Several years ago, while visiting a friend’s pop up vintage shop, I came across a pair of Playboy sunglasses. They were divine. I made them mine for $10. I was in love with them and wore them even if it wasn’t sunny. Because regardless of the weather, there’s always a little shade in my life.

The issue was that I wore them too much, so much that the lenses were eventually scratched to all hell. I looked for a place to fix the scratches or replace the lenses. But I was told that because my shades were vintage and such a unique shape it would cost me extra. By extra they meant upwards of $70.

Since I’m way to sensible to shell out that kind of money I just got rid of the shades. I told myself that I could do without them, that the 15 other pairs of glasses that I own would be enough to sustain me. But I was wrong. Good God I was wrong.

I started a search for another pair. Since vintage Playboy sunglasses are a pretty specific search, I went to eBay. eBay has always been a trusty resource when I’m fiending for a particular vintage piece. My initial search turned up a bunch of shades that while gorgeous were super expensive. Just when I was going to give up I found the perfect pair. They were not only in my price range, but they were very similar to the first pair I had. When they came in the mail it was like Christmas. But there was one problem. When I put them on I realized they were prescription shades. Insert blank ass stare here.

I wanted to throw myself on the ground and scream at the sky, “Dear God! Why hast thou forsaken me?!” But instead I just put the binoculars in the case I keep my other shades in and walked away from them for a while. I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of another pair of glasses. I decided to search again for a company to replace the lenses. I clicked on damn near 100 links before finding LensesRX. They’re a company based in Staten Island. They’ll replace shaded lenses, shaded prescription, clear prescription. There are multiple colors available. The site itself isn’t very sexy. But the pricing is.

I filled out the online form for my lenses, paid $32 ($20 for the lenses, $12 for taxes and shipping), packed up my shades and sent them to Staten Island. I was expecting to not see them for at least two weeks. But my shades came back to me about 7 days later with new beautiful lenses, a sunglass case and lens cloth. They made sure to include my original lenses. The process was seamless, quick, and easy.

I love that my new case is big enough to fit even my most obnoxious jumbo vintage shades.

Dear Vintage Gods, I promise to take better care of my shades. I will treat them with kid gloves. I trust you will reward me with more amazing finds. Ahhhh-men!

I can’t wait to use them again. I’m hoping that someone is in possession of some of my Granny’s old reading glasses. I’d love to replace the lenses and wear them instead of having them rot away in a drawer somewhere. I’ll let you guys know if I get my hands on them and them post pictures of my sexy new shades.

Please share with me any vintage that you’ve remixed. I’d love to post it all.

Note: If you have any glasses you want to vamp up, check out LensesRX. You won’t be sorry.

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Sunglasses Redeux: Replacing Lenses in Vintage Shades