Usually if people mean "new but looks old," they call it "retro," or might specify "vintage-style."

"Vintage" means actually old.

I see.

why these fashionable people gotta make us work so hard

now i can't just walk into a store and pick up some glasses

i have to know the style history of the brand and then stalk ebay for that exact model I want?

well, I better get started then. lol

Flea markets are good too.

But you don't have to do anything.

You can do it, Firas; I have faith in you.

But you don't have to do anything.

true true. Actually I went on ebay and typed what I was looking for and the selection is scarce as heck and the older boxier designs ain't cutting it. So if you're really in the market for something and you can get the shape you want at retail then you might as well I guess

shop the internet like http://www.goggles4u.com/ or http://www.zennioptical.com/

They deal with manufacturers short stock, so prices can be low and what's on offer changes rapidly on the low end frames.

the online eyeglasses scene is covered at http://glassyeyes.blogspot.com/

On eBay, "vintage" means anything the seller wants. I figure that 25% of my purchases on eBay are bogus, defective, concealed flaws, or damaged in shipping, so figure that into the equation. there are deals there, but there's a lot of dross as well.

and http://www.eyeglasseswarehouse.com/index.html

warbaby that last link is good! yeah a 'deal' isn't really what i'm looking for but i wasn't even thinking of the angle of a business that specializes in stocking these old pieces, that's the route to go I guess. Here's another link I found searching for a store like that: vintage-sunglasses-shop.com. Don't know of its reliability though

When I still wore contact lenses I was a sun-glass whore! I had literally dozens of pairs of cheap sunglasses. And believe me, I loved them all. Some were vintage some just cheap mass produced glasses that I found at tables and stalls in Greenwich Village in NYC. I still have a bunch but I went back to prescription glasses when my vision went to needing trifocals. (shut up)

Bottom line, worry not about vintage or whatever. Wear what makes you feel good (or fabulous) at the time.

And walk by a store window, pull the glasses down a bit...

And wink at yourself.

For me.

;-)

lol. i am not that flouncy but I shall give the window a good smile-creased eye

I get my vintage sunglasses from my mom. She holds on to things, rediscovers them, goes to toss them and I say NOOOOOO! I have a kick-ass pair of Ray Bans from the early 80s or late 70s. They're HUGE bug-eyed things. Not the aviator style. I love them.