Browline retro eyeglasses are the classic frames from the 50’s and 60’s made famous by the likes of Malcolm X and James Dean to name a few; both of which were men that pushed the boundaries of their time and left behind a lasting impression.
While some refer to them as horn-rimmed retro frames…the modern name is more browline eye frames; still, there is the name created by the legendary RayBan… “Clubmaster” which is now a registered trademark of the giant eyewear monopoly Luxottica that bought RayBan in the 80’s.
These distinctive frames consist of a broad, sometimes shaped upper frame: made of plastic and some metal then down to a thin metal beneath the lenses. They can be referred to as half frames, half-rims or full rims depending on the width of the thin metal on the bottom.
The black with the silver/ gold is one of my favourite standards.
“Malcolm-x” by Marion S. Trikosko – U.S. News & World Report Magazine Photograph Collection, Library of Congress, Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsc-01274. This image is available from the United States Library of Congress‘s Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID ppmsc.01274.
Celebrites and the general population a like wear these half rim frames as sunglasses as well as regular prescription glasses
You will find that eyeglasses, be they prescription eyeglasses, or fashion eyeglasses (sunglasses) have not really changed much in trend in the last year or so. Looking at the New York Fashion Week attendees one sees that the fashion on the street is very much the same in terms of glasses.
New York Fashion Week 2014 Street Style Cat Eyeglasses
Though there seems to be little change in the actually frame shapes…we do indeed see a lot of innovation when it comes to the coloring, styling as well as the frame materials that are being used.
We see the same trends on Harper’s London Street Style Report (see photo below). Stylin’ like the 50’s or 60’s working with nostalgic costumes that invoke that era.
Cat eyeglasses, 50’s sunglasses styles.
Everything from soft transparent frames in soft colors, to big black frames in a variety of some wild and others not-so-wild frame types.
The wayfarer frame shapes for sunglasses, or for clear fashion eyeglasses are still going hot. Just have more fun with the colors and even blend in with your outfit or be bold and stand out. The classic or retro glasses styles of wayfarer frames are also still going on, pick em big to emphasis you lips and nose. Aviator frames continue too…again you can be more playful with the colors and the frame type choosing plastic frames as well as the old stand by in metal. Here you can also pep up your look with some cool retro eyedrop shaped glasses, or cat eyeglasses that are a bit softer in the angling.
The next continuing trend in also more fun and playful varieties are the round eyeglasses (also retro glasses) You can have these as sunglasses, prescription sunglasses/ eyeglasses as well as clear fashion glasses; either way you are in the trend!
Enjoy these wonderful pictures to give you a visual of some of the trendy glasses available.
