Thursday Throwback: Big Glasses

Word has it the big frames and geometric styles of the popular 1980s (and trickling into the 90s) eyeglasses frames are coming back. 

 

Annie Potts in Ghostbusters

 What I haven’t been able to determine is why people ever started wearing them to begin with. And some, of course, have never stopped. 

Carrie Donovan of Old Navy fame

 I can only assume that there is something subconscious that determines why certain fads are desirable. As one who wore big glasses in the 80s and on into the 90s, I can only speak for myself and analyze my possible underlying  reasons. 

Me, graduating from OSU with my Master's in 1992

Why did I wear them? One reason was that they were the choice mostly available. I started needing glasses my last year of undergrad. Looking back now, I think I liked the “wide open wonder” they seemed to symbolize, which to me was probably synonymous with being “in tune” and intelligent.

I also wanted to be “cool,” and when everyone’s wearing something—even famous people--you can associate yourself with coolness pretty easily. 

Melanie Griffith, Mariel Hemingway in Superman 4, and "Weird Al" Yankovic

And to go all psychological on you—I think they might’ve stood for “living life to the full,” making the most of every opportunity, being “in” on important things happening in my world. They made me feel happy, important, and smart—so I wore them proudly. 

 

Radar from the M.A.S.H. television series; Rick Moranis; Velma from Scooby Doo

I have to admit, I still kind of like them, even if I did resemble a walking windshield. There’s something about big glasses that says ‘I’m livin’ large, and I’m ready to take on a challenge.’ 

Michelle Pfeiffer in Batman Returns; Estelle Getty of The Golden Girls

 

Fitting with the current popular themes of Go big or go home (Digital Dolby Surround Sound via Regal Cinemas), Bigger is better (AT & T Wireless), and ads aimed at getting more of this or that such as Crazy with chips (Chips Ahoy) and Thicker! Creamier! Cheesier! (Kraft Macaroni’s “Cheesy Explosion”), big glasses give us a sense of doing more, understanding more, being more. 

Sir Elton John

Whether you are a “throwback” who wears big glasses or you prefer smaller, less conspicuous frames, you can still live BIG. Glasses don’t make the person. But they sure do have personality.