Moscot Moments

The MOSCOT optical roots were first planted in America by Great Great Grandfather and family patriarch, Hyman Moscot, who arrived from Eastern Europe via Ellis Island in 1899. Hyman began selling ready-made eyeglasses from a pushcart on Orchard Street on Manhattan's famed Lower East Side. In 1915, MOSCOT’s first Shop opened, and for the past 105 years the MOSCOT Family has become deeply ingrained in the history and evolution of New York City. While now recognized as a global fashion brand, MOSCOT remains, at heart, a neighborhood optical Shop. Working with Cherry Optical Labs, another family-owned independent wholesale optical laboratory, founded by Joe and Lynn Cherry in 1999 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, MOSCOT is focusing on giving back to our emergency medical professionals during this time in a special way. The two, multi-generational, family-owned American companies will provide MOSCOT frames that are fitted with clear lenses that can help to reduce exposure to airborne particles or fluid-borne pathogens from patients. This is also an effort to get healthcare providers solely reliant on their contact lenses into a pair of protective eyeglasses. We received an overwhelming amount of requests and our team is working hard to respond as quickly as we can. We have pledged over $1.5 million worth of eyeglasses (that’s nearly 5,000 pairs!) to front line personnel and could not have done it without your help! Although we have paused on receiving new requests at this time, we are working hard to find different ways to give back to those protecting our communities during this crisis. Please stay tuned, and if you have any questions or concerns, please drop us a line at relief@moscot.com. Thank you, The MOSCOT Family

Ready, Set, Read! Ready Readers or “Ready-Made Reading Glasses” provide support for those needing close-range vision correction, without the need for a prescription. Fourth Generation and Doctor of Optometry, Dr. Harvey Moscot, says: “We all fear what happens to most of us after 40 years old when reading up close gets more difficult and our arms get too short...the normal aging process of presbyopia sets in.” As eyes get older, the lenses gradually lose the ability to flex, making focusing on close objects more difficult. This is a natural sign of aging, and although it cannot be prevented, correction can be found with the use of MOSCOT Ready Readers. Ready Readers contain 2 single vision lenses with the same positive spherical power (in other words, magnification) to relieve the symptoms of presbyopia. MOSCOT Ready Readers offer vision correction for reading newsprint or books, fine print, or menus, as well as for engaging in hobbies that require attention to detail at a close range. Ready Readers are perfect for on-the-go. Make sure to schedule a regular eye exam to keep your eyes happy and healthy! Our favorites include The SAJA, The LUCY, and The MARILYN. Did ya know? You can transform any MOSCOT frame into Ready Readers! Simply pick your frame and add to cart to select your reading power.  

Read on for an eyecare Q&A with our own Dr. Harvey Moscot, and click here to schedule an exam at any of our New York City locations! 1. How often should I have a Comprehensive Eye Exam? What about a Contact Lens Exam? In general, we recommend regular Comprehensive Eye Exams. Depending on your health history, prescription status, and/or age, we recommend a Comprehensive Eye Exam every 12 - 24 months. Contact lenses wearers should have a Contact Lens Exam every year. 2. What should I expect in a contact lens fitting? Contact lenses are not one size fit all! Our doctors will measure the curvature of the cornea, or front surface of the eye, to ensure the lens properly fits the curve of your eye. A tear film evaluation will ensure the eyes are adequately hydrated and ensure your eyes are in optimal shape for contact lens wear. 3. Why should you not sleep in contact lenses? What happens to the eye? Sleeping with your contact lenses is never a good idea. Even extended-wear contacts approved for overnight wear come with risk of causing eye infections. Leaving contacts in overnight interferes with the oxygen supply to the cornea. This can result in abnormal corneal changes, serious red eyes, and general irritation under the upper eyelids that result in the inability to continue to wear your contact lenses. 4. Do you recommend wearing Blue Light filtering glasses? Over-exposure to high energy blue visible light from computers and other digital devices can lead to symptoms such as eyestrain, headaches, and sleep disruption. Blue Light Filter lenses help to eliminate glare which can provide a better experience for anyone viewing a digital screen. 5. What are the best foods to eat to maintain eye health? Certain nutrients such as zinc, copper, vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein, and beta carotene may reduce the risk of age-related eye health decline. Nutrient-rich foods such as leafy green vegetables, citrus fruits, carrots, nuts and legumes can help to prevent such decline. And don’t forget your Fish Oils for healthy eyelid gland secretion! 6. Why do I need more than one pair of glasses? Just as you wouldn’t go running in high heels or wingtip shoes, the same goes for wearing your progressive lenses on the computer. Different prolonged visual tasks might require a different lens design for optimal comfort. Also, and on another note, just as you switch up your everyday accessories (scarfs, tie, necklace, belt, etc.) why not switch up your eyewear look too? After all, not every day calls for the same look!   Shop All Optical.

