As you know (or maybe are just finding out), I wear glasses and I have since I was in Grade 4.

I really like wearing glasses because I think they suit me and it’s exciting that glasses today come in cool vintage styles which go perfect with my look.

Liz from the Vintage Inn Blog-1950s / Pinup / Rockabilly Style.

It is because of being a glasses wearing gal that I wanted to do today’s ‘Vintage Photo Tuesday‘ post on “Women with Eyeglasses” from the 1920s-1960s. To simply showoff the beauty of wearing glasses (and not holding them like our lady friend in the first image below).

Lets begin the eyeglasses parade!


Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. 


Vintage Photos of Women with Eyeglasses

1920’s-1960’s

1940s vintage image of 2 women in front of house the one woman is holding her eyeglasses.
Source: Etsy

The beautiful 1940s woman reminds me so much of Jessica from Chronically Vintage! Those who know Jessica, don’t you agree?

1940s vintage photo booth images of woman with glasses
Source: Etsy

The 1920’s. The era of round frames. Super 1920s fashions on our ladies.

1920s vintage photo of stylish young women in 1920s dresses and 1920s hairstyles.
Source: Etsy

1920s professional photo of a young woman with her fur, stylish 1920s dress and round eyeglasses.

YOUNG WOMAN PHOTO Portrait in Original Folder, Fur, Pearls, Elegant Dress, 1920's, Vintage Black and White Mounted Photography
Source: Etsy

Are you looking for an example of 1920s hairstyles? Well all of the above apply but these 2 ladies both wearing similar eyewear have great hair.

1927 vintage image of two young women wearing glasses
Source: Etsy

March 22nd, 1930. 3 young women photographed for the Continental Optical Company in Indianapolis.

THEIR HATS!!!! Drool.

pretty 1930s woman in eyeglasses and amazing late 1920s coats and late 1920s hats / early 1930s.
Source: Indiana History

1930’s mother and daughter photo booth image.

Further Reading: Vintage Photo Booth Images 1930s-1950s

Mother and Daughter Woman wearing Hat Girl wearing Glasses 1930s Photograph snapshot Vintage Souvenir Photo
Source: Etsy

Oct 1942 – Operating a hand drill at the North American Aviation, Inc., a woman is in the control surface department assembling a section of the leading edge for the horizontal stabilizer of a plane (Source).

Further Reading: Vintage Photos of Canadian Women on the Home Front during WWII

1940s vintage image of a woman working in a plant during the war
Source: Flickr

1945-Life Magazine Image featuring a pretty 1940s hairstyle and 1940s eyewear.

1945 life magazine image of young woman wearing glasses
Source: Pinterest

Natalie Olmsted, District Recreation Supervisor, 1945. Those are some fantastic frames! They look checkered.

1940s vintage image of woman wearing glasses. The eyewear are checkered. Super 1940s hairstyle inspiration.
Source: Flickr

A coed on campus at Howard University wearing cat eye glasses in 1946.

A young Black woman on campus at Howard University wearing cat eyeglasses in 1946.

Source: Life Photo Collection

Smiling Young Lady Sitting On Car -1940s photo.

Smiling Young Lady Sitting On Car - Vintage 1940s Snapshot Photo
Source: Etsy

Cute late 1940s / early 1950s photo of a young woman with gloves posing in her car.

1940s / 1950s vintage image of woman in a car wearing glasses
Source: Etsy

1950’s. Cat Eye frames become a popular style as seen on our 1950s party goer.

Further Reading: Vintage Eyewear Advertising

1950s Snapshot Photo of Dreamy Eyed Woman in glasses
Source: Etsy

Fun 1950s photobooth image with one girl wearing cat eye glasses.

vintage photo 1950s Photo Booth Cat Eye Glasses Young Girls
Source: Etsy

LOVE these 1950s look of rolled up jeans, plaid shirt, cute short 1950s hairstyle and dark eyeglass frames.

Vintage Snapshot photo 1950 Cute Young Woman Cat Eye Glasses Rolled Blue Jeans Mid Centruy
Source: Etsy

Early 1960’s Cool photo of a couple posing in their best 1960s outfits. Love her eyewear!

Original 1960's Young Black couple posing in their 1960s clothing for the photo.
Source: Etsy
vintage comic strip about a girl wearing glasses 1940 1950s

QUESTION TIME: Do you wear glasses for necessity or for fun? Do you try to match them to your personality, your personal style or just whatever looks okay? Share in the comments below!

Further Reading: Vintage Photos 1920s-1960s (Archived blog post)

Liz

11 Comments on Vintage Photos of Women Who Wear Eyeglasses

  1. I wear contact lenses the majority of the time and have done since I was about 14. I have a really small face and most glasses don’t fit as they’re so wide on me. The two pairs I own, and only ever wear in the house, are actually children’s glasses! Hehehe!

    I do have some original 1920s round ones that I bought but haven’t got around to having the lenses changed yet. The problem is I can’t actually see through them at the moment to see if they actually suit me! xx

    • Wow childrens glasses! At least they are somewhat stylish as well lol! That is crummy that you have a challenge on finding ones that fit 🙁

      As for wondering if your 1920’s ones work. Simple fix. Have someone take a picture of you wearing them. That is what my husband does for me in eyeglass stores.

  2. First af all, the photo of that lovely gal does look a lot like Jessica. The resemblance is striking!

    I wear glasses and my favorite pair are my 1950s black cat eye’s with tiny aurora borealis stones in them. Gives them a nice bit of sparkle. Found them at an antique show several years ago and had my prescription put in them. Get compliments every time I wear them, too 🙂

    Theresa

  3. I can see the Jessica resemblance too!

    I have a pair of glasses for long spells of sewing but I don’t get those long spells of time enough now to need them! But I do wear sunglasses a lot and I’m enjoying experimenting with different shapes of frame for them.

    I love that 20s promotional image!

  4. So many lovely photos. I really like the 1920’s women in their glasses and pearls and the Life Magazine photo. I always like to see other glasses wearers. I have a Pinterest board of vintage brides in glasses that you might like. I have worn glasses since I was 7, can’t see a thing without them!

  5. I’ve worn glasses since I was 7. I am now very visually impaired, so my lenses are so expensive I can sadly only afford one pair at a time. And the styles are restricted since I both have a small face and a prescription that can only work with certain shapes. When I was a child I was made to feel embarrassed about them: being called “four eyes” by classmates, hearing “boys don’t make passes at girls who wear glasses”, and having photographers tell me to take my glasses off before they’d photograph me. I love seeing these pics, and am glad glasses are now seen as a fashion statement. And you’re an inspiration for getting more adventurous with frames!

    • I 100% was teased as a kid due to my glasses (and throw in being the tallest girl and it was not great times), so I sympathize. I hated wearing them..hated it. Only in the last 20 years of my life have I just gone with (especially since I hate wearing contacts and can’t do laser). In regards to glasses styles, there are soooooooo many kinds out there for ALL shapes of faces and perscriptions. My perscription is stupid high so I cannot wear anything without the option to hide the thickness of the already slimmed down lens, but I discovered there are lots of options for people like me. I know Ann that you are not limited to just a few styles, every website I open has 1000’s of styles. PLUS many of the eyewear stores online allow you to try before you buy, or they have the try on options on their websites. Play around have fun! If you don’t like them..send them back! I can’t wait to see what you find 🙂

      Thanks for sharing your story with me.

      Liz

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