5 luxury brand alternatives for specs wearers who want to pay less

Stylish spectacles come at a cost. While we may want to opt for Ray-Ban’s classic wayfarer frame or Prada’s newest high fashion release, luxury brands come with a luxury price tag.

The average cost of a pair of specs in the US ranges from $196 to $1000. In fact, eye tests alone can cost up to $200, leaving those on low budgets with next to no choice when picking out a new pair of glasses.

Stepping into a cost-of-living crisis, we are constantly looking for the next best deal. We have collated five high-fashion alternatives to the luxury eyeglasses brands we know and love. 

1. Bloobloom

Bloobloom offers an ethical alternative to luxury eyewear at a cut of the price. With a site packed full of high-fashion styles, this London-based company is one to look out for if you want a grander experience for half of the price of top designers such as Prada and Gucci.

Offering transparency throughout the entire process, Bloobloom reveal a rundown of their pricing structure on site, from production process costs to mark-ups. Better still, each one of their 200+ frames is equally priced at $95 each, including lens thinning in the price too. 

Whether you opt for gold-tinted thin frames like The Daydreamer or their bolder, tortoiseshell cate eye like The Londoner, Bloobloom stocks a style that suits every wearer.

However, our favourite thing about this luxury alternative is their #PairForPair scheme, which offers a free pair of eyeglasses to someone in need for every pair purchased. 

2. Archibald

If you’re looking for a classy, traditional take on a pair of specs, look no further, Archibald provides a high-quality, luxury experience for a cut of the price of top eyewear brands.

While their frames are still pricey, they are a great choice for customers who want a pair of glasses to last a lifetime. 

Archibald’s frames are handcrafted by sixteen different craftsmen in Sabae, Japan, leaving each pair with a perfectly focused finish.

Better still, the brand’s newest ‘Naked’ scheme gives those affected by the cost of living crisis a chance to purchase their entire collection for what they cost to manufacture and deliver. In doing this, their $300 frames are reduced to as little as $100, while all profits and proceeds go directly to the craftsmen who have also been hit by economic uncertainty in 2023.

3. IOLLA

IOLLA offer quality frames for a fraction of the price of luxury eyewear brands. The Scottish-founded company only launched in 2015, but its wide range of frame styles and attractive price make them an obvious choice when choosing your next specs. 

Offering prescription glasses and sunglasses for as little as $75, IOLLA will not leave you spoilt for choice. Whether you’re looking for Gucci-inspired glamour or a Clavin Klein style frame, the collection can be tried on virtually, making it easy to choose the perfect pair of glasses from the comfort of your couch. 

What’s more, did you know a pair of IOLLA glasses were also seen on Tommy Shelby in Series 5 of Peaky Blinders? 

4. Cubitts 

For specs with timeless style, Cubitts is the place to go. Founded in 2013 on the kitchen table of a Cubitt Street flat, Cubitts’ handmade frames are customisable to each customer.

With over 50 styles to choose from, their core collection starts at $125, which is half of the price of luxury alternatives. 

Experts at Cubitts then produce and make the frames in-store, adding customisable coatings, thinning services and reshaping for all face shapes and sizes.

Better still, Cubitts also offer customers a chance to give back to those with lower budgets for eyewear. Partnering with eye health partners in Kenya and Ethiopia, the London-based brand aims to offer eyewear solutions to those in need. 

5. Liingo Eyewear 

While Liingo Eyewear also packs a punch when it comes to price cuts, this US-based eyewear service is renowned for its home try-on service.

Ordering specs online tends to be cheaper than an in-store purchase, but consumers are often spoilt for choice and unable to try before they buy. Liingo Eyewear aims to solve this problem using its try-on program.

Instead of delivering frames with ready-made lenses, they offer consumers the chance to choose their try-on service, which delivers 5 lensless frame styles to try on before they make their purchase. 

Also offering free returns for up to 60 days and a lifetime free adjustments plan, Liingo is the perfect brand for a new eyewear shopper or a customer who is looking to reinvent their style in 2023.

As we step closer to a more accessible future for specs wearers, these brands are the ones to watch if you’re looking to switch up your frames. Whether you go for classic elegance at Archibald or want to purchase Tommy Shleby’s specs from IOLLA, we’ve got you covered.