Your vision and overall eye health are very important to us. The team of MOSCOT eye doctors will not only provide clearer vision but will also check for various silent eye maladies (ex: glaucoma) that can permanently affect your sight. With 105 years of eye care expertise, Dr. Harvey Moscot’s team of doctors will… 1. Discuss any current issues you are having with your eyes or vision. This includes your visual lifestyle; hours on a computer screen, prolonged close work, etc. 2. Assess your current visual function with your existing glasses. 3. Accurately determine your new eyeglass prescription based on your occupational and lifestyle needs. 4. Examine the health of the front of your eye and determine whether you are producing enough tears (dryness), showing any early signs of cataracts, or any other conditions such as allergies and contact lens over-wear (if applicable) that effect the front tissues of the eyes. 5. Examine the back tissue and most critical part of the eye, aka, the retina. Our doctors can assess your overall heath during this portion of the examination and diagnose, in the early stages, conditions such as Diabetes, High Blood Pressure and High Cholesterol just from viewing the back of your eye! This can be done with or without a dilation as MOSCOT utilizes the latest Optomap Imaging Technology that captures a wide field of view of your retina without eye drops! 6. Take the pressure inside your eye which can help determine risk of developing Glaucoma. 7. Finally, explain all our findings and navigate the different optical lens options that are best for your individual needs. We will make recommendations that will help to improve comfort and protect as well as preserve your vision! Your vision is our concern! Click here to schedule your exam at any of our New York City locations. 

 Lena wearing MOSCOT SPRING 2020 in Downtown NYC. As 2nd Generation, Great Grandpa Sol used to say, “In order to know where you’re goin’, you must understand where you came from.” With 20/20 vision, MOSCOT looks back at its past, with a keen eye on the future. Tunde wearing The KAVELL in Black.   The MOSCOT Spring 2020 collection and campaign showcase the family’s 105-year-old heritage with new styles that transcend decades. With an appreciation for the classics, the campaign, captured in multiple mediums, illustrates the perpetual presence of MOSCOT’s downtown DNA and design sensibility. MOSCOT understands that hindsight is foresight, and that is our 2020. Michael wearing The NACHUS in Havana/Antique Tortoise. Lena wearing The ARBITA in Champagne.

MOSCOT Brings Over 100 Years of Iconic Eyewear and NYC History To Milan’s Fashionable Brera District With Opening Of Second Shop In Italy! In a country known for their love of eyewear as a fashion accessory, MOSCOT is humbled to be opening its first flagship in Milan! MOSCOT Milan combines MOSCOT’s signature style with the local flare of Brera. The newest Shop embodies the MOSCOT spirit—classic, historic, and metropolitan—all while situated in the global capital of fashion and design. The MOSCOT Milan Shop will showcase the full breadth of the MOSCOT eyewear collection with familiar touches that are distinctly MOSCOT, including tchotchkes, vintage furniture and artifacts from the family archives, tin ceilings made in New York that are quintessential to historical Lower Manhattan architecture, and the overall nostalgic feeling of having stepped into Great Grandma Sylvia Moscot’s living room, whose iconic photo is now donned on a reusable canvas tote bag that comes with each MOSCOT frame purchase. To celebrate the opening of the Milan Shop, MOSCOT will release a Milan exclusive style, in the iconic LEMTOSH optical and sunglass frame in a first-ever Matte/Shiny Crystal colorway. The collectible frame has “MILAN” engraved on the left temple tip and is numbered in a limited run of 100 frames. The exclusive LEMTOSH will be available for purchase only at the new Milan Shop for a limited time. “We are thrilled to open our first MOSCOT Shop in the Brera district of Milan. Italy’s culture of craftsmanship and heritage design resonates with our family eyewear business of 105 years, says Dr. Harvey Moscot, 4th Generation, CEO, “we look forward to bringing a piece of downtown NYC to Milano, where our loyal Italian fans will be able to experience the brand in a new way.” MOSCOT Milan is the brand’s second Shop in Italy, following MOSCOT Rome’s opening in 2017. MOSCOT currently operates thirteen Shops worldwide, including locations in New York City, London, Rome, Seoul, Tokyo, Paris, and Los Angeles in addition to Milan.

