by Lesley Drayton, Curator of the Fort Collins Local History Archive
True visionaries in Italy invented eyeglasses in the 1200s, but specs didn’t start becoming fashion statements until the Victorian era. During the mid-20th century, improved plastics allowed bespectacled folks to let their personality shine through their lenses. Take a gander at these examples of Fort Collins residents in their high-style eyewear from the 1950s and 60s! (Names have been suppressed to protect the innocent.)
Do you wear glasses? Do you have fond memories of a certain pair? Add a comment!
My mother sure exercised this fashion statement in her day!!
I think we need some pictures of the guys wearing their funny glasses, too. Personally, my least fondly-remembered specs were the granny/John Lennon glasses I wore in the 70s. Followed closely in fashionability by the oversized aviator-style glasses I sported in the mid-80s.
I’ll see what I can find in the male glasses department!
Should I be worried that most of my glasses are of a similar style? I’m either terribly chic, or terribly geek…