Moving Dr. Alan Montgomery’s annual frame show from his office on M-51 North to Wounded Minnow downtown allowed five vendors to show thousands of styles and create more of a spectacle.

Wednesday evening’s three-hour Hawaiian-themed affair featured five brands, Maui Jim sunglasses, Silhouette, Viva, REM and Studio 3.

Montgomery, who opened his optometry practice here in 1977, said, “Women are going to a lot of plastic frames with more color.”

Studio 3 Occhiali, manufacturer of Taxi eyewear, is operated by president and CEO Roberto Comelli, an Italian designer born and raised in Milan.

That city also produced Giorgio Armani, Versace and Valentio.

Comelli applied his fashion awareness toward developing innovative handmade eyewear with daring, colorful, designs.

“Our philosophy and vision for the future can be summed up very simply: innovation, distinctive design, construction and functionality,” Comelli said of his line, with its variety of geometric designs, distinctive angles, open temple work and intricate, vibrant patterns.

Lana Greene, of Hudsonville, was representing three companies not necessarily known for glasses, Harley-Davidson motorcycles, Candie’s, colorful apparel for young women available at Kohl’s, and Skechers, the No. 2 shoe brand after Nike.

The current Candie’s girl is Canadian singer Carly Rae Jepsen.

Her “geek chic” frames look like Buddy Holly or Drew Carey in front, but with stylish purple slashes across the temples. Call her maybe.

“Retro’s in,” Greene said. “It could be influenced by ‘Mad Men.’ ”

“I can’t show this many frames in my office, and they have all the colors,” Montgomery said. “We have a lens designer here for accuracy.”

Montgomery joked, “The Harley frames are $27,000, but you get a motorcycle. They’re made well, a good, solid frame.”

Greene said Harley-Davidson customers “want to be branded.”

Its frames offer a textured leather look.

Any frame purchased at the event received 15 percent off. With additional “seashell savings,” purchasers got to draw a shell from a treasure chest for additional savings/prizes (one winner will receive a free pair of frames and lenses).

If libations from the saloon adjacent to the banquet room weren’t relaxing enough, Margie’s Massage provided complimentary neck and shoulder massages.

Dowagiac Daily News