We are pleased to announce MOSCOT’s third London Shop, located at 74 King’s Road in Chelsea, is open for business! The newest MOSCOT Shop features the same familiar, yet distinctive touches found within all 12 MOSCOT Shops around the globe! MOSCOT King’s Road will showcase the full MOSCOT Collection from bold new frames and classic sunglasses to Custom Made Tints™ and kindred accessories! The Shop showcases the brand’s signature interior with traditional tin ceilings from New York City, custom crafted fan-do-liers illuminating and fanning customers as they shop, unique vintage tchotchkes reminiscent of Great Grandma Sylvia’s living room and historical imagery nodding to the first MOSCOT Shop in the Lower East Side of Manhattan! Come visit the MOSCOT London Shops—eye tests are available at all three locations!  MOSCOT currently operates 12 shops worldwide, including locations in New York City, Rome, Seoul, Tokyo, Los Angeles and Paris. Keep your eyes peeled for the next MOSCOT Shop, set to open by the end of 2019!

We’re thrilled to announce the opening of our new London flagship Shop in iconic Covent Garden! The new location will occupy a two-story space at 34 Long Acre. Located at  34 Long Acre, London WC2E 9LA, United Kingdom. The opening of MOSCOT Covent Garden follows the success of the original Soho Carnaby Shop which opened in 2015. “We’re thrilled to open a flagship MOSCOT Shop in Covent Garden – we feel right at home in this vibrant neighborhood full of culture, music, theatre, and historical significance which reminds us of our downtown NYC roots,” said 4th Generation and CEO, Dr. Harvey Moscot. The new flagship Shop will showcase the full breadth of the MOSCOT eyewear collection with familiar touches that are distinctly MOSCOT, such as tin ceilings from a traditional NYC company, custom crafted fan-do-liers that illuminate and fan customers while they shop, and wainscoting details that evoke an old New York City feel. Other design details include tchotchkes and vintage artifacts sourced in NYC, American thrift stores & flea markets. MOSCOT worked to preserve the quality and authenticity of the Covent Garden streetscape with red brick walls creating an authentic transformation from street to shop. The flagship will include historic brand artifacts such as the original fig trays that were used by second generation Sol Moscot to dispense eyewear and original signage from years past. One step up and away from the city bustle, the second floor evokes a nostalgic, cozy feeling of having stepped into Great Grandma Sylvia Moscot’s living room, creating an intimate environment for a private shopping experience and a dedicated space for eye testing. MOSCOT currently operates ten shops worldwide, including locations in New York City, Rome, Seoul, Tokyo, Los Angeles and Paris. In addition to the Covent Garden shop, MOSCOT will continue its retail expansion with a third London opening and a new Milan shop both set to open by the end of 2019.

We’re excited to announce the opening of our first Shop in Los Angeles! MOSCOT Melrose marks our first US Shop outside New York in our 104-year old history! Located at 7977 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046. Situated on Los Angeles’ famed Melrose Avenue in the West Hollywood neighborhood, the MOSCOT Los Angeles Shop is a continuation of the brand’s rich history steeped in New York City tradition.  MOSCOT Melrose will showcase the full breadth of the MOSCOT eyewear collection with familiar touches that are distinctly MOSCOT, including tchotchkes, vintage furniture and artifacts from the family archives, tin ceilings made in New York that are quintessential to historical Lower Manhattan architecture, and the overall nostalgic feeling of having stepped into Great Grandma Sylvia Moscot’s living room, whose iconic photo is now donned on a reusable canvas tote bag that comes with each MOSCOT frame purchase. The Los Angeles Shop features another first for the brand: The Hall of MOSCOT Moments, an experiential, fully-immersive space that showcases MOSCOT’s legacy and the brand's roots, along with a speakeasy room in the rear of the store. To celebrate the opening of the Los Angeles Shop, MOSCOT will release an L.A. exclusive style, using the brand’s quintessential LEMTOSH optical and sunglass frame in a first-ever Straw colorway, with “LA” engraved on the left temple tip. The collectible frame is numbered and available in a limited run of 100 frames.  The exclusive style will be available for purchase only at the new Melrose Avenue Shop for a limited time.  “As a family-owned, 5-Generational, independent eyewear brand, my father and I were drawn to this specific stretch of Melrose Avenue because of its unique mix of establishments spanning from acclaimed comedy clubs, vintage shops, and interesting retail concepts,” said fifth Generation Moscot and Creative Director, Zack Moscot. “The Melrose Trading Post, the famous open-air market, is just 3 blocks from MOSCOT Melrose and reminds me of our family's humble beginnings when my Great-Great-Grandfather, Hyman Moscot, sold ready-made glasses off a pushcart in the early 1900s when Orchard Street was full of pushcart vendors selling knick-knacks, housewares, and food. You won't be able to miss our iconic yellow building emblazoned with the iconic MOSCOT eyes while driving down Melrose.” “MOSCOT has always had close ties to the creative arts and the film, TV, and music industry. Many of my former patients and long-time customers of MOSCOT started their careers while living in the Lower East Side and eventually moved out west! We're thrilled to open our first United States shop outside of New York City in West Hollywood and to have found a home on the eclectic Melrose Avenue,” adds fourth Generation and CEO, Dr. Harvey Moscot. MOSCOT currently operates ten Shops worldwide, including locations in New York City, London, Rome, Seoul, Tokyo, and Paris. In addition to the Los Angeles Shop, MOSCOT will continue its retail expansion with two new London Shops and one new Milan Shop at the end of 2019.

