NEW YORK—Instagram provides us with a platform to share things about our own lives, sure, but the real magic of social media lies in the ways it allows us to connect with others. Within the optical community, Instagram is a place to share news, products, ideas and inspirations for everything from store design to signage to styling. The key to finding the best inspiration on Instagram is knowing how to search—and the key to searching on Instagram is using good hashtags. For opticians and eyewear designers, the #opticalstylist hashtag is the place to be. Filled to the brim with inspirations for design, styling and more, there’s no better virtual place for opticians and designers from around the world to hang out, share ideas and get inspired.

So, this week, let’s take a look at the inspiring hashtag and just a few of the brilliant posts housed there.


The team at Fritz Frames, an indie eyewear brand in Australia, used the hashtag to show off their specially designed 2,000th frame. Image via Fritz Frames on Instagram. 




Margie Toney, optician and owner of Style Eyes Optical Boutique in Brooklyn, New York, is one of the most prolific users of the inspiring hashtag. Here, she shares a before-and-after that shows just how impactful a change in frames can be. Image via Style Eyes Optical on Instagram. 




Metro Eye, in Milwaukee, used the hashtag to shout out some love to their resident optician Michelle Dillon. Image via MetroEye on Instagram. 




Many indie practices use the hashtag to show their best and most interesting optical styling experiences—Village Optic, located in Pacific Palisades, California, is one of them. Image via Village Optic on Instagram. 





The New York-based team at Kindred by Design shared a unique, show-stopping styling that was the result of a pop-up shop. Image via Spec Dealer on Instagram.