Vintage Inspired | 1950s Cat Eye Sunglasses
There is one style of sunglasses that I feel is universally flattering. Whether you have chipmunk cheeks like me (yeah I know wrinkles are less evident with chubby cheeks) or a perfectly heart shaped face, cat eyes are the slightly flared jean of the eye wear world. While its hey day was in the 1950s, the cat eye has been reinterpreted every single decade since then.
In the 1960s, we saw tortoise shell cat eyes. in the 1970s, we saw a larger, more exaggerated upsweep such as my fave YSL sunglasses purchased from Market Publique.They were a hit at the TwoPointOhLA picnic, where this picture was taken.
The 1980s saw a resurgence of Rockabilly and with it, colorful cat eyes in wild patterns.
With the 1950s style making a come back, as seen on the Louis Vuitton runway for Fall 2010, the classic feline shape is the eye wear du jour.
I’m really loving the Sonia Rykiel sunglasses. The rhinestone pair are such a fun exaggeration of 1950s rhinestone cat eyes and the bottom black rimmed ones are classic and cool.
What about you? Are you sporting vintage or vintage inspired cat eyes this summer? Show us!
P.S. If you’re looking for some professional advice on how to shop for vintage eyewear or quality manufacturers of reproduction vintage glasses, check out my article with optometrist & vintage dealer, Robert Alvarez.
6 comments
I’ve been on the lookout for just the right pair. I have a smaller cat-eye frame that were my regular (prescription) glasses a few years back, but they feel too dainty for sunglasses. Saw one pair at the optometrist that I loved, but very $$.
Alright, I’m game. I have a story of tortoiseshell and tragedy for you, appended to the bottom of my yesterday’s post.
The good news (since it’s Friday and early in the day and just generally good to be optimistic) is that I can now get to work replacing them.
And yes, we still love the puppy.
Oh no! Well I’m glad you are being optimistic! Hope you find some fantastic glasses. Do share which kind you got. People have been contacting me left and right about what kind of glasses to get.
Well hello there Miss Deja! I need to get my Rx in mine too. I have one pair of Chanel sunglasses that I now use just for driving because the lens sort of juts out at the top of the frame. Stupid LensCrafters. For good, prescription grade glasses, I don’t mind spending a bit more $ because the plastic seems stronger than just designer glasses you buy at department stores. I have an article that I wrote where I interviewed an optometrist who specialized in vintage eye wear. Worth a read! I’ll add to the post.
I have CRAZY vintage cat-eye glasses! yours are great.
Thanks! I love them. I have some crazy ones too. I think a cat eye challenge is in order!
Leave a Comment