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Photography by Connor Rob
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Photography by Connor Rob
Florissant native Neil Bardon would rather scour estate sales and online auctions than shop at big-box stores. He loves to hunt for one-of-a-kind items and considers his vintage purchases a more sustainable form of consumption, as well as a connection to the past. His philosophy is evident in every aspect of Saint Rita Parlor, the Los Angeles–based eyewear and accessories line Bardon founded five years ago. With its limited production, handmade packaging, and classic aesthetic, the brand aims to reestablish the bond between designer and consumer. “In this day and age, when everything is fast and contrived and disposable,” Bardon says, “where do people find that special piece? I want to be the source.”
You moved to L.A. to pursue a career in music but emerged a decade later as the founder of a successful eyewear and accessories line. How did this happen?
My life is still surrounded with music—music is at the core of who I am—but being in a band was challenging, especially when you’re trying to make a living from it. You have to depend on others, and it’s hard to find people who are always on the same page. By starting Saint Rita Parlor, I only had to rely on myself and my ambitions.
Do you have a design background?
Yes, I’ve been creative my whole life. My high school [Fort Zumwalt South, in St. Peters] had a great graphic arts program that inspired me at a young age. I went on to the Art Institute of Chicago, where I studied graphic design. Without being proficient in graphic design, I couldn’t do any of what I do today— designing not only eyeglasses but also the packaging, the labels, the branding.
Saint Rita Parlor is named after your grandmother, Rita. How is she represented in your line?
My début collection was inspired by the 1940s, when my grandmother graduated high school. As a child, I used to trade coins with her, so on the back right temple of every pair of glasses is a little coin with her name on it. The cloth that comes with my glasses is a bandana I designed with her image, and my packages are wrapped in baker’s twine to mimic a parcel from her era.
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Photography courtesy of Saint Rita Parlor
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Photography courtesy of Saint Rita Parlor
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Photography courtesy of Saint Rita Parlor
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Photography courtesy of Saint Rita Parlor
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Photography courtesy of Saint Rita Parlor
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Photography courtesy of Saint Rita Parlor
Which pair of glasses would we find you wearing if we ran into you?
I usually wear the Bardon-Keil, from my second collection, called The Florissant Collection. My frames are all black, and I fill them with black-tinted prescription lenses. A favorite pair, although one that I don’t wear, is called the Rita frame. They’re more of a fine art piece, since the roses were taken from my grandmother’s casket [spray] and embedded in the frame. They’re $25,000 a pair, and I made two pairs.
What do you like to do when you visit St. Louis?
Family is very important to me, so first and foremost I visit my grandparents. Then, if I have time, I stop at Tower Classic Tattooing for some new ink and eat lunch at Tree House on South Grand. I don’t always get there, but I do recommend that anyone going to St. Louis visit City Museum.
What’s next for Saint Rita Parlor?
I’m designing a line of unisex clothing, a collection of 40 pieces, mostly in black and off-white, neutral colors. I’ve designed everything from heavy jackets to a blazer without a lapel that goes to the knees—things that you could wear every day but also to a wedding if you wanted to.
Saint Rita Parlor is sold locally at Oso: a Style Lab in the Delmar Loop.
