The cat-eye’s period of greatest popularity was during the 1950s, when it fit in perfectly with women’s post-war flamboyant clothing. In 1947 Christian Dior unveiled what would become known as the New Look: an extravagant silhouette that emphasized the waist and hips. The cat-eye shape, tailored to show off a woman’s facial features, synchronized well with Dior’s designs. The glasses were originally created to be worn only with optical lenses, but it were the hugely famous Old Holywood actresses – Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe – that kicked off the trend for cat eye sunglasses.