The only people to wear eyeglasses about 40 years ago were the artists, the beatniks, and the people who seriously needed vision correction. Lest we forget, there were also the dweebs, geeks, and nerds who likely needed their eyeglasses but having spectacles did not aid in their popularity. In fact, their reputation was made worse. "Four eyes," as they were called, were ridiculed for wearing eyewear. It was like wearing head gear to make your teeth straight. When contact lenses became available - eyeglass wearers ran to buy them.

Approximately when did wearing eyeglasses become en vogue?
The answer: somewhere around the mid-1980's. Models have been around since the dawn of time but the 1980's saw the rise of the supermodel. Fashion designers, as always, were cashing in on beautiful people wearing their clothes. In the 1980's, fashion designers got smart and started branching out in branding. Don't just brand shirts and pants, they thought, and started branding accessories and call it "fashion" a la CoCo Chanel with her famous Chanel no. 5 perfume as well as with her handbag. Then they started it with prescription glasses and made the decision to put them on supermodels and celebrities. Glasses became very popular and very fashionable.

The idea was pure genius and it took off. Die-hard label wearers flocked to pick up a pair of designer eyeglass frames. Those who knew how to get a good deal - picked up "faux" frames that looked just like the real thing.

When did it become sexy to don specs?
The answer: The 1990's. A new phenomenon happened as new advertisements starred those very supermodels donning eyeglasses. As the pretty people of society, and the rich, started wearing eyeglasses - everyday folks started to catch on to the trend.

As we move on to the present, eyeglasses are no longer just for the nerds and optically challenged. They are now accessories for the fashion forward and some are down-right sexy. A new development in fashion, frames without a prescription are worn for fashion purposes. New fashions and styles have penetrated the optical world - ready for wearing!