Google Doodle honors Altina Schinasi, designer of the iconic ‘cat-eye’ frame for eyeglasses

Google Doodle honors Altina Schinasi: Google commemorates the 116th birthday of American fashion designer Altina ‘Tina’ Schinasi, who is credited with creating the ‘cat-eye’ eyeglass frame.

Google is commemorating the 116th birthday of American designer Altine ‘Tina’ Schinasi on August 4 with a Doodle. Schinasi is best known for designing the ubiquitous ‘cat-eye’ eyeglass frame. Schinasi was born on this day in 1907 in Manhattan, New York, to immigrant parents. According to a Google Doogle blog post, her artistic voyage took her from the streets of Manhattan to the vibrant art scene of Paris, where she pursued her passion for painting after completing high school.

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She refined her artistic abilities further at The Art Students League in New York City while working as a window dresser for multiple Fifth Avenue stores. During this period, she had the opportunity to work with and learn from artistic titans such as Salvador Dal and George Grosz, whose influence was instrumental in shaping her creative vision.

During her tenure as a window display designer, Schinasi conceived the revolutionary “cat-eye” eyeglass frame. Having observed that women’s eyeglasses were limited to round frames with uninspiring designs, she set out to design a new and distinctive option for women.

She envisioned eyeglass frames with pointed edges that would accentuate and enhance the wearer’s face, influenced by the alluring form of Harlequin masks worn during the Carnevale festival in Venice, Italy. Cutting paper prototypes of her innovative design, Schinasi persevered despite multiple rejections from major manufacturers who deemed her invention to be too unconventional.

Google Doodle honors Altina Schinasi: Her breakthrough occurred when a local shop proprietor recognized the potential of her design and requested a six-month exclusive license. In the late 1930s and early 1940s, the Harlequin eyeglasses became a fashion phenomenon among women in the United States.

In 1939, Schinasi was awarded the prestigious Lord & Taylor American Design Award for her invention. Publications such as Vogue and Life also acknowledged her contribution to the fashion industry.

She also produced a compelling documentary titled “George Grosz’ Interregnum” about her former instructor, the renowned artist George Grosz. In 1960, the film won first prize at the Venice Film Festival and was nominated for an Academy Award for its excellence.

Schinasi continued to investigate new artistic avenues as the years passed. She wrote her autobiography, “The Road I Have Traveled,” in her later years, providing a window into her extraordinary life journey. Additionally, she volunteered as an art therapist, utilizing her creative abilities to assist others.