Vintage Eyeglasses

Talbot · Sep 12, 2011

Is it just me, or are heavier vintage style frames becoming more popular among fashion followers these days?

cookie · Sep 13, 2011

Talbot said:
Is it just me, or are heavier vintage style frames becoming more popular among fashion followers these days?

Affirmative! Horn rims particularly.

Mrs Chaddsley_Corbett · Sep 13, 2011

I saw some rather nice round vintage style sunglasses, on Sunday, made from of all things, WOOD!

univibe88 · Sep 13, 2011

Talbot said:
Is it just me, or are heavier vintage style frames becoming more popular among fashion followers these days?

Yes, especially with the younger, hipster crowd. You see a lot of kids wearing Ray Ban Wayfarer style frames.

FedoraFan112390 · Sep 15, 2011

What style of glasses are these:

IndianaWay · Sep 15, 2011

The horn rim thing is interesting to me. As a grade school kid in the early-mid 70's, I had to wear glasses and the only frames available for me (apparently) were horn rims. Um, "popular" doesn't seem to be a term I recall my classmates using. After many years of not wearing glasses, in the last couple years I've started wearing bifocals. I am thinking I did my time with the horn rims and I'll take a pass this time 'round. Wondering/hoping when the time comes for new glasses if I can find a frame kind of like President Truman used to have.

PoohBang · Sep 15, 2011

what glasses are Gene wearing in this film?

Mike in Seattle · Sep 15, 2011

Orvis' latest catalog had a bunch of vintage-look reading glasses.

MisterGrey · Sep 15, 2011

IndianaWay said:
The horn rim thing is interesting to me. As a grade school kid in the early-mid 70's, I had to wear glasses and the only frames available for me (apparently) were horn rims. Um, "popular" doesn't seem to be a term I recall my classmates using. After many years of not wearing glasses, in the last couple years I've started wearing bifocals. I am thinking I did my time with the horn rims and I'll take a pass this time 'round. Wondering/hoping when the time comes for new glasses if I can find a frame kind of like President Truman used to have.

As recently as my Freshman year of college six years ago I was chided for wearing horn rims because they were "BCGs" ("Birth control glasses") and told by numerous people that they not only made me look like a serial killer* but would actively dash any hopes of ever enjoying a meaningful relationship with a member of the opposite sex (I was too embarrassed at the time to point out that I'd been wearing a pair when I met my first girlfriend). It's funny that such a short time later they're the "in" thing.

* It seems that to most of the people I knew when I was younger, me + glasses = serial killer, because it was the comment I got to every pair of glasses I ever owned except a round pair of tortoise shell glasses. Then again, I did used to have an awful taste in frames.

FedoraFan112390 · Sep 15, 2011

MisterGrey said:
As recently as my Freshman year of college six years ago I was chided for wearing horn rims because they were "BCGs" ("Birth control glasses") and told by numerous people that they not only made me look like a serial killer* but would actively dash any hopes of ever enjoying a meaningful relationship with a member of the opposite sex (I was too embarrassed at the time to point out that I'd been wearing a pair when I met my first girlfriend). It's funny that such a short time later they're the "in" thing.

* It seems that to most of the people I knew when I was younger, me + glasses = serial killer, because it was the comment I got to every pair of glasses I ever owned except a round pair of tortoise shell glasses. Then again, I did used to have an awful taste in frames.

I hate that everything today is sexualized.
Have a beard? It's a rapist beard.
Have a mustache? You're obviously gay or a pedophile.
Have "different" eyeglasses? You're obviously a sex offender.

It's a very Generation X thing it seems, turning everything they don't like that their parents might've worn into something perversely sexual. See videos like "Rapist eyeglasses", "Pedophile beard", "Pedophile mustache", "Creepy mustache" (which is just a video of guys with pencil mustaches). Anything that doesn't fit the metrosexual, "new male", goateed mold is considered somehow perverse or creepy.

PoohBang · Sep 15, 2011

why do you listen to "everyone" do you own thing and enjoy life.

