Vintage Style Alert!
10 July 2012 11:52 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nuranarI've owned and worn several pairs of vintage sunglasses over the years, and until now I haven't seen anything new that really captured the right look. Until now! Target's Xhilaration line has some REALLY good vintage-style sunglasses for $12.99. There are two primary vintage styles I've seen:
* 1930s/1940s round lenses. I've seen them in stores in leafy/limey green, red, royal blue, and black. The website also shows pink and tortoiseshell options. I've not personally seen vintage ones in most of these colors, but I believe the green, red, and blue would have been something available in the period. I know black were. Not sure about the tortoiseshell or pink. I only wish they had white, too!
The picture is skewed and doesn't really show how close they look. I'll take a picture with my new red ones so you can see how they look from straight on. For comparison, here are some 1930s originals from an excellent Etsy shop, Top Tottie Vintage.
The Target ones aren't identical - the upper outside corner of the frames is the most different - and the tinted lenses are gradient instead of solid. Other than that, I think they're excellent. The scale is really good, too, not oversized like sunglasses have been for the last few years. They actually fit my big face *better* than true vintage ones.
* 1950s Ray Ban Wayfarers style. (Did you know the Wayfarers came out in 1952?) I've seen these in the stores in loads of colors! Turquoise, both translucent and solid pink, both mint green and lime green, purple, white, black, tortoiseshell, and even a translucent cream color that's VERY similar in shade to the yellow plastic of the vintage ones above.
If you ever dress in vintage style for a particular purpose/look/event (as opposed to mixing it with modern for regular wear), please consider getting a pair of these! Target appears to be the only store with anything like these shapes, much less colors.
1. Eyewear can be one of the most glaringly modern parts of a vintage getup. There are many valid reasons this can't be avoided. But sunglasses don't have to be! Instead of putting on your big modern bug-eyes (I have 'em!) and throwing off your whole look, or going without and squinting painfully for hours (also done), just get a pair of these and keep them with your vintage accessories.
2. The right sunglasses will ADD to your look. Look at this lady!
4. I'm in North Texas and I use sunglasses year-'round. Stormy days happen, but not too often. After a few not-happy winter outdoors events, I made the commitment to never be without sunglasses. For me, they're a necessity. And since I spend a lot of time and money to make sure another necessity like my shoes fit the look, why shouldn't a spend just a little time and money on sunglasses?
5. Vintage sunglasses are available. They are, however, not easy to find, nor cheap. I think I've paid $30-45 for the ones I've bought, and that after weeks and months of regular searching.
6. Vintage sunglasses tend to be smaller across across the face than modern ones. I have a big face, both long and wider than average vintage. I can wear vintage ones, but they look a wee bit small. The Target ones fit me.
7. Vintage sunglasses have glass lenses, which can be dangerous if they break. In addition, these glass lenses do not likely have as much UV protection as even cheap modern sunglasses.
8. Vintage sunglasses can be brittle! I broke a small piece of plastic off the hinge of one arm of my first pair, and I can't repair them. In addition, many pairs have warped over the decades and can be awkward or uncomfortable to wear. The Target ones are less fragile, less expensive, fit like we're used to, and aren't irreplaceable.
9. It's a bargain that can't be beat!
Have I sold you yet? Go get some! ;)
Image koshka-the-cat (The right sunglasses really complete the look, don't you think?)
* 1930s/1940s round lenses. I've seen them in stores in leafy/limey green, red, royal blue, and black. The website also shows pink and tortoiseshell options. I've not personally seen vintage ones in most of these colors, but I believe the green, red, and blue would have been something available in the period. I know black were. Not sure about the tortoiseshell or pink. I only wish they had white, too!
The picture is skewed and doesn't really show how close they look. I'll take a picture with my new red ones so you can see how they look from straight on. For comparison, here are some 1930s originals from an excellent Etsy shop, Top Tottie Vintage.
The Target ones aren't identical - the upper outside corner of the frames is the most different - and the tinted lenses are gradient instead of solid. Other than that, I think they're excellent. The scale is really good, too, not oversized like sunglasses have been for the last few years. They actually fit my big face *better* than true vintage ones.
* 1950s Ray Ban Wayfarers style. (Did you know the Wayfarers came out in 1952?) I've seen these in the stores in loads of colors! Turquoise, both translucent and solid pink, both mint green and lime green, purple, white, black, tortoiseshell, and even a translucent cream color that's VERY similar in shade to the yellow plastic of the vintage ones above.
If you ever dress in vintage style for a particular purpose/look/event (as opposed to mixing it with modern for regular wear), please consider getting a pair of these! Target appears to be the only store with anything like these shapes, much less colors.
1. Eyewear can be one of the most glaringly modern parts of a vintage getup. There are many valid reasons this can't be avoided. But sunglasses don't have to be! Instead of putting on your big modern bug-eyes (I have 'em!) and throwing off your whole look, or going without and squinting painfully for hours (also done), just get a pair of these and keep them with your vintage accessories.
2. The right sunglasses will ADD to your look. Look at this lady!
3. Maybe your event won't be outside. But will you be walking on the street or driving to the event? I have been known to wear my bug-eyes into a Regency event because I was driving and forgot to leave them in the car. Instead of trying to remember to take off the modern stuff, just use vintage-look ones. Nothing to worry about!
4. I'm in North Texas and I use sunglasses year-'round. Stormy days happen, but not too often. After a few not-happy winter outdoors events, I made the commitment to never be without sunglasses. For me, they're a necessity. And since I spend a lot of time and money to make sure another necessity like my shoes fit the look, why shouldn't a spend just a little time and money on sunglasses?
5. Vintage sunglasses are available. They are, however, not easy to find, nor cheap. I think I've paid $30-45 for the ones I've bought, and that after weeks and months of regular searching.
6. Vintage sunglasses tend to be smaller across across the face than modern ones. I have a big face, both long and wider than average vintage. I can wear vintage ones, but they look a wee bit small. The Target ones fit me.
7. Vintage sunglasses have glass lenses, which can be dangerous if they break. In addition, these glass lenses do not likely have as much UV protection as even cheap modern sunglasses.
8. Vintage sunglasses can be brittle! I broke a small piece of plastic off the hinge of one arm of my first pair, and I can't repair them. In addition, many pairs have warped over the decades and can be awkward or uncomfortable to wear. The Target ones are less fragile, less expensive, fit like we're used to, and aren't irreplaceable.
9. It's a bargain that can't be beat!
Have I sold you yet? Go get some! ;)
Image koshka-the-cat (The right sunglasses really complete the look, don't you think?)
