Reading Glasses

So I heard that it was Elton John night this week on American Idol. For the record: I do not watch American Idol. 

Then: It is hard to describe the spectacles once worn by Sir Elton John, but I’ll give it a try.  Whimsically wonderful. Flamboyantly fun. Contagiously Crazy…? See, I told you it is hard. Anyone with the amount of talent as Sir Elton doesn’t need an explaination for fashion choices. You just have to appreciate the awesomeness.

Now: While Elton John’s early career was marked by his incredibly insane (wow, i really need to stop with the adjectives today) style, his look has become more refined these days. Just look at the evolution of his taste in glasses. I guess when you are a Knight you have to tone it down a little. Even though Elton’s look has changed, his legacy of outlandishness has yet to fade. Go into any costume shop and you will find hundreds of replicas of famous Elton-esque frames. 

Then: Run-D.M.C., pioneers of hip hop in the 1980s, were not only known for their music but their unique sense of style. Their all-black outfits with the giant gold chains were mimicked by other hip hop artists as well as suburban white guys all around the country. But forget about those giant necklaces, how about the glasses? The large, black frames with small metal detailing was the trademark look for group member, D.M.C. (a.k.a. Darryl McDaniels) and he paved the way for artists such as Jay-Z and Kanye West to rock the old-school oversized specs today. 

Now: Oh no, and then this guy starts wearing them. Don’t get me wrong, I love Judah Friedlander, the comedian who was a commentator on my old favorite show “The Best Week Ever” and now stars in my new favorite show “30 Rock.” He’s hilariously monotone most of the time, but he is known for looking like a doofus as well. The glasses paired with a trucker hat that says “Karate Prom” usually does the trick. Judah has completely taken ownership of the D.M.C. glasses, forever tarnishing whatever cool factor those frames once had. 

Then: Terry Richardson, notorious fashion photographer who might have somewhat of an…er…interesting reputation, is known not only for his work, and some sketchiness here or there, but also his glasses. The 1970s plastic aviator-like frame has become his trademark.  The look exudes an air of creepiness (the mutton-chops and perpetual “thumbs up” certainly help), but it seems that enough people embrace his unique style that we can ignore that idea all together. 

Now: I say that enough people embrace it because well, everyone tries on the Terry Richardson frames. It’s almost routine in his studio to take a snapshot of celebrities and models wearing his specs, and the specs seem to transform each subject from high fashion to  ironic white trash. This month, Paris Hilton took a step further and featured the Terry Richardsons on the cover of Vogue Turkey (random, much?)

Sorry, I am going to have to mention Justin Bieber today. The poor kid lost out during the Grammys, and I think he deserves a little love. 

Then: A couple years ago, the young Justin Beiber came on to the scene with an angelic voice and a perfectly coiffed do which quickly became every tween girl’s obsession. And what do you do these days when you become famous pop star? You get some ironic glasses of course! In this case, Bieber began to sport some oversized, matte plastic Buddy Hollys. The frames totally take over his face, but at least it doesn’t mess up his hair. 

Now: For some reason, people thought it would be appropriate for the documentary of Justin Bieiber to be in 3D. I’m usually not the biggest fan of the 3D movie genre, but there is definitely a perk to seeing this one: your very own Bieberific eyewear! When you see the film, you don’t get the regular ol’ 3D glasses, but the purple, thick-frame coolness. 

Then: When we think about the 80s, images of spandex, ruffles and big hair come to mind. And glasses? The 80s seemed to be the decade where the weird shaped, loud colored frames thrived, and people looked half-futuristic, half-ridiculous in their shades. Alain Mikli is a talented eyewear designer who embraced (and might have even fueled) the trend back then and helped accessorize performers such as Elton John, the king of absurd glasses. 

Now: The king of absurdity in general, Kanye West, sported a pair of Miklis during one of his concerts, and let’s just say the unique style kind of took off after that. The aptly named “Shudder Shades” started to appear everywhere, and evolved into a somewhat of an icon not long after their debut with Kanye. The trend is quite startling since they seem to be an incredibly impractical pair of glasses. Can you even see through them? 

