Don’t go into Margot & Camille expecting to just browse. Only a few well-chosen spectacles, presented like artwork, line the sparse shelves. Unlike optical shops where you pick and choose from racks of frames, at this Old City spot a personal consultation with owner Valerie Vittu is de rigueur. Vittu, a French optician has a discerning eye: she’ll look you up and down, think for a second, hand you a pair of glasses, and is almost always spot on with her selection.
Vittu takes more than looks into account when choosing frames. She pays close attention to your face shape and coloring, yes, but also your style and look. And she brings an equally discriminating sensibility to choosing her stock. The drawers at Margot & Camille are filled with high-end, mostly European optical designers. Not a Dolce & Gabbana or Chanel logo in sight. Instead, you’ve got brands like Lafont from France, Mykita from Germany, and Etnia Barcelona from Spain. The unusual selection ensures that you won’t run into 20 people wearing your specs the next time you go out.
Though eyewear is the main draw, you can also find a selection of necklaces and earrings, rotating art exhibitions, and of course, First Friday parties. This is Old City, after all.
Margot & Camille 142 N. Second St., Philadelphia, PA 19106 (215) 923-0508 www.margotcamille.com
