Anne et Valentin SimpleCut: The Verb-Named Line, Explained
Every Anne et Valentin collection has a few styles named after a French verb — Jechante, Jepense, Jelis, Jetravaille. First-time shoppers assume it is a marketing quirk. It is not. Those verbs mark a specific sub-line called SimpleCut, and it is the single easiest way into a brand that can otherwise feel like a lot on the first try. If you have ever wanted "Anne et Valentin, but I still have to wear these to work on Monday," this is the line to know.
Everything below is grounded in what we actually stock at Gazal Eyecare, where the SimpleCut styles currently sit around $480 within a broader Anne et Valentin range of about $385 to $715.
What is Anne et Valentin SimpleCut?
SimpleCut is Anne et Valentin's pared-down optical line — the same architectural design language as the main collection, dialed to a quieter register. Where the brand's boldest acetates go full color-block and volume, SimpleCut keeps the clean lines and drops the drama. It is not a cheaper knock-off of the main line and it is not a starter brand; it is the same studio's answer to "I want the design, in a frame I can wear to anything."
Why are the styles named after French verbs?
Because the line is about doing, not just looking. The SimpleCut names are everyday French verbs in the first person: Jechante ("I sing"), Jepense ("I think"), Jelis ("I read"), and Jetravaille ("I work"). Read them together and you get a little portrait of an ordinary day — I read, I think, I work, I sing. It is a small, characteristic bit of wit from a studio that names its other frames after cities and neighborhoods. The verbs signal exactly what the line is for: real life, not a runway.
The four SimpleCut styles, in plain terms
Here is how the verb styles actually read on the tray. Jetravaille ("I work") is the most businesslike of the four — the studio calls it "a straight, panoramic rectangle" with "rigor that leaves room to breathe," which is a good description of a frame you can wear to a meeting without looking like you tried too hard. Jechante ("I sing") is the loosest, described as "a pilot shape, fluid and structured, ready for takeoff" — more preppy French-touch than fashion-driven. Jepense ("I think") and Jelis ("I read") round out the set as the everyday thinkers, both in French acetate. All four are prescription-ready optical frames and all four sit around $480 with us.
How is SimpleCut different from the main line?
The honest comparison. The main collection is where Anne et Valentin swings hardest — frames like Boing and Bop around $715, all volume and layered color, described by the studio in Bop's case as "a fluttering square, voluminous, thick" and "a signature fashion jewel frame." SimpleCut deliberately does not do that. Same design DNA, less shout. The trade-off is real and worth naming: SimpleCut gives up some of the brand's most head-turning color-work in exchange for a frame that fits into any wardrobe and any workday. Some people find that a feature; a die-hard color person might find it a touch too polite. Both reactions are fair.
| SimpleCut | Main line (bold acetates) | |
|---|---|---|
| Register | Clean, understated | Bold, high-volume, color-forward |
| Naming | French verbs (Jechante, Jepense) | Cities and neighborhoods |
| Best for | Everyday, work, first A&V | Statement, personality, collectors |
| Example styles | Jechante, Jepense, Jelis, Jetravaille | Boing, Bop |
| In-stock price | ~$480 | up to ~$715 |
Who should start with SimpleCut?
Three kinds of people. First, the Anne et Valentin newcomer who loves the idea of the brand but is nervous about wearing something bold every day — SimpleCut lets you buy in without a leap. Second, the professional who needs one frame that works in a boardroom and at dinner. Third, the person who already owns a loud pair and wants a calmer second frame from the same house. If none of those is you — if you want the boldest thing in the room — skip SimpleCut and go straight to the statement acetates. There is no wrong answer, only the right frame for how you actually live.
See the SimpleCut line at Gazal Eyecare
Browse the SimpleCut styles — Jechante, Jepense, Jelis, and Jetravaille — or see the full Anne et Valentin collection at Gazal Eyecare. New to the brand? Start with our Anne et Valentin design story and the collections & frames guide, or check the FAQ for fit, price, and care. Want a hand choosing? Contact our team and we will pull the SimpleCut styles worth trying for your face and prescription. While you are there, the genuine Anne et Valentin case is the simplest way to keep a new pair unmarked.
Frequently asked questions
What is Anne et Valentin SimpleCut?
SimpleCut is Anne et Valentin's pared-down optical line — the same architectural design language as the main collection in a quieter, more understated register. The styles are named after French verbs, and at Gazal Eyecare they currently sit around $480.
Why do SimpleCut glasses have French names?
The SimpleCut styles are named after everyday French verbs in the first person: Jechante ("I sing"), Jepense ("I think"), Jelis ("I read"), and Jetravaille ("I work"). Read together, they sketch an ordinary day, signaling that the line is built for real life rather than the runway.
How is SimpleCut different from the main Anne et Valentin line?
SimpleCut keeps the brand's clean architectural lines but drops the boldest color and volume of the main line. Statement acetates like Boing and Bop go high-color and high-volume around $715, while SimpleCut stays understated around $480 for a frame you can wear to anything.
How much do SimpleCut glasses cost?
At Gazal Eyecare, Anne et Valentin SimpleCut frames currently sit around $480 for the frame, within a broader Anne et Valentin range of about $385 to $715. Prescription lenses are an additional cost that depends on your prescription and lens options.
Is SimpleCut a good first Anne et Valentin frame?
Yes. SimpleCut is the easiest way into the brand for newcomers, professionals who need one versatile frame, or anyone who wants a calmer second pair. It delivers Anne et Valentin's design in a register you can wear every day without committing to the boldest color-work.