When it comes to eyeglasses, clear vision and comfort are of course the main goals, but you can also let your sense of style shine through with fashion-forward frames and lenses. Here in Singapore we have a handful of optical stores that are dedicated to making high-quality glasses that are fresh, contemporary and sure to turn heads. Whether you need a sleek new pair of reading specs, snazzy everyday glasses or super stylish sunnies, these boutique shops can sort you out with trendy eyewear to suit your face and unique personality.
Gentle Monster
Step inside any Gentle Monster store and you’ll find high-fashion sunglasses and unique art installations. The South Korean brand opened their first Singapore boutique in ION Orchard, followed by a second shop in The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. No two stores are alike, so you never know what to expect when you walk through the doors. GM often collaborates with artists and fashion designers to create collections of contemporary shades that range from quirky and artsy to classic but with an edgy twist.
Gentle Monster, 2 Orchard Turn, ION Orchard #01-13, Singapore 238801. p. +65-6634-1580. Open daily 10am – 10pm & 2 Bayfront Avenue, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands #B2-103/104/105, Singapore 018972. p. +65 6699 7257. Open Sun – Thurs 10:30am – 11pm, Fri – Sat 10:30am – 11:30pm
OWNDAYS
Japanese brand OWNDAYS offers quality glasses at affordable prices starting from just $78. They have over 1,500 styles and shapes to choose including round, square, oval, Wellington, Boston and more, so you’re sure to find a pair to suit your face. Each pair of glasses comes with high index aspheric lenses that protect against UV rays and have a dust-resistant coating. They also promise to process your glasses in just 20 minutes upon payment, and can do lens replacement even for glasses that aren’t from their shop.
OWNDAYS, 68 Orchard Road, #03-04 Plaza Singapura, Singapore 238839. p. +65 6222 0588. Open daily 11am – 10pm (and various locations around Singapore)
O+ Eyewear
Homegrown brand O+ Eyewear was created by David Hwang, who worked for 20 years designing and manufacturing glasses for eyewear chain stores. Together with his sons, he created this single-label brand where you can snag quality frames that are meant to last from their online shop or brick and mortar stores. You can opt for a variety of frames in different shapes and colours, then add any lenses you like from prescription to full on UV coverage.
O+ Eyewear, 333A Orchard Road, Mandarin Gallery #02-04, Singapore 238897. p. +65 6219 3615. Open daily 11am – 9pm & 6A Shenton Way, OUE Downtown Gallery #01-07, Singapore 068815. p. +65 6224 2277. Open Mon – Sat 11am – 9pm
Richard’s Atelier
If you’re looking for eye-popping sunnies and flattering frames, Richard’s Atelier is your spot. Each store has a vast array of Korean glasses brands to choose from including Gentle Monster, Grafik and Alpen Eyewear. They also work closely with Korea’s oldest glasses manufacturer, Hwangbo Precision, to ensure each pair is of the highest quality. From tinted aviators to avant garde frames in fun patterns and comfy glasses to wear around the house, you’ll find it all here.
Richard’s Atelier, 181 Orchard Rd, Orchard Central #05-48, Singapore 238896. Open daily 11am – 10pm (and locations at JEM and Suntec City Mall)
Visual Mass
Founded in 2013 by two Singaporean opticians, Visual Mass makes quality, design-conscious glasses that won’t break the bank. The owners draw inspiration from retro looks, classic styles and the latest fashion trends to produce collections that will appeal to all tastes and budgets. You can pick any frame for your prescription lenses or let the team know that you want a slick pair of sunnies, and they’ll throw in some dark lenses. They also offer free eye examinations.
Visual Mass, 277 Orchard Road, Orchard Gateway #B2-30, Singapore 238858. p. +65 6702 3480. Open daily 11:30am – 9:30pm
Zoff
Zoff first opened its doors in Tokyo in 2001, and immediately made waves for their fashionable, yet functional glasses in a wide variety of shapes, colours and styles. Their mantra is ‘Always Fresh’, so they release new designs every two weeks to stay on top of the latest trends and give customers plenty of ways to express themselves. Standard scratch-resistant lenses with anti-reflective coating are included in the frame price and your specs can be ready for you in as little as 30 minutes.
Zoff, 2 Orchard Turn, ION Orchard #B4-11, Singapore 238801. p. +65 6365 1346. Open daily 10am – 10pm (and locations at Orchard Central, Lumine and Suntec City Mall)
