Sky - March 21 2023

Buddy Holly Glasses Frames and Styles

Buddy Holly was not only a famous rock star but also an eyewear icon. His glasses sold for $80,000. In the 20th century, rockers were ashamed to wear glasses, thinking it didn't fit their cool image. Buddy was no exception, he didn't want to wear it at the first place, however, his poor eyesight made him stuck in glasses.

Who would have thought that this pair of glasses would arouse the popularity of teenagers? Popular as glasses were, they became his iconic items in the end. Buddy's thick black glasses were not found on his own initiative, but with the help of acquaintances, and finally stuck to the thick black frames.

Buddy Holly with Glasses

Buddy Holly was born in 1936. Inspired by his musically inclined family, Holly loved music from an early age and often played instruments with his siblings. He was good at guitar, violin, piano and etc. Back to his high scholl, he often performed with his friends. Soon after, they formed their own band and named "Crickets".

Things went really well later on. They produced hit songs like "that'll be the day". It tremendously expand his fame. But the severe myopia of 20/800 made him very distressed. Without glasses, he can't do anything.

Glasses were the thing he wanted to get rid of most at the time. But in the end, it turned out to be his fortune. His glasses went more and more pupular. So that he got his buddy holly glasses style name. Not only people love his glasses, but it encourages his successors not to be ashamed of performing with glasses on. C'est la vie. You never know what's going to happen. Just like his tragic and unexpected death, he was only 22 years old.

Sticking to Horm Rimmed Glasses

Buddy wore bulky black glasses when he first debuted. He didn't like it very much. Like other rock musicians, it was generally believed that glasses and rock musicians should never be connected at that time.

The strong-minded Buddy tried to wear contact lenses. In the 1950s, contact lenses did not have the current technology. We are a very lucky generation. There are many contact lenses to choose from, with expiration dates - one day, one month, six months and one year. Let alone it's very comfortable to wear. After-sale service is also guaranteed. But at the time, these contact lenses were uncomfortable to wear, and they were generally oversized. The wearing time is also very short, only about an hour or two. But buddy still didn't give up his distaste for black frames. So he even went up to stage with no glasses, which made him embarrassed for unexpected situations. For example, it is easy to fall when walking, and bumping is a common thing.

Finally, he met the Everly brothers that Don Everly took the band members to Phil's menswear store in New York City and introduced them to Ivy League clothing. The brothers advised Holly to replace his old-fashioned glasses with horn-rimmed glasses. Holly bought a pair of glasses made in Mexico from Lubbock optometrist Dr. J. Davis Armistead. Teenagers in the U.S. began demanding this style of glasses, which came to be well-known as "Buddy Holly glasses."

Anecdotes about Buddy Holly's Glasses

Buddy Holly without Glasses

Rock band members always want to leave a cool impression, and myopia let Holly struggled. He was too afraid that people don't like him with glasses. So he also made some attempts, for example, he tried not to wear glasses on stage performance, predictably, he can not see the world and the world stumbled him which get in the way of his performance. So he tried to wearing contact lenses, it must be mentioned that the technology was not as good as now, and not only because of the size and uncomfortable wearing experience, but also the wearing time is only a few hours, which is not enough for daily needs. If he is too busy to do his shows and forget to take off them, it will be a disaster. Unlike today's contact lenses, which can be worn for at least 8 hours. In the end, they had to compromise with reality, which unexpectedly made a generation of fashion and paved the way for future generations of eyewear fashion. For example, John Lennon's inconic round glasses.

Stick with Horn-rimmed Glasses

Throughout ages, Fashion has never STOPPED, and the Everly Brothers introduced holly and his band to Ivy League clothing. And recommended optometrist Dr. Jesse Davis Armistead's horn-rimmed Faosa glasses. By this time, the glasses were an extremely hit among teenagers and came to be universally known as "Buddy Holly glasses".

Holly's glasses broke the prejudice that wearing glasses was uncool and unfashionable. In addition to addressing the need for nearsightedness, glasses can also make people fashionable. Do what you like with your heart, accept the help of glasses and don't care about the world's judgement.

His Glasses was Found in the Plane Crash Wreckage

The glasses were not recovered immediately after the plane crash, but were found in the spring of 1959 after the snow melted. Items found together included Big Bopper's watch, a lighter, two pairs of dice, and part of another watch. It is now on display at the Buddy Holly Center in Lubbock, Texas.

Buddy Holly Death - Died in Plane Crash

The end of January and the beginning of February are the coldest times in the Midwest. At that time, the band was playing all over the place and everyone was fed up with the travel and travel, so they decided to rent a plane. However, the pilot himself, Roger Peterson, and his company were not fully licensed and were only allowed to fly visually, setting the stage for the incident. at 12:55 a.m. on Feb. 3, the plane's engine made a loud noise and the propeller blades turned into a black veil as it shot into the white, foggy sky. Five minutes later, the tower lost contact with the plane.

Top 3 Rock Stars Style Inspired by Buddy Holly Glasses Frame

Bob Dylan with Glasses

Dylan, who wore glasses, showed punk to the fullest, and he later loved wearing the Ray-Ban Aviator aviator series of mirrors, like Lou Reed and Mick Jagger, who were all fans of flying glasses.

Patti Smith with glasses

Patti Smith once said, "My sunglasses are like my guitar".

John Lennon with glasses

John Lennon's favorite sunglasses were metal-framed steampunk style retro sunglasses. These round-framed sunglasses are now also known as Lennon sunglasses (or Harry Potter sunglasses, for that matter). The round sunglasses with green lenses that he wore also became the "most famous" sunglasses in rock history because they sold at auction for nearly £140,000.

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Anthony Lee

freelance writer

Written by: Anthony Lee
Anthony Lee is a freelance writer who works as a sales clerk in an eyewear boutique, and her seven years of experience allows her to select the right eyewear for her customers at a glance. Knowing the whole process of eyewear production, she also has a unique perspective on eyewear fashion. She is passionate about fashion accessories and life. She likes to match a variety of eyewear with various styles of clothing.