Jennifer Crow shows her personal collection of eyewear.
For Jennifer Crow of rural Panora, eyewear is the perfect blend of function and fashion.
By Rich Wicks | Panora Times, April 2025
Making a statement or expressing yourself through your appearance can be done in many ways. Some choose body art such as tattoos or piercings. Others opt for wardrobe accessories such as purses, ties and scarves. Hairstyles, hair color and jewelry are popular options as well.
A favorite pair of eyewear for Jennifer Crow is from Budapest.
But for Jennifer Crow of rural Panora, eyewear is a perfect blend of function and fashion.
“I tell people I don’t collect shoes, and I don’t collect purses; I collect glasses,” Crow said. “I also have some old eyeglasses from my grandparents and things like that, too.”
The majority of Crow’s personal collection is prescription glasses she can wear any time the mood strikes her. From time to time, she donates her older glasses to charitable causes, but she has kept a few favorite styles around.
“Most of these are from the last five years, but there’s a couple that are older than that, just because I love them so much that I just keep putting new lenses in them,” Crow said. “To me, it’s like a piece of jewelry, so I treat it as such,” Crow said.
The eyeglasses that catch Crow’s eye are not the run of the mill.
“They’re handcrafted. Two pairs were made by an opera singer from Canada. Some are from Denmark. I like the glitzy, blingy stuff,” Crow said. “I try to find pieces that are unique. I like the ones that tell a story.”
Crow showed a favorite pair and explained its special story.
“We’re very conservative in the United States for eyewear. They do a lot more bold colors and bright fashion in Europe,” Crow said. “This one, as you can see, is actually made out of vinyl records. They’re made in Budapest, Hungary.”
Jennifer Crow says there are eyeglasses for every mood.
Crow’s passion is not only for her own eyeglasses but in helping others in a similar way.
“I’m actually an optician. I kind of fell into the industry when I was 19. Someone asked me to come work with them, so I did, and I enjoyed it, and I’ve stayed in the industry since, other than taking some time off when I had young kids,” Crow said. “Then, when my youngest daughter was born in 2014, I decided to have a mobile optical. I was tired of working for other people, but I loved glasses.”
Crow’s career has taught her much about eyewear.
“I’ve done every aspect of it,” Crow said. “From just selling frames and lenses to someone, but then I’ve also looked in on the labs, so I know what it’s like to make a prescription and put it in.”
Crow focuses on learning what her clients want, then offers options tailored to that goal.
“I like helping people feel good about it. I don’t want them to feel like a number. I like to educate people, because a lot of times they don’t know what they don’t know,” Crow said. “I’m an old-school optician, trained by some of the best in the country. I want my clients to always leave knowing more than when they came in.”
Although low-cost eyeglasses and sunglasses are readily available, Crow offers something not available off the shelf.
“I don’t sell anything that you can go get online,” Crow said. “Most of the companies that I work with are very exclusive.”
Eye health and vision care are causes Crow believes in strongly.
“You get what you pay for,” she said. “You only have one set of eyes. Protect what you have. Get an eye exam.”
Do you know someone in Guthrie County whose vehicle, collection or hobby would make an interesting story? Email rich@gctimesnews.com.