Video timeline

Timeline

Glasses

1286

The first pair of glasses

The inventor of spectacles is unknown, although the first pair of glasses discovered dates back to the 13th century in Rome. They found that using magnifying glasses allowed them to see intricate text more easily. The first portable glasses date back to 1286 in Italy.

1300

At this time, it was common for eyeglass frames to be made from leather or animal horns. Unlike today's glasses, early glasses were balanced on a person's nose, as there were no temples to hold the rims in place.

1500

During the renaissance glasses became more popular. However, glasses were only accessible to people with high status. Glasses technology advanced in that glasses now had temples that secured the rims to a person's face, making them "hands-free."

1779

Benjamin Franklin invented glasses called bifocals that allowed a person to wear one pair of glasses to see near and far distances. This was done by cutting the lenses in half and combining them into one frame. Another popular style of glasses during this time were “scissor glasses.” And they were foldable glasses that could be kept in your pocket.

1800

Glasses were not accessible to the general public and were still typically worn only by men until the Industrial Revolution. Once the Industrial Revolution occurred, it provided glasses to be mass produced for both men and women. Other new developments in glasses during this time were lenses that corrected astigmatism.

Now that eyeglass technology was more affordable, glasses began to develop more fashionable shapes, materials, and colors. This allowed people to match their glasses to their eye color and outfits. Theodor Roosevelt's "piece-nez spectacles" had a nose clip and a chain to keep the glasses in place. They were considered a fashionable pair of glasses at this time and were often gold in color.

1910

1920

Stronger plastics were more commonly used in the creation of glasses in which unique shapes were created. In the 1920s, nose pads were added to glasses and allowed them to sit more comfortably on a person's face. Many Art Deco glasses became popular at this time. Patterns were etched into the side of the glasses. The rise of more fashionable glasses also gave more of a distinction between the types of glasses that men and women wore.

1930

Eyeglasses from the 1930s were characterized by their round shape and comfortable frames, as well as their tortoiseshell material. Eyeglass shapes like this were popularized by celebrities and athletes. In the following decades, glasses developed an eyebrow style. For women, the cat-eye shape was popularized by Marilyn Monroe, who wore them in many of her films.

1960

Glasses in 1960-80

Glasses in the 1960s and 1970s were oversized and had dramatic shapes due to popular subculture groups such as hippies and mods. Jackie Kennedy Onassis wore oversized sunglasses creating an influential "trend" in the United States. In the 1980s the trend of oversized frames continued, however, unique shapes, colors and materials emerged.

In the 1990s, models, musicians, and movie stars still had an impact on what was considered fashionable eyewear. Oversized frames that had hip-hop influences were popularized by superstars such as Aaliyah All and actor Brad Pitt. Additionally, bold colors became popular. Today, popular eyewear styles include clear frames, thick and bold frames that are considered a retro fit, as well as tortoiseshell frames.

1990