Tibi, the womenswear line by Amy Smilovic, brightened up the Spring 2020 New York Fashion week runway with a colorful collection. Looks were complemented with two new Fall 2019 MOSCOT Original frames, The MISH and The FRITZ, in both optical and Custom Made Tinted™ lenses. See the entire Fall 2019 collection here. Shop Custom Made Tints™ here.

The Fall 2019 campaign is inspired by the legacy of originals that live on! The MISH SUN and FRITZ SUN pictured above. After over a century in downtown NYC, MOSCOT has seen many evolutions, but the constant appreciation of classic design and original form continues to endure. Staying true to the family heritage and generational legacy, the new Fall-Winter campaign captures moments of father & daughter duo Frank Ferrer, of Guns N’ Roses, and his daughter, model, musician & MOSCOT team member Olivia Ferrer. The TELENA pictured above. Shot on location in and around MOSCOT’s Lower East Side flagship shop, where living history is still alive and well, MOSCOT pays homage to the past with an eye on the future. Featured in the campaign are like-minded establishments: TR Crandall Guitars, I Need More, Strand Book Store, and the mom-and-pop shops that are the building blocks New York City was founded upon. The FRITZ SUN pictured above. The original downtown NYC story comes to life with 6 bold new frames consisting of a rich palette with tones of butterscotch, tortoise, black, and combinations of matte & shiny metal finishes. Many of the new styles play on perspective – The TELENA and The FRITZ, for example, are thick & chunky from the front at first glance, yet unexpectedly slim and sleek in profile.  The LES SUN and FRITZ SUN pictured above. The Originals live on! The NOODGE SUN pictured above.

MOSCOT is excited to head out east to Gurney’s for the summer! The MOSCOT Montauk Summer Shop opens at The Beach Club at Gurney’s Montauk on July 10th, bringing a piece of the Lower East Side to Montauk. Set just a few steps from the ocean, the shop offers beachgoers and hotel guests the opportunity to easily try-on and purchase sunglasses right on the sand. The iconic pushcart will also make an appearance, a nod to MOSCOT origins when founder Hyman Moscot first began selling ready-made eyeglasses from a pushcart in Manhattan’s Lower East Side over a century ago. The summer-long partnership spans across all three Gurney’s Resorts properties: Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa in Montauk, NY, the newly opened Gurney’s Star Island Resort & Marina in Montauk, NY, and Gurney’s Newport Resort & Marina in Newport, RI. Each location will be stocked with a curated range of timeless MOSCOT sunglass styles, including the LEMTOSH-MAC SUN, GRUNYA SUN, and sunglasses available with polarized lens options - perfect for the climate! To commemorate the collaboration, The GELT SUN in Honey Blonde will be customized in an exclusive Gurney’s ‘Golden Hour’ Custom Made Tint™ and available for purchase in Gurney’s shops. Get your sunnies on—and see ya at the beach! MOSCOT MONTAUK SUMMER SHOPGurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa290 Old Montauk Hwy, Montauk, NY 11954

Andy Warhol—From A to B and Back Again MOSCOT creates The MILTZEN in Crystal with historical Rose Custom Made Tint™ in celebration of the critically acclaimed exhibit, Andy Warhol—From A to B and Back Again. Located at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), the exhibit will be on view from May 19 through September 2, 2019 and marks the first retrospective of the artist’s work in 25 years. Find this collaboration exclusively at SFMOMA!

