Skippy dibby sa ba dop do diddly biddly kitty cat eye glasses, cool cats! Oddly enough, the scat cat jazz era predated the years of popularity for cat eye glasses by a solid 20 years (but the video is too cute not to include-dancing pigeons). This revival style segment focuses on my own financial endeavor that began thanks to a curious Snapchat filter that featured a pair of these iconic midcentury eyeglasses.
Ironically enough, the cat eyes aren’t actually narrow. When I first put them on they were huge and herniated with lenses thicker than my computer screen, bifocals and all… Bluntly, I couldn’t see a damn thing. As if that wasn’t enough, the glass lenses were extremely heavy. Summarily, the future of these cat eyes was bleak. Thankfully, cats have nine lives.
But since then, with the optometrist’s generous help, the cat eyes were revived and the lenses were replaced. I’ve been walking around wearing these as a primary pair of glasses for weeks with only praise. Just for my readers, it is WAY CHEAPER TO FIX OLD GLASSES THAN TO GET NEW! This is factual by a couple hundred dollars, by the way. Immediately, I was pleased.
So let’s say you’re feeling ambitious and want to try a pair of statement spectacles on. They’re surprisingly nonchalant and subtle once they’re on your face. Cat eye glasses have become an icon of midcentury America since the 1950s… although they have been modified since to have less of a ‘sweeping’ effect today. Frankly, if you’re going vintage, go all the way!
This was easily the best purchase ever. Yes, from ETSY!! Thank you to EarthLoveVintage for the amazing pair of not-so-new glasses. As a social experiment, I must say that many people noticed the change- primarily because I have always worn silhouette glasses to accommodate my small face. For anyone considering a vintage pair of eyes, I definitely give this experiment a 100% passing grade. There is a risk of the frames having some dry rot on the inside, but if the seller has them in good condition, this minimizes and potential for damages upon arrival. All the theories about these iconic spectacles making someone look elegant, smart, and cunning are all true. The verdict is in: cat eye glasses are an absolute essential for anyone looking for a perfect accent from the retro years.
Retro Curious Rebellious: The Revival 