Client Announcements

"The monocle is back" says Vision Express

THE MONOCLE IS BACK, SAYS VISION EXPRESS

- National chain of opticians to reintroduce monocles following unexpected surge in requests for iconic 19th century favourite

- Fashion community on red alert as signs suggest the return of the “fogey”

- Interest in classic styles is consistent with a surge in demand for trendy eyewear, Vision Express reports

Vision Express, one of the UK’s leading chains of opticians, is reintroducing the monocle following an unexpected surge in requests from customers.

Monocles are lenses used to correct the vision in one eye. They consist of a circular lens, usually within a thin wire frame that is attached to a chain or string. The other end of the chain or string is then connected to the wearer’s clothing. Monocles are thought to originate from Rome in the 1720s, when a prominent connoisseur used one to inspect engravings and cameos. In the 19th century they became a common item of apparel.

Priced from £50, the monocles come with a metal frame, single vision lens, string and a pouch. They will be available initially at the Vision Express store on Oxford Street, London and will be rolled out to additional stores throughout the UK subject to demand.

Bryan Magrath, CEO of Vision Express, said: “To our surprise we’ve had dozens of requests from customers in the last few months, so we thought we’d bring back the monocle on a trial basis. We’re as puzzled as anyone by the interest, but we’re a responsive retailer and we are delivering. I guess it’s one of those inexplicable fashion things.”

The monocle is not the only classical item of apparel to be staging a comeback. There is early evidence that the bow tie, another fashion classic, is on the way back. The last time the bow tie made a comeback was in the eighties, when it was associated with the emergence of the “young fogey” following the popular television adaptation of Brideshead Revisited.

Another theory for the renewed interest is the association of the monocle with success. The monocle was a key part of the costume of the stereotypical 1890s capitalist and has often been associated with successful people from all walks of life, including politicians, businessmen, poets, authors, filmmakers and boxers.

Bryan Magrath said: “We’ve read about the return of the tie to the modern wardrobe as men dress to impress again. I’m not convinced that a monocle is going to clinch the deal at a job interview, but I’d be surprised if it wasn’t a conversation starter.”

New eyewear designs have seen a surge in popularity in recent years as the stigma associated with glasses has faded. Vision Express recently reported a surge in sales of plain glass spectacles to so-called “suspecs” who do not require glasses but see them as essential fashion status symbols.

Vision Express is also considering the reintroduction of the pince nez, a type of spectacles that gently pinch the top of the nose to stay in place. Other products in the Vision Express archive include makeup glasses with a lens that flips from side to side to enable application of makeup to alternate eyes, snooker glasses made famous by Dennis Taylor, frames with patented grills on the front that are supposed to reduce traffic glare when driving at night and glasses that enable you to see straight ahead when lying flat on your back (these were originally designed to polio sufferers).

The wearing of monocles has not entirely died out. Famous wearers today include astronomer Sir Patrick Moore, former boxer Chris Eubank and the King of Tonga. Many characters from literature, film, opera, games and comic books also wear monocles, including P.G. Wodehouse characters Psmith and Galahad Threepwood, Major-General Stanley in The Pirates of Penzance, Batman’s nemesis The Penguin, Colonel Mustard from the game Cluedo and Marvel Comics villain Baron Wolfgang von Strucker. Amelia Bones from the Harry Potter series is also seen sporting a monocle at Harry’s trial in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Other famous real-life monocle wearers have included British politician Joseph Chamberlain, filmmaker Fritz Lang, Poet laureate Alfred Lord Tennyson, Karl Marx and Ken Nomura.
Monocles came both framed and frameless. The frameless version consisted of a cut piece of glass, with a serrated edge to provide a grip, and sometimes a hole drilled into one side for a cord. Often the frameless monocle had no cord and would be worn freely. This style was popular at the beginning of the 20th century as they could be cut to fit any shape eye orbit cheaply, without the cost of a customized frame.

Monocles were most prevalent in the late 19th century but are rarely worn today. This is due in large part to advances in optometry which allow for better measurement of refractive error, so that glasses and contact lenses can be prescribed with different strengths in each eye.

- Ends –

Notes to editors:

Images available on request. Call Hamish Thompson on 07702 684290 or email hamish.thompson@1238kmh.com

About Vision Express

Vision Express is one of Britain’s leading chains of opticians, with a national network of more than 300 stores. Built on a passion for the optical profession and a drive for unparalleled customer service, Vision Express opened the first ‘one hour’ Opticians in 1988 and remains the pioneer of a genuine one-hour service today. Vision Express is part of Europe’s largest optical retailing network that includes eye care brands Grand Optical, Solaris and Generale D’Optique.

previous:
next:

Newsroom