Horn-rimmed glasses

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

‎

Horn-rimmed glasses are a type of eyeglasses with frames made of horn, tortoise shell, or plastic that simulates either material. The name horn-rimmed glasses refer to their original material, which was horn or shell. These glasses began to be popular in the United States in the 1910s and 1920s, and have been a standard for many decades. Over time, the glasses changed appearance and meaning. They later were known as dark, heavy, and plastic framed glasses. An early plastic, called celluloid, was dyed and molded to look like an animal horn.

Another characteristic is their lack of nose pads. This differentiates them from other glasses, making the profile of horn-rims appear unique. Sometimes saddle bridges are attached to distribute the weight of the glasses. These are placed on the sides and top of the frame’s nose.

Currently, the definition of horn-rimmed glasses has become more flexible. They are commonly referred to as a pair of dark, plastic eyeglasses with frames that range in thickness from about 1/16" to 1/4". The dark colored plastic stands out, giving the appearance of thick frames.

1 History
2 Fashion Scene
3 Celebrities
4 References

[edit] History

Harold Lloyd originally made eyeglass wearing popular. In particular, he made horn-rimmed glasses mainstream. His glasses were plastic. In Europe, frames were made from tortoise shell and were expensive. However, America made plastic framed glasses because it was less expensive than tortoise shell. Around this time, plastic frames began to be called “shell."

Lloyd donned his plastic horn-rims in 1917 when he stared in the short comedy film, Over the Fence. Oddly enough, the glasses contained no lens due to the glare that it would have created from the studio lights. The glasses’ purpose was to differentiate Lloyd from the character he portrayed in the film. He could then go out in public without glasses and was unrecognizable. At this time, the horn-rimmed style was fresh. They were large enough to be dramatic without being over the top.

Lloyd wore glasses whenever he acted. He stated that "They make low-comedy clothes unnecessary, permit enough romantic appeal to catch the feminine eye, usually diverted from comedies, and they hold me down to no particular type or range of story."[1] Lloyd’s seventy-five cent pair of horn-rimmed glasses lasted him eighteen months. He patched them with things like glue and gum until he had to replace them. This look could have been the catalyst for society's image of a stereotypical "nerd," who wears thick, black-framed glasses held together with tape. Harold influenced young Americans to become consumers of these glasses.

The glasses continued to be popular through the 1930s and worn in each decade following, with hightened popularity in the 1960s. Currently, in the 2000s, it seems that horn-rims are being altered to fit the times. Some wear the glasses without prescriptive lenses, as purely a fashion statement.

[edit] Fashion Scene

In the past, there was a limited selection of eyeglass styles. When horn-rimmed eyeglasses came out, they were popular in the meaning that many people had them. However, wearers of these glasses were thought of as nerdy, studious, and conservative.

Like most styles in the past, horn-rims have immerged once again. However, this time the pair makes its consumers look trendy, and current. Fashion icons have transformed the previously unflattering design into must-haves. Emo (slang) girls and guys have recently adopted horn-rims. This type of person is described as “emotional” and seems to be unhappy more often than not. They listen to emo (music), which could be punk or indie, and wear wristbands, tight tees with 80s prints, and have piercings and dark hair covering their eye. The current consumers of horn-rimmed glasses are seen as liberal.

[edit] Celebrities

Many celebrities through the decades have been seen wearing horn-rimmed glasses. Here is a timeline of notable appearances:

Harold Lloyd

1910s-1940s

Harold Lloyd wore them in all of his movies, from 1917's Over the Fence to 1947's The Sin of Harold Diddlebock.

1950s

Buddy Holly, was a popular singer and songwriter of rock and roll music, and is known for his thick horn-rimmed glasses.
George Reeves' character Clark Kent in the original TV series Adventures of Superman wore horn-rims to conceal his Superman identity.

Barry Goldwater

1960s

After buying contact lenses, American Senator Barry Goldwater continued wearing horn-rimmed eyeglasses without lenses because the public could not recognize him without the glasses.
The Beatles' Paul McCartney was spotted wearing horn-rims on and off during the 1960s.

1970s

Elvis Costello, a British musician, singer, and songwriter of the "pub rock" genre, was later known for punk rock and new wave music.

Drew Carey

1980s

Bill Gates wore the trend on the cover of the April 16, 1984 issue of Time magazine.

Weezer

1990s

Cartoonist Gary Larson illustrates characters wearing horn-rims in the San Francisco Chronicle comic strip "The Far Side".
Drew Carey of The Drew Carey Show continues to wear horn-rims after having corrective laser eye surgery.
Patrick Bateman, a main character and narrator of the Bret Easton Ellis novel American Psycho, wore them. Oliver Peoples is the brand that is referenced.
In the 1990s, many types of 1960s fashion trends reemerged, including bellbottom pants, brightly colored clothing, and platform shoes. With this, Mike Myers played Austin Powers in the Austin Powers series of films, wearing another popular 60s trend, the horn-rims.

2000s

Anne Hathaway's character Mia in the movie The Princess Diaries wore them before her makeover.
Rivers Cuomo, front man of the rock band Weezer, is identified by his horn-rims.
Tina Fey, who was a writer on Saturday Night Live, is now on the show 30 Rock.
Actor Paul Marcarelli, the "Test Man" for Verizon Wireless commercials, is famous for the phrase, "Can you hear me now? Good."
Jack Coleman's character Mr. Bennet is known on the show Heroes as "Horned-Rimmed Glasses".