photo: Lookmatic’s Mercer Frames

Something about the term “Horn-Rimmed” often raises a lot of questions – i.e. are these frames really made of horn? If so, why horn?

History Lesson: Horn-rimmed glasses are a type of eyeglasses which originated in the 1800s in Europe, and rose to popularity in the U.S. in the 1910s and 1920s.  Characterized with frames made of, yes, horn, tortoise shell, or plastic that simulates either, these glasses have and still represent a hipster, counter-culture aesthetic. While they were originally composed of actual horn, the term has evolved and is now much more flexible and can be used to refer to a pair of dark, plastic eyeglasses with thick frames. So actually, there are a few different types of horn-rimmed specs. And for many reasons like affordability, horn-rimmed glasses are now almost always composed of materials like plastic, NOT horn.

Quiz:
Which celebrity first popularized black horn-rimmed glasses:

A. Buddy Holly
B. Comedian Harold Lloyd

CLICK HERE FOR ANSWER

More Lookmatic Horn-Rimmed Glasses:
Glover
Vesper
Jesse