MOSCOT made an exciting appearance on the Fall 2019 New York Fashion Week circuit with placements at Todd Snyder and Bode. Showing The YUKEL and The AIDIM at the Todd Snyder Show, the metal-acetate combination frames contributed to the ‘East End Boys’ theme. Styled by Jim Moore, the collection was guided by iconic school uniforms refreshed with a New York sentiment. Bode, designed by Emily Bode and styled by Michael Darlington, opted for sun and optical styles that encompass the nostalgic, homespun aesthetic of hand-crafted wearables. From classic metal frames like The HAMISH, The ZEV, and The ZIS, to acetate favorites like The MILTZEN, The ZOLMAN, and The GITTEL, Bode showcased a handful of round frames to speak to the collection of collectables. All aforementioned styles can be found in any MOSCOT Shop, and on MOSCOT.COM!

We’re thrilled to announce the opening of our new standalone flagship shop in Paris! Located on the corner of Rue du Temple in the historic Marais district, we’re bringing downtown NYC to the City of Lights! Located at 26 Rue du Temple, 75004 Paris, France. Our third European mono-branded shop will showcase the full breadth of the MOSCOT eyewear collection with familiar touches that are distinctly MOSCOT, including tchotchkes, vintage furniture and artifacts from the family archives, tin ceilings made in New York that are quintessential to historical Lower East Side architecture, and the overall nostalgic feeling of having stepped into Great Grandma Sylvia Moscot’s living room. We’re especially excited about the location of our newest Shop, as Zack Moscot, 5th Generation Chief Design Officer shares, “Rue du Temple and this area of the Marais was once known for small specialty shops and vendors that sold various essentials and knickknacks, not unlike the historic marketplace of Orchard Street and the Lower East Side, where immigrants such as my Great Great Grandfather, Hyman Moscot, sold wares from their pushcarts.” 4th Generation owner and CEO Harvey Moscot adds, “We’re humbled by the continued support from our fans worldwide, especially in France. This unique corner location allows us to tell our story in a way that never compromises the company’s key pillars of service, quality, and always putting our customer first.” “To shop at MOSCOT is to have a distinctively New York, cultural experience. Here, traditional, old-world charm unites with contemporary tastes, with a dash of Lower East Side personality.” We look forward to bringing 100+ years of eyewear expertise and timeless, classic designs to Paris as we continue to carry on the MOSCOT Legacy.

New York-based womenswear designer Tibi featured MOSCOT frames on their Spring 2019 runway during NYFW. Looks were complimented with The LEMTOSH in vibrant colors and CUSTOM MADE TINT™ lenses.  See the entire collection here.Shop CUSTOM MADE TINTS here.

Can you feel it? MOSCOT launches its new Fall 2018 collection and the streets of downtown New York city are abuzz… The 5 new MOSCOT Original frames are an ode to the city lights that constantly surround us and the warm buzz of the iconic MOSCOT neon signs that glow and flicker among the night streets of the Lower East Side. Taking us back to MOSCOT’s core, with a focus on optics, this season’s newness features all optical frames with the addition of one sunglass and a coordinating clip-on package. This new launch adds to the world renown MOSCOT Originals Collection and includes, The GENUG, The GITTEL, The LIEB CLIP PACKAGE, The ZIS, and The TUCHUS. With this season rounding out MOSCOT’s 103+ years of eyewear expertise, Zack Moscot, 5th Generation and Chief Design Officer, took inspiration from his favorite family archives of the past, adding intellectual flare and a bit of nostalgia with perfectly rounded frames and unique features such as detailed metal filigree and bone-colored nose pads.   Feel the buzz with the new Fall ‘18 collection available now! Let us know how you glow by sharing your pictures with #MOSCOT!  

Whether you are a busy New Yorker looking to streamline your eyewear quest, or a visiting fan, MOSCOT has you covered with both eyecare and eyewear!

MOSCOT Mannequin Heads. You’ve seen ‘em. You know ‘em. But you may not realize that Special Edition frames call for Special Edition Heads—40 of them to be exact!

MOSCOT was thrilled to have teamed up with powerhouses like Barneys and Highsnobiety for THE exclusive shopping event of the weekend.