ICONS OF EYEWEAR

No matter what era comes to mind, you can think of some one who's eyewear defines them and the time.  People like Benjamin Franklin, who is credited for inventing bifocals.  Funny man Groucho Marx and Albert Einstein both had signature eyewear looks. Would we have thought of them the same without their glasses?  Who knows?

Then you have the trendsetters.  In that category there is nobody bigger then the legendary Jackie O!  50 years after she left the White House she is still influencing modern day designers.  Every time I put a large, plastic, rounded sunglass on a women she looks in the mirror and says "very Jackie O!"  Mrs. Kennedy's eyewear designers of choice were Nina Ricci, Francois Pinton, and Traction.  Interestingly enough all French designers.  This fact would stir quite a controversy today if our current first lady would choose to wear a non American designer.  Another rather mind blowing fact about how Jackie O put her permanent stamp on the eyewear world is that Nina Ricci still produces the 3203 that Mrs. Kennedy wore in the 60s.  Also Francois Pinton has a frame in his current collection named Jackie 1 after the original that we all fell in love with.

The Nina Ricci 3203 then and now

Jackie O in Francois Pinton (PS I would kill for that YSL coat!)

Francois Pinton Jackie 1 available today

Other notable icons include John Lennon, Buddy Holly, Sally Jesse Rafael, and Sarah Palin.  All of which still influence frame styles.  You can't put a round metal frame on any man without him referencing John Lennon.  If Buddy Holly were around today he could be a Tom Ford model!  Sarah Palin started our obsession with drill mounts (frameless).  Although her's were magic and allowed her to see Russia from her home in Alaska! Even the Tura 311 worn by Sally Jesse Rafael is still available in about 15 colors including red! Although even she has moved on to other styles.  She does however continue to wear her signature red color.

Sally Jesse Rafael then and now

My picks for modern day eyewear icons are Chef Carla Hall from the Chew, Project Runway's Mondo Guerra, and always and forever the king of all eyewear Sir Elton John.  These three inspire me because they don't really have a signature look.  They make bold, fearless choices and ROCK them!!! Just like me!