you ask? The term used in Japan to describe a relationship that is “light, fresh, fluid and devoid of seriousness.” While Amelie delights in koi, Rinri, ever the diligent student, plays at love. No other type of fancy could be more suited to our heroine as, in addition to seeking companionship, she equally strives to retain a strong sense of identity and independence.

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TO BUY · 02/09/2018

Introducing Epigraph Collection

An epigraph is a literary inscription—the line of poetry or the morsel of philosophy that appears on the opening page of a novel. It’s the detail that sets the tone for the whole book. A small element, but a critical one. In our case, it’s the subtle yet punchy metal design detail that defines six of our new frames.

An epigraph is a literary inscription—the line of poetry or the morsel of philosophy that appears on the opening page of a novel. It’s the detail that sets the tone for the whole book. A small element, but a critical one. In our case, it’s the subtle yet punchy metal design detail that defines six of our new frames.

For the eyeglasses in the group—think classic styles, ranging from cat-eye to rectangular—we employed a custom metal end piece with an integrated hinge, a wraparound accent that quietly elevates the frame’s aesthetic. The sunglasses strike another tone: modern, slightly eccentric shapes outfitted with eye-catching metal brow bars, plus custom metal end pieces of their own.

Each limited-edition pair was made in Italy from a high-quality mix of premium cellulose acetate and lightweight stainless steel.

Shop ’em right here>

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TO READ · 01/26/2018

To Read: Where have you been hibernating?

It’s dark out already, let us sleep. We could all use a retreat from the world for the rest of the season, but if you can’t escape waking life, try curling up with these literary hideaways.

It’s dark out already, let us sleep. We could all use a retreat from the world for the rest of the season, but if you can’t escape waking life, try curling up with these literary hideaways.

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TO READ · 01/17/2018

To Read: How will you rule the school?

Back to school post-holidays? We wish. It was so much easier to exercise power among such pliable subjects—but here are some guides to practicing the art of war among the grown-ups.

Back to school post-holidays? We wish. It was so much easier to exercise power among such pliable subjects—but here are some guides to practicing the art of war among the grown-ups.

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TO BUY · 01/09/2018

Spring-a-ling-a-ding

It’s top of the year and change is top of mind. (Those New Year’s resolutions going okay?) A fresh coat of paint is one way to liven things up…or you could save the fuss and nab yourself some new frames. (We’ve got 19 of ’em.)

It’s top of the year and change is top of mind. (Those New Year’s resolutions going okay?) A fresh coat of paint is one way to liven things up…or you could save the fuss and nab yourself some new frames. (We’ve got 19 of ’em.)

See? Right here.

TO DO · 12/21/2017

New York, Neeew Yooooork!

A couple of weeks ago, we opened two new New York City stores, and we’re still feeling all the we-heart-New-York feelings. One’s on Columbus Avenue (just down the street from Lincoln Center) and the other is at Rockefeller Center (right by…everything!).

A couple of weeks ago, we opened two new New York City stores, and we’re still feeling all the we-heart-New-York feelings. One’s on Columbus Avenue (just down the street from Lincoln Center) and the other is at Rockefeller Center (right by…everything!).

Inside our Rockefeller Center store, look up and you’ll find a sweeping reproduction of Stuart Davis’s 1954 mural “Study for Allée, No. 2.” It’s a nod to his work that’s been inside of Radio City Music Hall, right across the street, for decades.

Columbus Ave. is decorated with entrancing original artwork too. It’s a part-bird’s-eye, part-below-ground panorama of the Upper West Side by New York-based artist JooHee Yoon.

Small vignettes from the mural—of people reading in Central Park, lazing about on fire escapes, speeding across subway platforms—are available as postcards and free for the taking. (Davis’s artwork at Rockefeller Center has also been postcard-ified, so grab one of those if you stop in.)

We’re commemorating both new stores with a style of New York City-exclusive sunglasses that you can find at our now-eight locations around town and nowhere else. The frame is Downing in Jet Black, and just for NYC, we’ve outfitted it with gleaming Flash Mirrored Pacific Blue lenses. Pop into any Warby Parker in New York to take a look.

See you around town! (Maybe wearing that special edition of Downing?)

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TO DO · 12/08/2017

Exciting new-store news

Last month, we opened new locations: in St. Louis (our first store in town) and in San Francisco (our second spot in a city we know and love).

Last month, we opened new locations: in St. Louis (our first store in town) and in San Francisco (our second spot in a city we know and love).

Our St. Louis store is in Central West End, home to independent galleries and delicious restaurants we’re *very* excited to be in the midst of. St. Louis native William LaChance produced a technicolored original mural for the new store—come inside and get lost in its abstract loveliness.

Art by William LaChance

Union Square is where you’ll find our second store in San Francisco. We face right onto the square (can’t miss us), and we’ve got playful artwork by SF-based illustrator Roman Muradov splashed on our walls.

Art by Roman Muradov

If you’re in the vicinity of either store, we’d love to show you around. We’ve got locations all over, though! Head here to see them all.

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