Cult Eyewear: The World's Enduring Classics

Selecting a pair of glasses can be a tricky business. With so many styles and labels available, the choice is as much about making a fashion statement as gaining perfect vision. Cult Eyewear is the first book to give an account of the world’s top eyewear brands, from Ray-Ban to J.F. Rey, Persol to Polaroid, and from the 1780s to the present day. Neil Handley, an authority on the history of eyewear, selects more than 30 famous names that have enduring appeal and command a dedicated following, and discusses the history of each brand and its most iconic spectacles or sunglasses. The book also includes a concise illustrated introduction to the evolution of eyewear; innovative designs and historically important inventions; films and key personalities associated with particular designs or brands through the years; and other fascinating aspects of this global industry.

• Covers more than 30 cult eyewear brands from around the world, including Anglo American, ic! Berlin, Neostyle and Persol
• Includes features on personalities and films associated with particular brands and designs, among them Elvis Presley, John Lennon and Dame Edna Everage
• Lavishly illustrated with over 500 historical and contemporary images