Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley - Mother's Day Glasses

Mother’s Day is a day that we spend pampering the mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and even mothers-to-be in our lives. As anyone can attest, a mother’s love knows no boundaries, and without them in our lives, we wouldn’t be the people we are today. In thinking about our mothers, it seems only fitting that we take a look back at what they were like when they were younger. Their style (or lack thereof), how they dressed, and specifically – the glasses they wore! Sure, we can poke fun at the hairstyles they donned in the ’60s and ’70s, but don’t speak too soon when making fun of their glasses. Chances are the ones you are wearing today are either close replicas of the ones your parents wore, or were in fact heavily influenced by what at one time were popular frames.

In the beginning of the year, Forbes recognized a new look that is growing in popularity. The “Instagram look,” combines lens tints and a bit of 1970s appeal to reflect the look of filtered images that are seen on Instagram. Sepia-toned, rose and gold-tinted lenses have grown tremendously in popularity, and are elements of glasses we haven’t really seen since the ’60s and ’70s. Frames reminiscent of yesteryear are popping up all over, bringing bubbly shapes, wooden frames and tortoise prints back into the limelight.

Made popular by John Lennon, “granny-glasses” are making a somewhat surprising comeback. The small, perfectly round-lens frames (sometimes associated with Harry Potter) are popping up all over. The granny-lenses seen today are more popular as sunglasses rather than as regular everyday specs (which is something that some of us may be a little bit thankful for).

Another style of glasses normally worn by elder ladies of the ’60s and ’70s were “bug-eye” glasses. Usually seen with nearly any color lens tinting, bug-eye glasses knew no boundaries. Though they never really went away, they have undergone many changes throughout the decades. Many of the bug-eye eyeglasses seen today are taking a more angular shape, but still reflect the same, take-up-half-of-your-face size in addition to tinted lenses.

One of the last trends in eyewear that were definitely popular when our mothers were younger was the “cat-eye” look. The asymmetrical, tear-drop shape has adapted a little and is now even more exaggerated towards the corners of the lenses than it was in the ’60s and ’70s.

Now, before we leave you, let’s just wrap this up with one eyeglasses trend that (for some reason unbeknownst to us) never took off until recently. Think you know what trend that was? 

You were right if you said “Ray-Ban.”

Originally produced by Bausch & Lomb in 1937, Ray-Ban Aviators were originally made for US Army Air Service pilots who would report that the glare from the sun was giving them altitude sickness and headaches. In the ’50s and ’60s, Ray-Bans gained more popularity as an iconic part of the American-pop culture movement. Celebrities that included Kim Novak and Marilyn Monroe would wear Wayfarers in public and in their movies. The style caught on and soon others such as James Dean, Bob Dylan and even JFK were wearing Wayfarers around. The ’70s, ’80s and ’90s didn’t show much as far as growth or new celebrity endorsements, but the 2007 “Never Hide” campaign sparked up brand recognition and led to an increase in the amount of styles and designs that we see today.

This Mother’s Day, don’t forget to show your mother (or any mother figure in your life) how much you love and appreciate them. You might even want to take the day to get her a new pair of glasses. The vision care professionals and all of the staff here at Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley would like to wish a Happy Mother’s Day to every mother out there! Relax, refresh and enjoy your day. You deserve it!