April 2011
1 post
The Elton John.
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...
February 2011
4 posts
The DMC
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...
The Terry Richardson
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...
The Justin Beiber
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...
The Alain Mikli
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...
January 2011
10 posts
The Browlines.
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...
The Wayfarer.
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...
The Carrie Donovan.
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...
The Jackie O.
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...
The Glasses/Sunglasses.
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...
The Sally Jessy Raphael.
Once upon a time: I never really watched daytime TV in the 80s and 90s, let alone talk shows, except when I was home sick from school and desperate for entertainment. Despite this, I was certainly familiar with the fashion staple of TV personality Sally Jessy Raphael: the over-sized, ruby-red glasses. Her larger than life specs pervaded the pop culture scene at the time and became icons in...
The Buddy Holly.
Then: In my opinion, Buddy Holly was the first person to make nerdy chic. (Sorry, Adam Brody.) And these glasses perfectly fit his persona. What do you think all those girls at his concerts were shrieking about? It has been said that Holly paved the way for other rock musicians to wear glasses on stage and totally own it.
Now: These glasses are everywhere, and I’m not just talking...
Glasses at the Globes.
Paul Giamatti, Annette Bening and Steve Buscemi rockin it.
I usually watch the overly-hyped, incredibly boring awards shows to drool over beautiful gowns and sparkly jewelry, and you can imagine my delight to find that glasses were the hottest accessory at last night’s Golden Globes. In fact, it seemed to be a rule that if you dared to wear thick, black frames to the posh event you were...
The Cat-Eye.
Then: The epitome of classic. When Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn sport the pointy specs in the 50s and 60s, they instantly become an icon of sophistication and style.
Somehow, throughout the years, the Cat-Eye lost its flirtiness and took on nerdiness, as I found seeing old photos of my mother when she was in high school. Unfortunately, I am not allowed to post said photos, but perhaps Ms....
The Le Corbusier.
The Iconic Four-Eyes
Once upon a time: These glasses were synonomous with the architect so badass, he could have one name with a “le” in front of it. The glasses were almost like a sculpture resting on his nose—two symmetrical circles made out of a dark ebony. The lenses were so thick it was hard to see his eyes, evoking a sense of mysterious genius.
Now: These are the...