Talbot · Sep 15, 2011

Some if these things start out being popular as an anti statement of some form, then become mainstream.

A young musician I know (classical cellist) is growing a pencil 'tache. I gave him some very loud clip on bow ties (I know, I know...) and he couldn't be happier...

univibe88 · Sep 16, 2011

FedoraFan112390 said:
I hate that everything today is sexualized.
Have a beard? It's a rapist beard.
Have a mustache? You're obviously gay or a pedophile.
Have "different" eyeglasses? You're obviously a sex offender.

It's a very Generation X thing it seems, turning everything they don't like that their parents might've worn into something perversely sexual. See videos like "Rapist eyeglasses", "Pedophile beard", "Pedophile mustache", "Creepy mustache" (which is just a video of guys with pencil mustaches). Anything that doesn't fit the metrosexual, "new male", goateed mold is considered somehow perverse or creepy.

Gen X are parents now. I think it's more of a Millenial thing.

AtomicEraTom · Sep 16, 2011

This is very true. I have a friend who turns everything into some perverted thing of one manner or another. The rest of us roll our eyes. Another friend asked him why he does that, to which he replied 'you're just jealous because I'm getting more action than you.'

Anyways, we call them 'Jim Hill glasses' around here because my best friend's dad wears them.

FedoraFan112390 said:
I hate that everything today is sexualized.
Have a beard? It's a rapist beard.
Have a mustache? You're obviously gay or a pedophile.
Have "different" eyeglasses? You're obviously a sex offender.

It's a very Generation X thing it seems, turning everything they don't like that their parents might've worn into something perversely sexual. See videos like "Rapist eyeglasses", "Pedophile beard", "Pedophile mustache", "Creepy mustache" (which is just a video of guys with pencil mustaches). Anything that doesn't fit the metrosexual, "new male", goateed mold is considered somehow perverse or creepy.

Norumbega · Sep 17, 2011

Just last month I received my Gold Shurons, with tortoise shell skull temples (Gold Shuron P3 Ful-Vue #7205) from the Optometrist Attic, and couldnt be happier. I would recommend them to anyone looking for vintage wear. One interesting point Vick makes is that while some of the glasses are "new," they're being made on the same equipment used all those years ago, so.....if you're wrestling with "authentic," I think you're fine. Wonderful company to do business with and the website will answer all your style and fitting questions. Vick is very prompt to answer any and all questions and make suggestions.
Take a look: http://optometristattic.com/

I think I've also mentioned this source elsewhere here, but for a variety of vintage glasses, there's Ed Welch's shop in Maine. A dizzying array of glasses going back to the 18th century. It's like walking in to an old eyewear haberdashery----um, if that existed, ahem. I think you'll enjoy kicking around the shop. http://www.eyeglasseswarehouse.com/index.html

cookie · Sep 26, 2011

cookie said:
Tart Arnel spectacles = a recent purchase for an old tart!

My old TARTs came today. Very happy I am too! The fit was great with the 46 width.

Nobert · Sep 26, 2011

Norumbega said:
I think I've also mentioned this source elsewhere here, but for a variety of vintage glasses, there's Ed Welch's shop in Maine. A dizzying array of glasses going back to the 18th century. It's like walking in to an old eyewear haberdashery----um, if that existed, ahem. I think you'll enjoy kicking around the shop. http://www.eyeglasseswarehouse.com/index.html

I stumbled across that on the internet a few years ago and was mildly shocked. All this time of trying to build a vintage style and I never knew there was someone in the business of vintage eyewear less than 30 miles from where I grew up.

Talbot · Sep 26, 2011

cookie said:
My old TARTs came today. Very happy I am too! The fit was great with the 46 width.

Cookie, who do you use to fit lenses?

cookie · Sep 27, 2011

Talbot said:
Cookie, who do you use to fit lenses?

I have a very experienced optometrist dispenser who is happy to do the vintage stuff. PM me.

G_man_1978 · Sep 27, 2011

Hi,
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/155/img0157e.jpg
Liking this thread a lot, here's photo of me with the Shuron Ronsir in ebony sizing of 48-22.

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