Some famous people are virtually unrecognizable without their spectacles – it’s all about having a signature ‘look’
Fashions in glasses change. What was a top trend in the 1950’s (I’m thinking cat’s eye shapes, horn rims) has now morphed into a much sleeker, more ‘designer’ look.
Of course, the variety of frames on offer now is much, much more varied and our exposure to fashion and trends via the Internet, television and magazines is much greater.
Moustache, Cigar, Spectacles …
In the 1930’s Groucho Marx displayed his wire framed circular glasses along with an oversized moustache and cigar as part of his ‘uniform’, making him instantly recognisable. Glasses with a stick-on moustache and nose attached are often to be found today in joke shops as part of a quick fancy dress outfit.
In the next decade US President Franklin D Roosevelt maintained gravitas during difficult times and sported a pair of wire frames that were perfectly round. This type of glasses was very popular at the time and many featured a light frame that often gave the initial illustration of wearing no glasses at all.
Buddy Holly And His Iconic Eyewear
Moving into the 1950’s the style of eyeglasses changed. The singer Buddy Holly made large, black frames popular and he is said to have been the first rock and roll star to sport glasses. He did try wearing contact lenses for a while but found them uncomfortable and ineffective so switched back to his tried and trusted specs (without which he was almost unrecognizable to the public).
In the 1960’s the Beatles burst onto the scene and John Lennon made small, round wire framed lenses fashionable again. As the 1960’s progressed and the hippy look became more popular, Lennon was seen with tinted spectacles in blues and oranges, heralding the flower power look.
The celeb most strongly identified with spectacles in the 1970’s has to be Elton John, who invested in some of the most outrageous eyewear ever seen during his spectacular stage shows. Today the composer has toned down his glasses but back in the 1970’s his frames were an integral part of the show.
The Film ‘Top Gun’ & Aviator Sunglasses
In the 1980’s, the era of the power suit and power dressing, Top Gun was a top film and made a star of the young Tom Cruise. It made aviator sunglasses a hot trend. Always popular amongst flyers, they now became mainstream.
Brit Pop arrived in the 1990s and Jarvis Cocker of Pulp again used his spectacles as a signature ‘look’, along with a jacket and tie.
More recently, the likes of celebrity stylist Gok Wan have created an image that centres around a strong pair of frames.
Charlotte blogs about fashion and eyewear for leading online spectacles provider Direct Sight.
Fashions in glasses change. What was a top trend in the 1950’s (I’m thinking cat’s eye shapes, horn rims) has now morphed into a much sleeker, more ‘designer’ look.
Of course, the variety of frames on offer now is much, much more varied and our exposure to fashion and trends via the Internet, television and magazines is much greater.
Moustache, Cigar, Spectacles …
In the 1930’s Groucho Marx displayed his wire framed circular glasses along with an oversized moustache and cigar as part of his ‘uniform’, making him instantly recognisable. Glasses with a stick-on moustache and nose attached are often to be found today in joke shops as part of a quick fancy dress outfit.
In the next decade US President Franklin D Roosevelt maintained gravitas during difficult times and sported a pair of wire frames that were perfectly round. This type of glasses was very popular at the time and many featured a light frame that often gave the initial illustration of wearing no glasses at all.
Buddy Holly And His Iconic Eyewear
In the 1960’s the Beatles burst onto the scene and John Lennon made small, round wire framed lenses fashionable again. As the 1960’s progressed and the hippy look became more popular, Lennon was seen with tinted spectacles in blues and oranges, heralding the flower power look.
The celeb most strongly identified with spectacles in the 1970’s has to be Elton John, who invested in some of the most outrageous eyewear ever seen during his spectacular stage shows. Today the composer has toned down his glasses but back in the 1970’s his frames were an integral part of the show.
The Film ‘Top Gun’ & Aviator Sunglasses
Brit Pop arrived in the 1990s and Jarvis Cocker of Pulp again used his spectacles as a signature ‘look’, along with a jacket and tie.
More recently, the likes of celebrity stylist Gok Wan have created an image that centres around a strong pair of frames.
Charlotte blogs about fashion and eyewear for leading online spectacles provider Direct Sight.
Fashions in glasses change. What was a top trend in the 1950’s (I’m thinking cat’s eye shapes, horn rims) has now morphed into a much sleeker, more ‘designer’ look.
ReplyDeleteOf course, the variety of frames on offer now is much, much more varied and our exposure to fashion and trends via the Internet, television and magazines is much greater.