The Initial Purpose for Sunglasses 

Sunglasses were not created for the fashion purposes that they serve today - that is just what they evolved into. Initially, they were created for those in the military as a shield from the sun. New designs and shapes of the lenses were being created to explore new ways to stay safe from the sun. The U.S. Army Air Corps commissioned optical specialists Bausch & Lomb (B&L) to create another type of sunglasses. They were to produce one that protects pilots from high altitude glares. That challenge was solved by creating and perfecting a particular dark green lens tint that consumed light in the yellow band spectrum. 

Publicizing Sunglasses 

The special B&Ls are now known as aviator sunglasses, a very common type of sunglasses. At first, they were not available to the general public to purchase. Only one year later they became available to the general public to purchase. 

Now comes the fashion part to sunglasses. Sunglasses became incredibly popular ever since they were publicly available. Nearly everyone wanted sunglasses because they were both practical and stylish simultaneously since the 1950s. More and more designs were being created to introduce more styles and more ways to wear sunglasses. 

The Big Trend 

Trend setters and fashion leaders began wearing sunglasses with uncommon styles. In the 1960s, they found if the glasses were dark heavy framed plastic glasses, it made men and women look younger. This was during the youthquake movement, so youth was fashionable. If glasses could give an illusion that one was younger, many would pick up on that trend. 

Color and shape was an important factor when it came to your glasses. 1960s frame and lense colors came in various pastels and primary colors. The trend was to wear glasses that matched makeup or an outfit. Some had trouble getting into the bizarre shapes and designs. 60s glasses frames included shapes such as the half moon, wrap around, horn rim, oval, octagon and Harelquin. Some other older styles were reestablished such as the thin retro round glasses. Granny glasses came back, which were old fashioned frames but with new colored lenses being worn by all ages. Mirror lenses made their way in fashion in the 60s too! While all were very fashionable, sometimes they were difficult to see in. However, fashionable glasses in the 60s were meant to look good and be seen, not necessarily to see adequately in. 

The Trend's Revival 

In fashion, we tend to repeat trends after so many decades. Today, the trend for retro sunglasses has returned and is making a large comeback. We are seeing 1960s - 1970s glasses all over again. Blogs and celebrities are reviving the trend even more so. Industry leaders are bringing back vintage styles more and more. 

Why Gloves? 

Welcome back to daily fashion, gloves. Nearly everybody owns at least one pair of gloves. We are not talking about basic winter gloves. We are talking about elegant and fashionable gloves that cover your forearm (and sometimes past that!). 

 

Gloves are typically used as a practical accessory these days to stay warm, rather than a fashionable accessory. Thin fabrics were used for gloves to be worn in the summer when they were trendy. It's time for gloves to come back to fashion! 

Gloves Return to Fashion 

Gloves are making a come back in the fashion world! Fall/Winter 2018 will show how popular gloves are becoming. Fashionable gloves can create an elegance to an outfit. They can create an astonishing look simply by adding them to a regular outfit. They're easy to add, as well. 

Historic Aspect 

The Victorian Era is where fashionable gloves began. Gloves continued to progress in fashion throughout the 1900s - 1960s. They were the inspiration to the return of the trend of gloves. 

 

Do you ever go out without your wallet or your hand bag? Most do not. That is how individuals treated their gloves - they never left the house without them on. Gloves were the symbolization to a woman's class. They also could hide her class. Prosperous, wealthy women had delicate, pale, and smooth hands. Whereas lower class women had rough, tan, and scarred hands. The fashion of gloves allowed them to elevate themselves into an improved life. 

                                            

Modesty was crucial for women, reflected in the way they dress. Gloves covered more of their body. This was exceptionally important in a woman's teenage years through her twenties. Bare skin was unladylike back then. 

 

Now that woman are not shunned for exposing their skin as much as they were back then, elbow-length gloves become unnecessary. Much of those gloves still exist to this day. Often in fashion, we look for new trends and tend to repeat trends after decades without the trend. Fashion gloves will soon be applied to every day wear. 

John and Thomas Fownes established Fownes Brothers and Co., Inc. in Worcester, England. It all began in 1777. Gloves were their main focus. The company was the very first to industrialize the performance of preparing leather, cutting, trimming, and sewing.

The industry hit it's peak between 1790 - 1820. Half of British gloves were made in Worcester. Success increased as they entered the American market in 1887. New York City holds their office. It is sill maintained even to this day! It became the global headquarters for sales, merchandising, and design.

Fashion Designer, Betsey Johnson uses her passion and love of art, fashion, and design to creative an incredibly successful career.

 Opening week: Nov 16-19 in Milan 

“Fashion & Politics in Vogue Italia” exhibition's juror Judith Thurman wrote “It’s snobbish and provincial to dismiss fashion as mere frivolity. It occupies too great a place in the culture. It’s a language, a drama, an arena. Clothes speak. About power, beauty, pleasure, sex, money, class, desire, gender, age—the aspirations and desperations of millions of people.” 

Photo credits: Vogue Italia