Then: Back in the 1950s, the Browlines, known for their eyebrow-esque plastic upper rims, accounted for almost 50% of glasses sold. That’s a lot of geeky eyewear to go around! On second thought, maybe it’s not fair to associate them with the geeks, especially since Malcolm X was essentially the poster child for these particular frames. He was tough as well as an intellectual, which was conveyed in his specs of choice. Unfortunately for the Browlines, they lose a bit of their classiness when associated with a fast food chain as well: 

Now: In addition to finding the Browlines printed on your buckets of fried chicken, you can also find them on the streets of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The glasses juxtapose nicely with a leather jacket to create a bit of fashion irony. 

Then: It was only a matter of time until I would have to mention the Ray Ban Wayfarer. The coolest sunglasses ever, hands down. When they first came on the scene in the 1950s, the trapezoidal frames evoked a sense of danger. Maybe not scary danger, but more like fashion risk-taking danger. John F. Kennedy famously wore these specs and showed the world that you could be president with a cool sense of style at the same time. 

Now: The Wayfarer has experienced some on-again, off-again moments in the last several decades, but these days they might be the most desirable shades on the market. It’s just because they are so sweet, the epitome of cool, and they come in a bunch of awesome colors now. Check out the recent guerilla marketing campaign from Ray-Bans where they take the Wayfarer to the streets. Ubiquity isn’t always a bad thing. 

Once upon a time: I found this photo of a young Carrie Donovan, fashion editor and writer for publications such as New York Magazine and Vogue. This particular shot was taken in 1965, and Ms. Donovan looks simple yet stylish in her cat-eye glasses. From previous posts, you might be familiar with my penchant for those pointilicious frames, and Ms. Donovan wears them well in all black and a string of pearls. 

Years later: The black outfits and pearls stayed but boy, did the glasses get bigger (and bettter!) The fashion editor became a fashion icon herself. Carrie Donovan’s signature frames became uber-popular in the late 90s, mostly due to her appearence in ads for Old Navy. Fabulous.

Now: Iris Apfel is sporting the bird-like frames, and becoming quite the fashion muse these days at the age of 89. In 2005, the noted business woman, interior designer and style icon showcased highlights of her famed wardrobe in the exhibit “Rare Bird of Fashion”  at the Met which made quite the impact in both the fashion and art worlds. Big glasses and big beads all the way. 

Then: Jackie Kennedy Onassis was always a chic lady, but it wasn’t until she left the White House and moved to NYC when her style blossomed. Her most memorable look: the Jackie O glasses, you know them, the large, round, dark frames that paired magnificently with a silk Hermes scarf and a trench coat. She truly was a betty. 

Now: Because of the large nature of these famous shades, they seemed to have evolved into the go-to specs for Hollywood starlets looking to hide from the paparazzi. Unsuccessfully though, since you can’t find enough pictures of these girls wearing the glasses with or without a Starbucks Venti Latte in tow. This includes Katie Holmes, who coincidentally plays Jackie O. in the mini-series The Kennedy’s. I really hope the show ends up finding a channel to air on—if only for the good fashion eye-candy. 

I recently purchased prescription sunglasses and it has changed my life. Never again will I have to laboriously switch from my clear lenses to my shades anytime the sun comes out. It got me to thinking about the Glasses/Sunglasses hybrid: a solution for clear vision and sun blockage in one neat little package.

Then: The incredible 80s/90s Flip-Ups. Made famous by Dwayne Wayne (could you make up a better name?) from the TV show A Different World. Dwayne could strut through campus with his shades down and BOOM, flip them back up when he would walk into class. The ladies would swoon over the dexterity of his frames. 

Now: Transitions Lenses made famous by the one and only Larry David. In Curb Your Enthusiasm Larry has the ability to make anything hilariously awkward and awesome at the same time, and these glasses are certainly proof of that. Whether the lenses are in clear-mode during Larry’s notorious, judgmental stare-downs or in shade-mode while he’s playing golf with Jeff, one can’t help but fall in love with his practical choice in spectacles. Prettay, prettay cool.