The “Smart Set’s” Latest Craze.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue XII, 19 September 1903, Page 855

The “Smart Set’s” Latest Craze.

THE "EYE-GLASS” GIRL. The single eye-glass is no longer the sign of the Englishman of fashion, for the belles of New York and Chicago Society have claimed it for their own. It is the latest craze of the American smart girl, and it has “caught on.” At all the representative New York jewellers monocles are now on sale. varying in price from £2O to about eight shillings (two

dollars). The glasses are selling well, ami the purchasers are women—principally young women of fashion, whose fads and fancies are as eccentric as they are short-lived. Generally s|»eaking. the monocle is not stuck in her eye. but is held there by a dainty little handle, doing away with the unsightly contraction of muscles. Many styles have a delicate little handle of tiligree gold studded with jewels, ami soniet'mes tiny jewels set in the rim which frames the glass. The round glass which you stick in the eye and hold there by contracting the muscles is th * monocle favoured by some women. But it takes a daring woman to use it. not only because it excites considerable attention, but because it is a detriment rather than an aid to beauty. The New York Society belle may look interesting when she gazes at you through her monocle, but she doesn’t look any the lovelier because she has this odd lit th* glass fixed in her eye. Heme the preference for the monocle with the handle. She wishes to be ori’riiml. but not for a minute does she wish to look less charming. The English eye-glass has always dangled from an inconspicuous tine black silk cord. But the monocles now in favour with the American girl must be worn with a monocle chain. There is really no end to the variety of these chains. Some of black teakwood arc extremely long, so long that they are tied in a loose knot at the cors’ge. Then there are much more delicate and eostlv chains of small jewels framed in rims of gold, and als » of crystals and jewels.