Guns and Shades Pop-Up Shop Brings New, Rare Vintage Eyewear to Lower Haight

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Yes, it’s June 14. But at a new pop-up shop in the Lower Haight, today’s all about Mayfourteenth.

That’s the name of a newly-launched eyewear brand from local photographer and designer Benjamin Belsky, who’s decked out the one-month-only Guns and Shades shop with his line, a weapon sculpture art installation by Peter Gronquist and an assortment of dead stock vintage frames that include a rare pair of Cazal shades priced at $1,200.

“They were big in hip hop in the 80’s,” Belsky says of the high-end, German eyewear brand’s pop-culture associations.

With previous stints at Upper Playground and Goorin Brothers, Belsky is no stranger to the San Francisco-based apparel and accessories scene. He started his personal collection of vintage eyewear about five years ago with a pair of Cazals and later became intrigued by the various kinds of acetates used to make sunglasses. That led him to design his own line, which is produced in Buenos Aires using Italian acetate.

Dubbed The Great Escape, Mayfourteenth’s debut collection of men’s and women’s styles ($180-$240) draws its inspiration from road trips and beach getaways and ranges from the oversized, 70’s-inspired Flora to the boxy, bold gold-hued Gabrielle. Along with new frames, the shop also offers dead stock vintage frames ($100-$1,200) from the likes of Gucci, Versace and Givenchy, among others.

Want to peep them in person? Take note: you’re welcome to peruse the pop-up shop anytime, but private appointments are recommended for viewing the full collection of rare vintage frames.

Guns and Shades Pop-Up Shop, open daily from 12-8 p.m. through July 14, 2010 at 252 Fillmore St., SF.

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