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Fashion provides a wonderful form of self-expression. It defines what one likes and who they are. It represents periods, cultures, religions and ethnicities.
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Who sets style better than celebrities who have large followings? Here is a list of some of the most influential eyeglasses wearers who glamorized their signature frames and popularized eyewear in pop culture. Can you predict who will influence frame styles in 2012? Sometimes, the best way to look at the future is to study the past.
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Benjamin Franklin - In 1784, Ben Franklin developed bifocal glasses. He was getting old and was having trouble seeing both up-close and at a distance. Getting tired of switching between two types of glasses, he devised a way to have both types of lenses fit into the frame. The distance lens was placed at the top and the up-close lens was placed at the bottom, creating early bifocals. Bifocals are still popular and the oval frame he wore is still in fashion today. Search for Benjamin Franklin glasses on the internet and you will be bound to find many.
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Jacqueline Kennedy - Jackie O brought style and sophistication to every American home. Her signature oversized, round sunglasses represent the impeccable taste of the former First Lady. She was always seen wearing her sunglasses and helped to create the luxury sunglasses market. Each year, many manufacturers come out with a Jackie O look in their summer line. There is always a demand for them.
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Sara Palin - Some called her the “Jackie Kennedy” of eyewear. The Alaskan governor came into national limelight when she chose to run for vice president in 2008. She was always seen sporting her rectangular rimless frames by Kazua Kowasaki and people still ask for the Sara Palin look today. She caused a rimless crave that inspired numerous frame companies to add rectangular drills to their collections, creating an affordable and attainable look for all of her fans. Though her political views may have been polarizing, her glasses were a firm hit on all sides of the political spectrum.
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Websites by the thousands offer John Lennon glasses. The rock legend’s most recognizable trait was his perfectly round, metal frames. When the singer broke out from the Beatles and started his solo career, he was hardly seen without Windsor eyeglasses. The frames symbolized Lennon’s ideas of peace, love and freedom, which is one reason why they are still popular today.
While John Lennon wore the small round wire frames,
Harry Potter is best known for his large, round frames. They are also a huge web phenomenon with thousands of sites offering the Harry Potter look for costume and for vision. The question remains….Why does Harry Potter have to wear glasses if he has magical powers? Why doesn’t he just correct his vision? Author J.K. Rowling never addresses these questions but without his trademarked glasses, he simply would not be Harry Potter.
Bono has made sunglasses acceptable for night. His sunglasses give him a distinct “rock star” look that is often imitated. The shades, usually Bulgari, helped to create his signature style but he wears them out of necessity rather than for fashion. Bono is known to have very sensitive eyes that get red and irritated from the constant flashing of cameras. He started the trend for newer music stars such as P Diddy and Kanye West, who are both known to sport their shades indoors. Fans usually follow the fashion of their favorite stars and now indoor sunglass wear is more acceptable.
Elton John is not only known for his vast quantity of glasses, but also for the outrageous styles that he has been known to wear for his stage shows
and public outings. His crazy spectacles were what actually started his reputation for wild, off-the-wall fashion. His most famous were the ostrich feather festooned glasses that accompanied his feather boa outfit on the Captain Fantastic Tour. Another pair of glasses made famous on very same tour was comprised of 57 individual lights that when ignited, spelled his name and were bright enough to be seen from the end of the concert hall. Any outrageous trend in eyewear today can be credited to Elton John’s crazy and individual style. Fans may not have the money to replicate an entire outfit, but can easily find a pair of affordable Elton-like pair of eyeglasses if they want to imitate his style.
Sally Jessy Raphael is known for her signature red, oversized plastic frames. The 80’s talk show queen confessed to Oprah that she needed large glasses to read the teleprompter and she wanted a pair of $19.95 frames she saw advertised, though they tried to show here something fancier. Her talk show that had a 19 year-run, inspired millions of women to imitate her look with red frames. People still think of Sally Jessy when they see a red frame.
Malcolm X has famed browline glasses that became popular in 1950’s. The human rights activist was always seen in these glasses that are a combination of colors, with the dark color on the top of the frame fading to a clear color towards the bottom. Companies still make combination frames in their collections, imitating Malcolm X’s bold and strong style. Celebrities such as Kanye West, Jay-Z and Justin Beiber have followed this unique trend.
These are just a few of the biggest trendsetters of fashion in the eyeglass world. Fashion is relative and nobody knows what the next big trend is going to be. Younger celebrities such as Justin Beiber, are creating the Geek-Chic craze. Smart, sexy actresses such as Anne Hathaway dispel the old saying that “boys don’t make passes at girls who wear glasses”. Will she be the next big trend setter? What about Justin Timberlake? These days he is rarely seen without eyeglasses, though he has not decided on his look yet. It is about time for another big icon in eyewear. History shows it happens every decade or so. It is always fun to try to predict what is coming next. Your guess is as good as mine.
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