4.12.07

Cat Eyes, mk. II

The cat eye and I didn't mix all that well, but come to think about it, it really wasn't meant to happen. Quite aside from the smudging and the messing up, practicality means it would have probably been a bit pointless anyway- you don't exactly see Cleopatra or the 60s Bollywood lot ever having to stick a pair of glasses between their (rather exaggerated) eye makeup and the outside world, do you?
I've worn glasses for nearly eight years now, and every single pair I've ever owned has conformed to the template seen in the pictures above or below, mainly because I'd wanted a pair that reminded me of Marilyn Monroe in How To Marry A Millionaire - the trouble was, my opticians didn't, in fact no opticians anywhere around did, sell glasses anything like those. I had to settle for slightly rhomboid ones, and since 2000, assorted pairs have come and gone (mostly gone, given my propensity to lose them), but I've never quite found anything perfect. Until now. And, wouldn't you know it, they were made all the way back in 1956 and don't belong to me....but these glasses will still be the ultimate cat eyes of all time because the shape, when you wear them, comes right off your face. And as for achieving it, who needs to struggle with eyeliner when all you have to do is pop this lot on? At least it won't need multiple washes and baby oil to remove them ...The lucky owner is gardenpicnic, who posted the picture up on leavesoftea, where I go to occasionally drool over people's antique finds (a first edition of The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe, a playbill from Laurence Olivier's early stage career, and gorgeous teapots and telephones, are just some of the things on display). It's a fantastic place, especially if you like random knicknacks- it's amazing to see what people end up finding.

9 comments:

all-things-spiffy said...

heehee, I own a pair of those 'cat eye' glasses, not to replace my eye make up (but I do find that I can never apply heavy eye make up without it running all over the place. Alas) but to appear intellectual! I've had them since 7th grade, my first ones were purple.
Great post, by the way!

Elisabeth said...

I love cat eye glasses, but sadly my face shape just does them no justice at all!

Baby Owl. said...

I too love cat eye glasses. My sister owns a (quite tacky... but don't tell her so) pair, but I look a fool in them. Alas!

Rebecca, A Clothes Horse said...

My friend has a pair of cat eye glasses--I think it's her only pair of glasses--and it offers instant coolness to her look and outfit. I like that "How to Marry a Millionaire" was your inspiration, one of my favorite movies that actually involved Miss Monroe.

alexgirl said...

awesome. i kind of always wanted to wear glasses, but I don't need them. Cat eye glasses are a must. Tres cute. And I LOVE How to Marry a Millionaire. Glad you do too!!

WendyB said...

Ooh, nice glasses!

Meg said...

I have a pair in dark red but I haven't been brave enough to get them prescripted yet (it's a big decision for me) but sometimes I just like looking at them.

Re: I know it sounds weird, but even I've always sort of wished that Christian Bale and Winona Ryder would get together in real life just to ease the eternal disappointment of Little Women.

Blue Floppy Hat said...

all-things-spiffy: Your glasses sound more than slightly awesome. And thank you for your kind comment about the post :)
Elisabeth: For all I know, my face would probably ruin the effect, but I still can't stop lusting after them..
Alex: I've been obsessed with that movie (and the glasses!) for nine years now...when I first went to choose frames for my glasses, the optician nearly fainted when I drew the shape to demonstrate what I wanted..poor man.
Wendy: I know, they're so amazing I'm almost hoping some daft Hindi movie will turn them into a trend so the opticians will finally stock the shapes that I want.
Meg: Dark red cat eye glasses sound truly amazing, I used to do that with my last pair, even though they weren't cateyed they were bold black on the outside and aquamarine on the inside of the frames. Sadly, I seem to have lost them...
And no, wishing for Christian Bale and Winona Ryder to get together when Jo and Laurie couldn't is not weird at all.It's our way of revisioning the story.

Maria said...

hmm, I think cat eye (+ sun)glasses will be the next wayfarers or aviators when it comes to trendy eye-wear! Just wait until summer 08

About Me

My photo
Fondest of upbeat music and brightly coloured sweets.