Under $30 and Loved by Oprah

Every day, I get asked the same question: Where are your reading glasses from? And every day, I turn into a walking billboard for Peepers by PeeperSpecs, an online retailer that sells affordable and fun frames.  Friends and family (even strangers on the street) are surprised when I tell them that I purchased my glasses online, and not at a fancy upscale boutique. They’re even more shocked when I reveal that I purchased my frames for under $30—case included! 

I can understand the interest in my reading glasses—they’re stylish and suit my face well. In fact, the frames I wear (Bravado, $29) flatter most face shapes, making them the brand’s best-selling pair. Even Oprah loves them, which is why she listed them as her favorite frames in her annual “Favorite Things List” back in 2019. (The Marquee and That’s a Wrap frames are highlighted on this year’s list.) I love them so much, I purchased four pairs so I can stash them on my nightstand, in my purse, and on my desk. As for the last pair? I took them to my eye doctor to have the lenses fitted for my prescription, so when I’m not wearing my contacts (yes, I need readers even though I wear contacts), I can use them as my regular glasses. 

The Bravado frames are oversized and have a retro, chunky look. What I love about them is that they’re not boring and look distinctly different from traditional readers displayed at your local Walgreens. I’m not shy about having to pull out my readers to look at my phone or a menu in a restaurant because they elevate my look.

Aside from Bravado, Peepers features a variety of styles, all under $30. Each frame is customizable for prescription-strengths ranging from +1.00 to +3.00.  You can also order them as progressives for an extra $10. Even if you don’t need reading glasses, you can stick rock a pair of Peepers with no correction (they are also available as sunglasses); plus all lenses are blue-light blocking to help alleviate strained eyes from too much screen time, either on your computer or scrolling through TikTok (guilty). Even better, each pair has UV400 protection, a dual anti-scratch lens, as well as a seven-layer, anti-reflective coating. That’s a lot of value for such little money. 

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Not sure what style suites you best? Use the site’s virtual try-on to test different shapes and colors. Peepers are sold at some brick-and-mortar stores like Anthropologie and Walmart, but I love navigating the site to shop for various frames. Even though I adore my Bravado frames, I recently purchased the Showbiz frames ($29) to switch my style up a bit.  Below are additional frames that I am currently considering adding to my collection, along with frames my friends and family (and even my mail carrier) have recently purchased.