The History of the Timeless... Cat Eye Frame

For decades, the cat eye frame has garnished countless iconic looks with a chic, feminine touch. Since the majority of people reading this haven’t had to wear glasses in a world sans cat eye frames readily available, it is difficult to imagine being without the infamous cat eye style. But of course, just like anything that boldly stands the test of time, the cat eye had to begin somewhere. Join us dear reader for the story of how this frame with upswept flair came into existence and has continued to flourish over the years.

And then, of course, once you’re thoroughly excited about upswept eyewear, we’ll take you through all your cat eye options here at eyebobs.

In this case, the cat eye got its start as the brainchild of Altina Schinasi. In the late 1920s, after graduating from art school, Schinasi worked as a window dresser on Fifth Avenue in New York City. Utterly bored (and probably disgusted) with the lack of eyeglasses options for everyday women, Schinasi took inspiration from Venetian Harlequin masks to design and patent what she called the “Harlequin” frame. Later on, “Harlequin” glasses would become known as the cat eye for their upswept, feline-esque shape.  

Although department stores were slow to pick up her design, over the course of the 1930s glasses-wearing women across the country were delighted to finally have something a little less unisex and much more fashionably femme. The purchasing power held by women would eventually lead to popularizing the cat eye frame enough for Vogue and Life Magazine to both credit Schinasi with revolutionizing the eyewear industry In 1939. 

In the years following the end of WWII, a new material called cellulose acetate emerged. With a much more scalable material available, cat eye styles began to evolve, appearing in every shape and form and often adorned with crystals or other grabbing embellishments. Our cat eye frames are embellished by bright and colorful Italian-designed acetate, one-of-a-kind frame shapes, stainless steel, and adjustable nose pads. How’s that for a little post-war optimism?

Of course, it wasn’t just the bedazzled flair that lifted the cat eye into fame. For that, you can thank starlets like Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor, and Audrey Hepburn, political figures like Shirley Chisholm, and even fashion icon and children's plaything: Barbie. While Marilyn made cat eye eyeglasses part of her signature look, in the 1960s Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Loren gave oversized cat eye sunglasses icon status with their fashion choices both on and off screen. 

Should you desire a look reminiscent of these timeless starlets, our vintage-esque Cattywampus and Spark Plug  frames are waiting to be adored by you and all your friends and family. 

Assuming you do not live under a rock, you may have gathered that the cat eye is having a bit of a renaissance. Worn by stars from Bella Hadid to Beyoncé, top designers have brought the cat eye back to the catwalk (there’s a tidbit you can share with your niece to impress her). You can find the feline-inspired, upswept fashion accessory in bright colors and exaggerated framing that naturally lifts facial features. Of course, we make a point of being riddled with bewilderingly bold cat eyeglasses. No need to thank us, it’s truly our pleasure.

We’ve hinted, but now’s the time when we fully boast about our glamorous array of cat eye glasses. Despite their popularity, you’ll never have to worry about your eyebobs cat eyes being a “dime a dozen,” because we concept and sketch all of our frames from scratch. So when we say they’re one-of-a-kind, we mean it. Not to mention we obsess over unabashedly bold colors and patterns, so neither your frame shape nor color will leave anything to be desired. Though we can’t promise you won’t be desired. If you don’t believe us, just take a look at our Oh Mama and Overlook glasses. Meowww. 

Plus, you can put whatever lens you need in whatever cat eye frame you want. So, find your favorite frame, and then choose whether or not you’d like to wear them as reading glasses, prescription glasses, progressive readers, sunglasses or prescription sunglasses.

All that’s left to say about this ferocious, feminine frame is that it’s an eyewear classic you should have at least one of in your closet. And, as proven by time, it never goes out of style. We’ve made it even easier for you to test out a pair of bold cat eye glasses with a lengthy 90-day return window! So, go forth with your fierce frames, and show the world what the power of a sassy pair of spectacles can do.