Vintage Cat Eye Glasses
Mid-Century Vintage Cat Eye Glasses
Aoolia's vintage cat eye glasses are new frames cut from mid-century lines: upswept tips, glossy acetate fronts, and the black, tortoise and red colorways the shape was first known for. Every style lists its size, and pairs marked Try On can be checked on your face first.
What Makes Cat Eye Glasses 'Vintage'?
Vintage cat eye glasses are frames whose top outer corners sweep upward into a lift or point, in the proportions popular from the late 1930s through the early 1960s: a heavier brow line, a lighter lower rim, and often a thick plastic front.The shape began as the Harlequin frame, designed by New York artist and window dresser Altina Schinasi, who borrowed the upswept line from Harlequin carnival masks. Her design won the Lord & Taylor American Design Award in 1939. By the 1950s, cat eye frames had become one of the most popular eyewear shapes for women in America.Everything on this page is new, not secondhand. We call it revival: the silhouette is period, the frame is made now.
Shop Vintage Cat Eye Glasses by Colorway
• Black: the sharpest outline the shape can have. Start with [Kathleen], [Veronica] or [Earu].• Tortoise: warmer and softer at the edges. Try [Taylor], [Olivia] or [Lorelei].• Red: the color that reads before anything else on your face. See [Wanda], [Dinah] or [Jill].• Brown & honey: a quieter route into vintage. Try [Ivy] or [Emma].• Multicolor: the period shape in a newer palette. See [Halona].
Checking Fit Before You Order
Each style lists a size letter and full measurements. The fastest check is to compare the frame width and lens width with a pair that already fits you. Then open Try On on labeled styles and look at the frame straight on. If the tips extend well past the sides of your face, try the next size down.
Vintage Cat Eye Glasses FAQ
Who invented cat eye glasses?
Altina Schinasi, an American artist and window dresser, designed the Harlequin frame, the first cat eye design. It won the Lord & Taylor American Design Award in 1939.
What decade are vintage cat eye glasses from?
The shape appeared in the late 1930s and peaked in the 1950s and early 1960s. Most 'vintage' cat eye styles today borrow from that 1950s peak.
Are these real vintage frames?
No. Every pair here is newly made in a mid-century silhouette. For secondhand or unworn period frames, look for a specialist vintage eyewear dealer.
Can I add lenses to vintage cat eye glasses from Aoolia?
Yes. Choose a frame, then pick your lens option on its product page.
Acetate or TR90: which looks more vintage?
Acetate gives deeper gloss and layered color, closest to period frames. TR90 is lighter and more flexible, with a slightly softer finish.