Gerald Warner brings us an important report on a matter of vital moment:The news that Vision Express is to start selling single eyeglasses (vulgarly known as monocles) in its London stores is raising some eyebrows (at least, those not already arched by a lens) and is baffling style gurus who are more used to assessing trends in baseball caps and trainers. Apparently it is a youthful fashion, in which case it will not last. It may cause some perplexity among the relentless dressers-down in Cameron circles and raise fears of a wave of reactionary opinion.I have to say that my social background means that I did not even know that the single lens was called an eyeglass; but owing to the grammar school system which was still in place when I was a boy, I do at least know the word "monocle" which, for the sake of personal authenticity, is the term I shall continue to use for this accoutrement, even at the expense of seeming vulgar. As they say, "You can take the man out of Croydon, but you can't take the Croydon out of the man."
The fashion rather appeals to me but holy poverty compels me to wait until monocles appear on the website of Glasses Direct.
See: If monocles become popular eyewear, will it signal welcome reaction or undesirable 'inclusion'? Gerald's essay on this important topic in the Spectator is also essential reading.
15 comments:
Presumably monocles should be half the price of spectacles.
I definitely want one! I can already raise one eyebrow, it took me years to master the art, but I got it in the end. I always called the monocles too, and shall continue to.
Our MC remembers a time when priest, deacon and subdeacon all wore monacles here.
I am sure SCR must have produced rubrics.
Would that be for use by people with tunnel or single vision?
Fr,why not order new glasses from Glassesdirect and then a little judicious hacksawing and you will have two monocles.....
Personally I've always thought they were really stylish; but I need lenses on both eyes, and possibly two monocles might be a fashion statement too far...
I always thought they fell out of fashion because they were popular with so many Nazis before and during the war.
That's Father Briggs in the photo, I think? Those were the days! How I miss old Tunbridge Wells!
So off to Wikipedia, where it says that although Bertie Wooster 'has been portrayed as wearing a monocle on several book jackets and audio book covers ... this is a choice on the part of the artist, SINCE THE EYE WEAR IS NOT CANONICAL'. Another illusion shattered!
In his student days "The Chevalier" Gerald Warner was frequently to be seen about the precincts of Glasgow University wearing a monocle and deerstalker. I think he was born middle aged.
Ray Allen and Lord Charles - happy child memories come flooding back.
Some people depict Bertie Wooster as a monocle-wearer, but I just can't see it.
I once stayed for a week with the remarkable Fr Quentin Montgomery-Wright, Curé of Le Chamblac. Besides celebrating the traditional rites, he also sported an eyeglass (tr. monocle) at the altar. God rest his soul.
Crux Fidelis.....
Gerald has sportted his eye glass more recently. More, I cannot say.
Great to see Lord Charles back amongst us. Maybe M'lord could tour all the parishes in the country, I feel shure he would have all sorts tips for keeping a stiff upper lip in the teeth of liturgical dance.
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