ARISTOCRAT OPTIX - LUXURY EYEWEAR BOUTIQUE IN AUSTIN — Attraction in West Lake Hills

Tucked away on the second floor of Westlake Square you’ll find ARISTOCRAT OPTIX (AO).

There’s an endearing charm to the shop, a specific nostalgia that reminds me of the nail salons my mother and aunts used to work in. It’s beautiful and deeply resonant to me. There are touches like personal photos. It’s a quiet legacy in motion. The entire shop has a STRONG footprint and identity of boutique energy. This is not one of the commercialized opticians attached to an optometrist as we are used to. As far as I can discern, they rely solely on their expertise, highly curated selection of frames, and ability to maintain/build connections with clientele.

My old injection-molded (I know) Tom Ford frames have served me well, but I wanted more styles. My quest for unique and high-quality eyewear led me to here, a (relatively) mysterious shop that had (and continues) to maintain a perfect 5-star rating on both Google and Yelp.

Given such enthusiasm from fellow reviewers, I made the decision on a relatively sleepy Saturday morning to visit before meeting with my brother. I walked into the shop and spent what felt like nearly an hour and a half just talking to Michael and trying on frames. He must have let me try on 30 frames! Luckily I was the only one being serviced most of the time; we had a whole countertop with frames spread out. It was not an intimidating experience at all despite my expectations. I had decided that if they had a certain frame from Cartier I would immediately make a purchase, otherwise I would hold back. They did not but that turned out for the better. The second time I came around I also purchased another pair to customize.

I’m fairly impatient but when it comes to delayed gratification, I can hold my own. Waiting is worth it for good products. What made me decide right in the middle of everything to actually commit to purchasing a pair… and another? Well… there are several reasons…

Lens Replacement - A service to replace lens purchased from here. “No Questions Asked”. I never plan on using this service (treat your things well and they will treat you just as well) but it’s nice to have a peace of mind. That’s best-in-class service. Jaw-dropping (mine did)!

Style - Michael and Viktoria are talented at stocking a beautiful selection of frames and they give honest opinions. As other reviewers have noted, there’s no pressure to buy the more expensive options. I especially appreciated it when he let me know something wasn’t working for me. It all came from a perspective of good intentions. I went in the first time looking to try on Cartier and came out with Lindbergs which cost half of what a typical Cartier would run, Michael bought those frames to me himself!

Reasonable Prices - The selection of frames caters to a higher price-bracket. Honestly it can be intimidating entering shops with some quadruple-digit price tags but I don’t think these were unreasonably priced at all. Unfortunately prices will be raising in the 2025 general market!

Customization Options - AO offers plenty of possibilities. I can think of an undeterminable amount of combinations and it’s addicting. Use your imagination!

Supporting a gem of a local business.

Attached is a picture of the Lindbergs. Gray gradient, faceted, photochromic.

From a local Austinite of 30...

I came here with a medical emergency. One day I woke up and half of my face was paralyzed and I was in excruciating pain from my temple to my jaw and around my ears. Turns out, I came down with Ramsay Hunt Syndrome. My script had also changed in my affected eye. When I went to him, I was pretty down and in pain.

I knew I needed a spot where someone knew the capabilities of the glasses and could manipulate them to work around my pain. I have been a contact wearer for decades, I usually get headaches with glasses because of the way they sit right behind my ear, I have been putting my glasses through my hair so it won't touch my ear when I have to wear them. He was so sympathetic and empathetic. He shared a personal story to connect with me and that meant the world to me, he didn't have to do that. I told him I was looking for chunky glasses to protect my eye and also to hide behind because one doesn't blink and it is obvious and I still need to pick my kid up from school, I still need to work, shop for groceries, go to appointments, and just live. This helps my mental health like you wouldn't believe.

He took his time with me but the thing is, there was someone else there for an appointment and he was just as attentive and genuine with her. He handed me frame after frame as I contemplated what I could hide behind and what looked good and what felt comfortable. I tried on a million glasses and when I found the one, he molded my glasses several times until it didn't hurt to make sure it fit right and didn't hurt before I made my final decision.

When I came back to get them, he molded them again until it felt good. I asked if it still hurts if I can come back and he said of course. He was so thoughtful and caring. I have a pretty sizeable script, he had my glasses in two days! I was shocked and thankful for the quick turnaround. I put them on and I felt no pain with glasses for the first time in my life. I've been in my glasses for a good part of a month now and the sides and back never touched the pain. He helped me choose not only for comfort and to protect my eye but also kept me stylish. I've gotten nothing but compliments on my awesome glasses.

Michael, I hope you see this so I can tell you again and again, thank you for your kindness and patience with me. I will forever remember this experience and you. ...

First off- I miss Michael as I am typing this.

I spent weeks going to different stores seeking unique, independent frames all the way from Austin, Lakeway, and even San Antonio. No place came close in comparison to Aristocat Optix. When I walked in, Michael was already assisting someone else and I had time to peruse his selection. He worked out what I was looking for and gave great recommendations while he multitasked with us customers. I never felt rushed, pressured, or overlooked. In fact, I felt very seen for the style I wanted to go for. Michael gave great and honest opinions that were very helpful on deciding factors of what looked best for me. His in-depth knowledge was far more advanced than any other person who has ever helped me in shopping in general. He has a lot of knowledge about his selection and you can tell this is his passion by the way he speaks. I not only found one pair of glasses, but I found two! Prior to my final decision I went to four more places just to make sure these two were the ones and every frame, including the stores, felt so lackluster. One place on my list was a nearby shop that Michael suggested; I love that he is all about sharing and helping us find our true frames even if they don’t come from him. When I was shopping at other places I found myself continuing to mention how much I missed Michael and his experience, shopping skills and kindness. He is a human who is so special and truly cares about how you look and getting you into the best fitting frames. You will absolutely find your next pair of glasses here, I promise you. His spirit and energy will be something I miss as I had such a great time. If you came across this review, do yourself a favor and start your search for frames here first. Thank you again...