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I need glasses really bad!!! what do 1920's womens glasses look like???????????

therizyflapper

One of the Regulars
Messages
264
Location
thousand oaks CA
hello everyone! my vision has been getting worse and worse over the years, at the ripe old age of 18 i finally admitted to myself that i need glasses, but i have a problem i dress in all 1920's 1930's clothing and i don't like many thing modern haha so i want my glasses to match my style but all i can seem to find is 1940's 1950's glasses, and don't get me wrong they are adorable, but not the era i'm looking for haha :p if anyone can help me out that would be a life-saver! :) Thank you everyone!!
 

LizzieMaine

Bartender
Messages
33,771
Location
Where The Tourists Meet The Sea
Most glasses were unisex up until the early to mid forties. In the twenties the most common types of glasses worn were the round metal-framed lenses most identified in the modern era with John Lennon, or the horn-rimmed round specs made popular by Harold Lloyd. Women's frames would be somewhat smaller than men's frames, and might have a bit of delicate engraving, but they were basically similar.

Of course, since you are Ritzy, you might also consider a pince-nez, or nose glasses. These were popular with ritzy women, but they aren't all that practical for people who have to wear them all the time, and they aren't easy to find thru modern opticians.

In the mid-thirties, rimless specs became popular, such as the ones I'm wearing in my avatar pic (the "Rimway" model, introduced in 1935 and still available today). Also common were the "Ful-Vue" P3 glasses, which were a not-quite-round gold-wire frame with the temples mounted near the top of the lens. These were extremely common for both men and women into the 1950s.

If you search for a thread called "Oh The Stigma of an Astigmatism," you'll find a ton of glasses discussion dating back several years.
 

Amy Jeanne

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,858
Location
Colorado
526107_10150726233884164_624014163_9533180_1514698454_n.jpg
 

SheBear74

Practically Family
Messages
621
Location
FL
I will say check coastalcontacts.com! They give you the first pair of glasses for free, you just pay shipping! It's not joke I have gotten about 4 pairs of glasses from them ;)
 

Shangas

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,116
Location
Melbourne, Australia
Glasses were typically the round type that you see there. And as Lizzie says, mostly unisex. I remember my grandmother had a handsome pair of spectacles. They were oval-shaped bifocals with gold frames. She wore them for special occasions when she was going out with friends or to dinner with family and whatnot. No idea whatever became of them. If the round, circular shape is too much, perhaps the oval-ish shape would suit you better?
 

Stanley Doble

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,808
Location
Cobourg
If you think you need glasses there are eye exercises that may save your sight. You could try searching for Bates exercises. I think Aldous Huxley did a book on the subject too. It is not a new or untried idea.
 

Bluebird Marsha

A-List Customer
Messages
377
Location
Nashville- well, close enough
If you decide to go with the period style specs, make sure the lens' you get aren't "too" small. Probably not a big deal if your vision isn't too awful. But if you're heading into major near-sightedness, it can be a pain to have a small field of vision.
 

Shangas

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,116
Location
Melbourne, Australia
Whatever frames you get, make sure that they're light. I've got shortsightedness and I learnt from a young age that heavy frames are incredibly uncomfortable. So don't pick anything that's really thick and chunky.
 

therizyflapper

One of the Regulars
Messages
264
Location
thousand oaks CA
Most glasses were unisex up until the early to mid forties. In the twenties the most common types of glasses worn were the round metal-framed lenses most identified in the modern era with John Lennon, or the horn-rimmed round specs made popular by Harold Lloyd. Women's frames would be somewhat smaller than men's frames, and might have a bit of delicate engraving, but they were basically similar.

Of course, since you are Ritzy, you might also consider a pince-nez, or nose glasses. These were popular with ritzy women, but they aren't all that practical for people who have to wear them all the time, and they aren't easy to find thru modern opticians.

In the mid-thirties, rimless specs became popular, such as the ones I'm wearing in my avatar pic (the "Rimway" model, introduced in 1935 and still available today). Also common were the "Ful-Vue" P3 glasses, which were a not-quite-round gold-wire frame with the temples mounted near the top of the lens. These were extremely common for both men and women into the 1950s.

If you search for a thread called "Oh The Stigma of an Astigmatism," you'll find a ton of glasses discussion dating back several years.

oh my goodness thank you so much!!!!!! this is so helpful!!! :) do you know where i could find any of these?? thank you so much dear your a gem!!!!! :) I'm so grateful for your help!
 

therizyflapper

One of the Regulars
Messages
264
Location
thousand oaks CA
My great-grandmother in the middle. She wore the round glasses that were wire-framed.

215455_10150153968174164_624014163_6649088_3889224_n.jpg

that is the cutest picture!!!! i love it! i really like those glasses too they are very classic!!! thank you so much for a picture for me to use for reference :) you are the best!! :) you have been really helpful to me and I'm ever so thankful :) if you know any places to find glasses like these for a not too steep price that would be just great! :)
 

therizyflapper

One of the Regulars
Messages
264
Location
thousand oaks CA
I will say check coastalcontacts.com! They give you the first pair of glasses for free, you just pay shipping! It's not joke I have gotten about 4 pairs of glasses from them ;)

thank you deary! :) I will be definitely looking into that deal!! that sounds way too good to pass up! :) thank you for the tip I appreciate it allot! :)
 

therizyflapper

One of the Regulars
Messages
264
Location
thousand oaks CA
Glasses were typically the round type that you see there. And as Lizzie says, mostly unisex. I remember my grandmother had a handsome pair of spectacles. They were oval-shaped bifocals with gold frames. She wore them for special occasions when she was going out with friends or to dinner with family and whatnot. No idea whatever became of them. If the round, circular shape is too much, perhaps the oval-ish shape would suit you better?

now that is a good idea, thank you!!! :) now i don't have to worry about them being too round and making me look like a bug hahahah :p
 

therizyflapper

One of the Regulars
Messages
264
Location
thousand oaks CA
If you think you need glasses there are eye exercises that may save your sight. You could try searching for Bates exercises. I think Aldous Huxley did a book on the subject too. It is not a new or untried idea.

oh really? i was wondering if that was even possible hahaha! :) thank you so much!!!!! you may have just saved my vision dear!!! thank you so much this information is a life-saver!!! :)
 

therizyflapper

One of the Regulars
Messages
264
Location
thousand oaks CA
If you decide to go with the period style specs, make sure the lens' you get aren't "too" small. Probably not a big deal if your vision isn't too awful. But if you're heading into major near-sightedness, it can be a pain to have a small field of vision.

oh yea i didn't think about that hahaha good call on that! :) I'm pretty near-sighted hahahaha its awful :( do you have any recommendations on the size and shape?? thank you so much for your help! :)
 

therizyflapper

One of the Regulars
Messages
264
Location
thousand oaks CA
Whatever frames you get, make sure that they're light. I've got shortsightedness and I learnt from a young age that heavy frames are incredibly uncomfortable. So don't pick anything that's really thick and chunky.

hahaha very true :) and i don't have much of a brig on my nose so heavy ones would most-likely fall right off my face every time i lean forward hahaha thank you so much for your help! :)
 

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