Mott Street: Do Girls Make Passes at Guys With Glasses?

THIS IS GSNYC'S 1,000TH POST!  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!

Always seeing the deals...Nancy Brenner reports:

Rhianna's ex Chris Brown sports specs in his new video "Crawl." Dapper dudes Justin Timberlake, Johnny Dep and Jay-Z are all gaga over glasses - so where can you score a hot pair without scorching your wallet? Head to Mott Street where several spots offer a wide range including Prada, Dolce & Gabanna, Lafont and too many to name.

Didn't have a clue that the nabe famous for Fendi fakes was home to these shops? Neither did I. You don't have to wait for a sale, or scour coupon websites or even ask for a discount, most shops will offer you one. No huge pressure to buy. No attitude. The Mao Chang Vision Center was spot-on in selections that flatter your features, coloring and size. Most pairs are ready in two hours, so you have time to savor the area's gastronomic delights and pick up inexpensive colorful chopsticks at one of the many souvenir shops dotting this narrow thoroughfare.
Three stores to scout:

• Mao Chang Vision Center, 72 Mott Street
• Mott Street Optical, 52 Mott Street MottOptical.com (also in Flushing)
• Eye Solutions, 33 Mott Street (also in Brooklyn)

La Boutique Resale - Madison Ave.

One of the best things about being a woman living on the Upper East Side - or so I have been told - is the easy access to scores of resale/consignment shops filled with last season's top designer castoffs.

So this past weekend among the Puerto Rican Day parade, I did my own parading along a few Madison Avenue blocks. After perusing Dolce & Gabbana (where, incidentally, there's a 40% off sale on shoes, bags and 'ready-to-wear') and falling dangerously in love with a pair of $275 sunglasses, I came upon La Boutique Resale. I think that is French for "The Resale Boutique."

Located on the second floor of 1045 Madison Avenue, LBR immediately struck me as particularly well-organized, something I very much appreciated. It is basically run and set up like a real-live retail store, making it very easy and enjoyable to peruse...and ultimately BUY. A brilliant marketing tactic, indeed.

While many of the choices seemed a bit "old" at first blush, a bit of digging revealed some fresh gems. I scored the pictured Nanette Lepore skirt for $47.20 and Fendi shoes for $74.40. I also purchased a brand new Andrew Urbain top for $35.40 - who knows how old it actually is, but it goes with the outfit! So for a total of $157 I own my first Fendi anything, my first Nanette L. skirt and my first (and probably last) Andrew U. anything. Not a bad accidental score.

Other locations include: 803 Lexington Ave. @62nd St., 2nd Fl. and 160 W. 72nd St. near Broadway (for men & women). The store manager explained that the west side location has "younger" styles and that I should go check it out. Bless him.