Hello Fodorites! <BR><BR>I must say that if you are in need of, or just want another pair of eyeglasses, you've got to check out the eyewear shoppes in Milan and Venice. We were in these cities, plus Florence and the Amalfi region, and the selection and prices on eyewear were so fantastic in Milan and Venice. The prices about 50-75% less for designer eyewear than in the states. And we are talking Romeo Gigli, Alain Mikli, Armani, and other high end brand-names. <BR><BR>I actually bought a pair at the Milan airport in 5 minutes (usually it takes me hours to find that "perfect" frame. They were 104 Euro, and I know that the same ones go for $400 in NYC. <BR><BR>If you need more shopping tips, just write back!

Kiki,<BR>Specifically where in Milan were the eyewear shops? Last year when I was flying into Milan (early May) I struck up conversation with man on the train who was on his way to a tradeshow there. Unfortunately tradeshow was only for those in industry & not open to public (sigh!). I've been wanting to search out interesting avante style frames. Suggestions on where to look for my next visit to Italy ???<BR>

Anyone over sixteen who stills chirps the once-mighty, now pathetic, Gen-X- demolished word "awesome" (especially to describe a shopping trip) should be ignored. Especially if they're named Kiki.

You can find these great prices at just about any department store or specialty store in Italy that sells designer specs. Rinascente is near the Duomo. Another, more hip store, also near the Duomo also has great selections. I can't remember the name right now, but it starts with an F and has two angels as its logo.<BR><BR>In any case, the great prices are probably due to the fact that most of these frames are manufactured under license by Luxxotica, which is based in the NOrth of Italy. There's a lot less tax on them before they get to the U.S.!

What's the current look of eyeglasses in Italy? Colored frames, big, small, shape, etc?

Graphite-colored & matte (non-shiny)silver, copper, bronze or gold is in & relatively small-to-medium sized frames are in right now. They're not as tiny as the black French frames of a few years ago, but not the big, chunky frames of the 1980's either.

Donna, The Sally Jessie Raphael look is very big right now. Go for the biggest, reddest frames you can find. Dressing in all black really sets them off!

To give you an idea of the mark-up on eyeglass frames, I was in Hong Kong in 1994 and bought two pair; one was 18k gold plated, the other was 22k gold plated, each for $26. When I brought them in to my eye doctor I asked her what she thought they were worth; she said at least $200 each.

Kiki, sweetie, Romeo Gigli was over about 5 years ago.<BR><BR>Little Red Riding Hood, Balenciaga Le Dix, Hedi Slimane, and Imitation of Christ are in.<BR><BR>Where have you been? <BR><BR>Love you, mean it.

Sunglasses are much cheaper over here also!! I picked up a great pair of Versace sun glasses for 150 dm, last summer and the price tag had several different currencies on them and the dollar price was 375.00. Anyone who would spend that kind of money for sunglasses has more money then sense but I got them for 75.00 I thought that was a great deal...

John, thanks so much for your input on Milan stores - I agree. Also, check out the airport shops in Milan. I know it sounds crazy, but they have fantastic eyewear that I saw in the fancy Milan shops, and the pricing was a little better.<BR><BR>Donna, in Venice the best store for eyewear that I found is Ottice 2000 at the address San Marco, Camp S. Gallo, 1092 - 30124 Venezia.<BR><BR>Tess, the styles that are in now are what Bella Donna stated - matte metal colored frames in jewel tones. Also the plastic rectangular frames are incredibly popular, in wild colors. Lots of them have that pressed look, meaning 2 or 3 colored layers of plastic, so depending on the angle the someone sees you at, they may catch a different color. Everyone in Italy was wearing these, including red and orange!<BR><BR>By the way, two of the owners of the eyewear stores were wearing the newest Romeo Gigli plastic frames and they looked awesome - one pair had this very thin line of cobalt blue plastic that you saw only if you looked at them a certain way!<BR><BR><BR><BR>

Kiki, again with the awesome?<BR><BR>Try conversing for ten minutes without using the word "awesome". Tomorrow fifteen minutes, the next day twenty...in a few years you'll be talking like a grown-up.

some adults also use the words awesome - even the ones with several degrees and six figure incomes! I should know...<BR><BR>it's called - don't take yourself so seriously, and people might actually like you.<BR><BR>puh-leez.

Oh, yes - there is also an awesome eyewear store in Florence called Instituto Ottico Sorio at Bargo S. Jacopo, 36 R. It is very close to my favorite lunch spot - Quattro Leone (fantastic asparagus ravioli that is as light as a pillow) with an infused basil/butter sauce, and the arugola salad with pesto dressing is AWESOME AND OUTRAGEOUS!!!!<BR><BR><BR><BR>

"Eyewear"--is that like glasses?

Hi Jane,<BR><BR>Yes - just a fancier name. Italy has fantastic eyewear and you can bring the frames home and have your optician make the lenses (did you know that at Lenscrafters, if you are a AAA auto member, you get 30% off?). If you are looking for the hip Gucci/Prada look of the tinted glasses to wear around, there are plenty of really nice ones there too. Hope this helps!

Tell me more about the restaurant! I'm drooling here!

Oh, AWESOME!!!!!<BR><BR>Yer right adult I feel sooooo awwwesome now!!! And young!! and....and awesome!!! and everbuddy likes me!!!<BR><BR>Its rilly awesome!!!

adult, sweetie, it's true awesome WAS over about five years ago.

Does that mean that I'm retro now?!