10 Sunglasses Stores in Vancouver to Source Your Next Pair of Shades

Wearing sunglasses are probably the only “cool” thing you can do that’s actually good for you (sorry, smoking cigarettes). If you’re looking to up your glasses game this summer, there are plenty of local opticians, glasses stores and designers that offer pretty and polarized styles… let’s throw some shades.

10 Great Places to Buy Sunglasses in Vancouver

The Optical Boutique

If you’d describe your personal style as “boring” or “minimalist,” this isn’t the sunglasses store for you… then again, all it takes is a cool pair of sunnies to take an outfit from blah to bold. The Optical Boutique’s eclectic collection (including these Bottega Veneta beauties, on sale for $335) is the answer to monotony.

Address: 2265 W 41st Ave.
Website: theopticalboutique.com

Frankly

Don’t let this pair of $635 Kuboraum sunglasses (described as “anarchy in a frame” online) scare you: Frankly has plenty of more subdued frames in their Mount Pleasant showroom. But come on, these are fun—if nothing else, you’ve gotta try on the crazy ones. You might accidentally fall in love.

Address: 28 W 7th Ave.
Website: franklyglasses.com

Niche Eyewear Boutique

The gals behind local company Niche (Valerie Afriat and Michele Grisack) travel the world to stay in touch with the trendiest eyewear—like these dreamy green polarized Mykita Hemlock frames (price upon request).

Address: 1493 W 12th Ave.; 1965 W 4th Ave.; 1370 Marine Dr.
Website: nicheeyewearboutique.com

Exhibit Optical

The Kitsilano eyewear shop is run by an impossibly cool family and the selection here reflects their bold taste; its a shop full of stuff picked for “collectors and creatives.” In addition to cult-fave brands like Cazal or Barcelona-based Etnia (they’re responsible for these Selena Gomez-approved Ampat frames, above, price on request), there’s a big stock of cool vintage sunnies here that can be re-fit to your prescription.

Address: 2675 W 4th Ave.
Website: exhibitoptical.com

 

 

Warby Parker

Warby Parker is one of the more affordable optical stores around—sunglasses like these garnet tortoise Aubrey frames start at $95. If you can’t make it out to Kits, the online shop offers virtual try-on, too.

Address: 2290 W 4th Ave.
Website: warbyparker.com

Ollie Quinn

If you aren’t blessed with 20/20 vision (guilty—without my glasses I can’t find my glasses, Velma-style), you know that buying perscription sunglasses it the ultimate pain in the ass. Ooh, I get to pay twice as much because my eyes don’t work? Amazing. But Ollie Quinn offers a pretty unique solution: along with regular sunglasses, the store offers clip-on sunnies (like these Owen clip-ons, $75) that fit over their standard styles.

Address: 2082 W 4th Ave., 948 Robson St., 1928 Commercial Dr., 3785 Main St.
Website: olliequinn.com

Bailey Nelson

Australian-based Bailey Nelson has leaned into the skinny sunnies trend, with lots of sleek it-girl frames on offer (the Clueless-inspired Tai frames above also come in orange and pink, and start at $99). Also, they’re having a two-for-a-deal sale right now… get a pair for the Dionne to your Cher (or the Josh to your Cher if you’re in love with your stepbrother, we’re not judging).

Address: 2232 W 4th Ave.; 1135 Robson St.; 3585 Main St.
Website: baileynelson.com

Kits Eyewear

Coffee shop/optical store hybrid Kits offers colourful sunglasses in different frame sizes (helpful if you have a larger-than-average head). The in-house brands are so affordable, it’s almost unheard of (the Jace Sun glasses pictured above are $28), but they carry designer sunnies, too (think Prada and Versace).

Address: 1500 Yew St.
Website: kits.ca

 

Specsavers

Specsavers is impossible to ignore… partly because of eye-catching colours like these $199 cat-eye glasses, and partly because their targeted Instagram ads are going off right now. There’s more than 15 locations in the Lower Mainland and hundreds of shades to choose from.

Address: Multiple locations
Website: specsavers.ca

Clearly

For lovers of the classics (like the Ray Ban Clubmasters pictured above, $228), there’s Vancouver-founded Clearly. The local brand is also a good choice for lovers of fast shipping—from personal experience, these sunnies arrive soon. Just in time to showcase your new shades at patio happy hour.

Address: 961 Robson St., 2152 W 4th Ave.
Website: clearly.ca