SEBASTOPOL, Calif. — After 18 years in New York City’s corporate world, Allyn Scura had reached her breaking point. The Parsons School of Design graduate was burnt out and ready for a change, so she took a year off and headed to North Carolina, where she began designing furniture and lighting to rediscover her creative passion.

It was during those leisurely antiquing trips that Scura stumbled upon what would become her life’s work. She found several pairs of antique eyeglass frames that caught her eye and decided to have glass lenses put in them back in New York City. The response was immediate and overwhelming.

“People would literally stop me on the street and say, ‘Oh my God, where’d you get those?'” Scura recalls. “Light bulb moment.”

“That moment of inspiration led to a bold business decision. Scura made her first major purchase of 5,000 vintage eyewear pieces, requiring $50,000 in cash back in 1988. It was a significant investment, but one that would lay the foundation for what became Allyn Scura Eyewear.

Today, Scura’s business operates on multiple levels. Not only does she house around 60,000 pairs of vintage and antique frames (though most are kept in storage), but she has also developed her own line of eyewear designs, drawing inspiration from her vast collection of historical pieces. Among her most prized vintage collections are the Christian Dior pieces from the 70s, 80s, and 90s, which she describes as “the most prolific” from that era and notes they “still hold up” and “still translate” beautifully today.

The business found its niche not just in retail and original design, but in Hollywood. Scura and her team began participating in vintage and antique shows throughout Los Angeles and across the country, where film stylists would discover their unique inventory. This connection to the entertainment industry proved to be a game-changer for both her vintage collection and her understanding of what makes frames work for different face shapes and characters.

Her clientele has grown to include A-list celebrities who appreciate her unique aesthetic. Both Brad Pitt and Bradley Cooper have purchased eyewear from her collection, a testament to the quality and style that has made Allyn Scura Eyewear a go-to destination for discerning customers seeking distinctive frames.

“What was so great about doing period films is you have this massive star, and what if something happens to the frames?” Scura explains. The challenge of providing multiple identical vintage frames for primary actors isn’t easy to solve, but it’s exactly what her business could accommodate with its vast collection.

The company has worked on numerous high-profile productions, including the Academy Award-winning film “Argo,” where Scura’s husband played a crucial role in selecting frames that would make the actors resemble the real-life hostages they were portraying. Another notable project was “American Hustle,” where the vintage eyewear helped create the authentic 1970s look that made everyone look amazing on screen.

“He is masterful at that,” Scura says of her husband’s ability to match frames to actors and historical figures. Their website’s press section showcases the extensive list of films they’ve contributed to, though Scura admits it’s hard to recount them all.

This Hollywood experience has undoubtedly influenced Scura’s approach to designing her own eyewear line, giving her unique insight into how frames can transform not just vision, but entire personas and historical authenticity.

For Scura, the business represents more than just commercial success. “It’s been a labor of love,” she reflects. “Just being able to work with and see and have my own private collection of basically the history of eyewear is pretty amazing.”

What started as a creative escape from corporate burnout has evolved into a multifaceted business that serves fashion-conscious consumers through both vintage pieces and original designs, while also supplying major Hollywood productions. Scura’s story demonstrates how following unexpected inspiration during a career break can lead to building something truly special, combining historical preservation with contemporary design innovation.

The timing, as Scura puts it, was “just perfect” when she decided to take that leap of faith and start Allyn Scura Eyewear, transforming her accidental discovery into a thriving business that celebrates both the artistry of vintage eyewear and her own creative vision as a designer.