Style Eyes Optical
Photos by Curt Saunders
Margie Toney, owner of Style Eyes Optical boutique, is quick to remind you: eyewear is FASHION.
“I’ll see people with poorly fitting glasses and have a whole conversation with myself,” says the Fashion Institute of Technology graduate who’s worked in the optical business her entire career. “Why did they put them in a small frame like this? Why is the temple too short? But when someone puts on the right pair of glasses, their whole body language changes — you see them feeling themselves.”
Margie aims to create this kind of self-assured, personalized experience for every customer at her nearly three-year-old Flatbush boutique, which specializes in bold, unique frames from independent designers.
“I really wanted to be in a Black community and bring the diversity that the industry doesn't bring to us when it comes to eyewear,” says Margie, who was born and raised in Haiti before moving to Brooklyn at age 7. “Most of the people who come to Style Eyes, they’re ready for a change. I’m getting quite a rep for being That Girl who has those frames.”
“I’m getting quite a rep for being That Girl who has those frames.”
“This is my dream store,” says Margie, who has put everything she’s learned from decades in the eyewear biz into Style Eyes. “I wanted a lounge vibe — you come in, you’re not rushed, and you get the attention you need in a clean, positive atmosphere.”
Accordingly, the boutique is a whole mood with wam red brick, polished raw wood, candles burning, portraits by local artist Jason Fleurant and, of course, displays of interesting frames, thoughtfully curated to elevate your look. But it’s Margie’s welcoming, enthusiastic personality that truly makes the Style Eyes experience.
“At most opticals, workers get commission, so the whole idea is to bang out a sale and keep it moving,” she says. “Here I want to talk to the person. I want to know what they do for a living. I want to know what’s their aesthetic and what’s the change they want to make. Because eyeglasses are personal.”
Margie’s stellar customer service and beautiful selection of indie eyewear has garnered her a following not only in her community, but also among celebrity clients including Lena Waithe, Cynthia Erivo, style correspondent Lloyd Boston and actor Aisha Hinds, as well as customers who hunt down her services from other cities. (For out-of-towners, Margie offers virtual fittings with free shipping.)
“The support has been amazing,” she says. “I don’t know how to explain it, but I’m so grateful.”
“For some strange reason, the industry thinks Black people only like designer frames,” Margie says. “So most eyewear stores in our neighborhoods carry the Fendi, the Dolce, the Prada, the Gucci. There’s nothing wrong with that, but there’s a whole independent vibe out there that we can also appreciate if the investment is made in our communities.”
At Style Eyes Optical she carries an intentional collection of frames from independent designers — including Black-owned brands such as Dear Emery and Coco and Breezy Eyewear — with a focus on bold, conversation-piece type of frames. 👓 But if you’re not ready to make that jump, the boutique has more understated styles too.
“We take people up in increments because not everybody’s ready to leap off the building,” she says with a laugh. “So it has to be in their comfort zone.” Style Eyes Optical also provides comprehensive eye exams, making it a one-stop destination for all your eyewear needs.
1005 Flatbush Ave., 718-942-5957, styleeyesoptical.com
