The Monocle Order (CLOSED)

After launching her members-only sunglass site in June, owner Zoe Nightingale enlisted a group of artist and entrepreneur friends to transform an empty 1,600-square-foot space into a vibrant, temporary eyewear shop in just under a week. Decorated with acid-washed floors, neon silk-screened wallpaper and disco balls hanging from the ceiling, the showroom houses handmade sunglasses ($50–$700) from international, independent designers and craftsmen—many of whom have little or no other representation in the U.S. Discover shades from hard-to-find brands such as French makers Thierry Lasry and Waiting for the Sun, German-made Funk Food, and Italian manufacturers Feb 31st and L.G.R. Top sellers include New Zealand fashion designer Karen Walker’s plastic-and-metal sunnies with arrow detailing ($200) and Istanbul label RVS by V’s super-lightweight matte-finished frames ($350). The purchase of any style comes with a lifelong Monocle Order membership (typically $100), which includes yearlong warranties, up to 12 half-off purchases a year (plus replacement of lost or broken pairs for half price) and invites to the store’s many events, including fashion shows, burlesque nights, sample sales and pop-up art galleries.