Early 1930s glasses
By the thirties, white gold, gold filled and shell glasses were still in vogue. Pince-nez, rimless frames, bifocals, and even the monocle were also still being worn by older men, waiters, and some refined women. Frames were thin metal with pearl nose pads and a higher bridge than the 1920s versions. Octogen or round were the preferred shapes.
1935 glasses- oval, loaf, octagon, round lenses
1937 gold filled metal eye glasses
The Oxford glasses which pinched like the pince-nez but featured a top bar that extended to the center or outside of the frame became a popular variation.
1938 clip on prince-nez glasses with chain
Rimless glasses in gold metal frames replaced most shell glasses for daytime use by the mid-30s. The perfectly round shape also relaxed into a slightly more oval or rounded octagon octagon appearance – rounded on top or bottom. The half-rim 1930s eyeglass were also increasing in popularity in the later years.
1937 Oxford glasses and round shell frame glasses
The very round plastic or shell glasses also remained trendy in the thirties. They were more durable than metal frames making them ideal for all day use.
1930s clear frame eyeglasses
1938 shell frame round glasses
1930s Sunglasses
The eyewear trend of the 1930s involved the increasing use of sunglasses by everyone, not just the nearsighted.
Late 30s white sunglasses with grey lenses
New inventions in plastics made sunglasses especially popular in white or clear frames. They were filled with smoked grey, amber-brown and green lenses. White sunglasses with green lenses were seen on many Hollywood stars in the 1930s, and the bridge moved up from the center to the top of the lens as the trend developed.
After 1938 there was an overnight explosion of new glass colors: blue, green, fieuzal (red), smoke and others.
1938 eye glasses, round eye or sun glasses, round sunglasses, hook on glasses, wire rim glasses, sport sunglasses
There was a brief trend for flower petal frame white sunglasses with stars as well. These were a cheap novelty item sold at beaches on the West Coast.
1930s flower petal sunglasses
Rimless sunglasses in the aviator style became hugely popular in the mid to late 30s. This new aviator shape had a deep bottom gap around the nose and a wide top. The top frame would be filled in by clear plastic or held with a thin metal bridge over the nose piece.
1937 Ray Ban aviator sunglasses
1930s Eyewear photos
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- 1930s glasses round
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- 1930s glasses
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- Gold fame eye glasses
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- Heart glasses 1938
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- 1939 white sunglasses, green lenses
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- Tinted sunglasses
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- 1930s round sunglasses
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- Dark round sunglasses
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- 1930s tortoiseshell round sunglasses
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- Marlene Dietrich
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- Indian Summer round sunglasses
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- Joan Bennett tinted round sunglasses
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- Model Marcella Flood’s 1937 white sunglasses
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- Bette Davis white round sunglasses
Women’s 1930s style sunglasses
Retro Peepers (UK) / Etsy shop – Vintage style frames 20s-50s and they will put in a prescription lens for you.
Alice Browns Cupboard (UK) and La Visa Rose (UK) – Affordable sunglasses in 20s and 50s styles
Warby Parker– New prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses. Aviator, plastic frame, round or cat eye shapes. Try on at home. Most are $95 to $150 including prescription lenses. Women’s and men’s styles.
Dead Men’s Spex (UK)- They often have vintage spectacles, eye glass frames and sunglasses.
Sunglass Warehouse – They have a few retro styles. Cheap prices- buy a few!
Glasses.com – Designer brand sunglasses and eyeglasses. Prescription available.
Debbie Sessions has been teaching fashion history and helping people dress for vintage themed events since 2009. She has turned a hobby into VintageDancer.com with hundreds of well researched articles and hand picked links to vintage inspired clothing online. She aims to make dressing accurately (or not) an affordable option for all. Oh, and she dances too.
