Browline Glasses: Origin, Style, Types and Popularity

Published on November 8th, 2024

Updated on December 16th, 2024

Browline glasses are a distinctive style of eyewear characterised by a bold upper frame that helps to frame the wearer's face, often paired with a thinner lower rim. This classic design, which garnered popularity during the 1950s and 1960s, prioritises a mix of style and function making them suitable for a range of face shapes. Browline glasses are typically available in various materials and colours so they can play the role of a bold fashion statement while providing clear vision. This is why browline glasses are a crowd-favourite for those seeking a retro yet modern aesthetic. Continue reading to find out more about the origin, style, types and popularity of this popular glasses frame.

What are Browline Glasses?

Browline glasses are a type of glasses style that features a bold or thicker upper portion of the frame than the lower portion resembling the appearance of eyebrows. Browline glasses are usually made with a mix of materials with the body of browline glasses being made from one type of material while the bold upper part of the frame is usually made from another type of material. At Oscar Wylee our browline glasses are made with metals for the lower section of the frame and acetate for the upper portion of the frame. Browline glasses are a popular choice for prescription glasses as they help to achieve a smart, vintage but classic look and can appeal to different generations of individuals. Browline glasses’ popularity may be notable as a result of prominent figures such as Malcolm X.

Why are Browline Glasses Popular?

Browline glasses are popular because they are a stylistic step-up from the classic square shape design making them the perfect frame to wear everyday for an easy outfit upgrade. The distinctive design of the glasses’ bold upper frame perfectly mimics the appearance of eyebrows and adds another framing element to the wearer’s face. Browline glasses are often available in slight variations of styles, colours and even patterns, making them a versatile frame for individuals with different aesthetic preferences.

How Do Browline Glasses Compare to Clubmasters?

Browline glasses can be compared to clubmasters in the aspect of design and concept. Clubmasters are essentially a slight variation of the original browline glasses as they differ in design with their upper frame portions slightly extended at the corners, featuring pierced rivets. After the popularity of the original browline frames, introduced by Jack Rohrbach in 1947, Ray-Ban came out with their take on the browline frames and created the Clubmaster.

Are Browline Glasses Still in Style in 2024?

Yes, browline glasses are in style for 2024. Browline glasses continue to remain stylish in 2024 due to their vintage appeal, combining classic styles with modern styles. Their distinctive bold upper frame which emphasises the brow line in combination with gold frames or silver frames helps to achieve a smart and sophisticated look. The resurgence of retro styles in mainstream fashion, combined with the popularity of op-shopping and vintage attire are also other factors for what helps keep browline glasses trends alive.

Which Face Shapes Suit Browline Glasses Best?

The face shapes that suit browline glasses are square face shapes as the browline frame helps to balance out strong facial features. Square face shapes are typically characterised by a wide forehead and a jawline matching in length and slightly angled and strong facial bone features. Browline glasses may be one of the best men’s glasses for every face shape as men typically have strong and larger facial features.

Illustration of a woman’s face and a man’s face with browline glasses on

What Type of Glasses Did Malcolm X Wear and Where Can You Get Them Today?

The type of glasses that Malcolm X wore were browline glasses which you can get at most eyeglasses stores. The browline glasses that are available at Oscar Wylee are Bentley, Marco, Hunter and Martha, which are all slightly varied styles of the original browline glasses that Malcolm X wore. The type of glasses that Malcolm X wore and their varied alternatives are listed below.

Bentley: Bentley is an Oscar Wylee frame that resembles theare a type of glasses frame that Malcolm X wore as they feature a bolder upper rim portion, perfectly resembling the classic browline glasses frame. The Bentley frames are a good option for those wanting a minimally varied take on the original browline frame.
Marco: Marco is another type of Oscar Wylee glasses frame that Malcolm X wore with their distinct upper rim design and metal lower rim. Marco is an ideal go-to for browline frames as they resemble the original browline frames more closely.
Hunter: Hunter is another Oscar Wylee frame option that is similar to Malcolm X’s glasses with their thick, black upper portion of the rim. The Hunter frame additionally features a gold metal lower rim making them the perfect smart and vintage looking frame.
Martha: Martha is Oscar Wylee’s unique take on the iconic vintage browline frames with brighter colours and a transparent upper rim. The Martha frames are perfect for those who love the browline silhouette with a twist.

What Are the Best Browline Glasses for Men and Women?

The best browline glasses for men and women are frames that feature a bold upper rim portion, and a sleek metal lower rim. Most browline glasses will feature silver or gold metal frames and a dark coloured upper rim portion. The best Oscar Wylee browline glasses for men and women are Aaron, Bentley, Hunter and Betty. The best browline glasses for men and women are listed below.

Aaron: Aaron is one of the best Oscar Wylee browline glasses for men and women as they feature a well-designed thicker upper rim and adjustable nose pads. The Aaron frame is a crowd-pleaser with a more rectangle shaped design that emphasises its sleek and smooth lines.
Bentley: Bentley is another Oscar Wylee browline glasses option for men and women with their much brighter take on the usual browline frames. The Bentley frames have a thinner upper rim while still maintaining that distinct design, making them the perfect alternative to the classic browline glasses appearance.
Hunter: Hunter is the perfect Oscar Wylee browline glasses for men and women as they mimic the original browline shape closely. The Hunter frame closely captures the essence of the original with the right amount of thickness in the upper rim paired with a gold metal lower rim.
Betty: Betty is a great go-to Oscar Wylee frame for browline frames for men and women and presents a lighter option than most browline glasses. The Betty Frame features a much thinner upper rim that is contrasted from the rest of the body with a different colour and a more cat-eye frame shape.

How Did Browline Glasses Become a Symbol of the 1950s?

The browline glasses became a symbol of the 1950s due to their distinct upper rim design and a result of celebrities and prominent figures wearing them. The browline glasses were invented by Shuron Optical, who were responsible for around 50% of all vintage eyeglasses sold in the US according to the Vintage Optical Shop.

Why Are Ray-Ban Clubmaster Glasses Called Malcolm X Glasses?

The Ray-Ban clubmaster glasses may be called Malcolm X glasses due to their popular association with the late civil rights activist. Malcolm X was frequently photographed while sporting browline glasses and therefore likely contributed to the reputation of the frame being widely associated with him.

What is the Difference between Browline Glasses and Round Glasses?

The difference between browline glasses and round glasses is their shape and design. Browline glasses are characterised by their unique upper rim design that resembles the appearance of eyebrows and are typically square or rectangle shaped. Round glasses are more rounded and do not feature any half-rim designs.