Altina Schinasi’s Cat Eye Glasses – Introduction
Today we are going to discuss about Altina Schinasi’s Cat Eye Glasses in this article. In this article we will give you all the information about this, like Who was Altina Schinasi, Where did Altina get the idea for cat-eye glasses, What are the other achievements of the Altina Schinasi, Altina Schinasi Early Life and Family Heritage , Altina Schinasi movies, How old was Altina Schinasi etc. so let’s start the topic.
Who was Altina Schinasi?
Altina Schinasi was a multi-talented American artist and innovator. Throughout her life, she excelled in various fields such as sculpting, filmmaking, entrepreneurship, window dressing, design, and invention. Her most renowned achievement was the creation of the iconic “Harlequin eyeglass frame,” widely recognized as the cat-eye glasses that became immensely popular.
Schinasi was born in Manhattan, New York, on August 4, 1907, to immigrant parents from Greece. Having pursued her passion for art, Altina Schinasi underwent formal training in the field. She attended the Art Students League of New York and further honed her skills at the National Academy of Design. In the 1930s, she began working as a window dresser for Saks Fifth Avenue and Lord & Taylor. She also started her own design business, designing jewellery, handbags, and other accessories.
In 1938, Schinasi designed the Harlequin eyeglass frame. The frame was a bold and dramatic design, with large, almond-shaped lenses and a curved frame. It quickly became popular, and was worn by celebrities such as Marlene Dietrich and Katharine Hepburn (Altina Schinasi’s Cat Eye Glasses). The Harlequin frame is still considered a classic design, and is often seen on runways and in fashion magazines.
In addition to her work as a designer, Schinasi was also a filmmaker. She directed two short films, “Altina” (1945) and “George Grosz’ Interregnum” (1948). She also produced the documentary “Operation Bootstrap” (1950), which chronicled the economic development of Puerto Rico.
Schinasi was a lifelong philanthropist. She was a founding member of the Santa Fe Opera and the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival (Altina Schinasi’s Cat Eye Glasses). She also donated her art collection to the Museum of Fine Arts, Santa Fe.
Schinasi died on August 19, 1999, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She was 92 years old.
Where did cat eye glasses come from?
Altina Schinasi’s Cat Eye Glasses: Altina Schinasi got the idea for cat-eye glasses from the Harlequin masks worn during the Carnevale festival in Venice, Italy (Altina Schinasi’s Cat Eye Glasses). The Harlequin masks are characterised by their pointed, almond-shaped eyes, which Schinasi thought would be a flattering shape for women’s eyeglasses.
Schinasi was working as a window dresser in the 1930s when she noticed that there weren’t many stylish options available for women’s eyewear. Most of the frames were round or oval, and Schinasi felt that they didn’t do much to flatter women’s faces. She decided to design a new frame that would be more flattering and stylish.
Schinasi was inspired by the Harlequin masks she had seen in Venice, and she used their pointed, almond-shaped eyes as the basis for her new frame design (Who is Altina Schinasi). She also added a curved frame to the design, which helped to elongate the face and make it look slimmer.
The Harlequin eyeglass frame was a hit, and it quickly became a popular fashion accessory. It was worn by celebrities such as Marlene Dietrich and Katharine Hepburn, and it is still considered a classic design today.
What are the achievements of the Altina Schinasi?
In addition to designing the Harlequin eyeglass frame, Altina Schinasi had many other achievements. Here are some of them:
Filmmaker:
Schinasi directed two short films, Altina (1945) and George Grosz’ Interregnum (1948). She also produced the documentary Operation Bootstrap (1950), which chronicled the economic development of Puerto Rico.
Philanthropist:
Schinasi was a lifelong philanthropist. She was a founding member of the Santa Fe Opera and the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival. She also donated her art collection to the Museum of Fine Arts, Santa Fe.
Inventor:
Schinasi was also an inventor. She patented a number of inventions, including a new type of eyeglass frame and a new type of chair.
Author:
Schinasi wrote a memoir, The Road I Have Travelled, which was published in 1995.
Schinasi was a talented and creative woman who made significant contributions to art, film, fashion, philanthropy, and invention (Altina Schinasi’s Cat Eye Glasses). Even today, Altina’s creations serve as a timeless source of inspiration and wield a significant impact on individuals worldwide, leaving a lasting influence on art and design.
Altina Schinasi Early Life and Family Heritage
Altina Schinasi was born on August 4, 1907, in Manhattan, New York City. She was the daughter of Morris Schinasi, a tobacconist, and Laurette Schinasi, a painter . Her parents were Sephardic Jews who had immigrated to the United States from Turkey (Who is Altina Schinasi).
Schinasi’s early life was filled with creativity and culture. Her father’s tobacco business was successful, and the family lived in a comfortable apartment in Manhattan (Altina Schinasi’s Cat Eye Glasses). Schinasi’s mother was a talented artist, and she encouraged her daughter’s interest in art and design.
Schinasi attended Dana Hall School, a prestigious boarding school in Massachusetts. After graduating from Dana Hall, she studied art at the Art Students League of New York and the National Academy of Design.
Altina Schinasi movies
Altina Schinasi directed two short films:
Altina (1945):
This semi-autobiographical film explores Schinasi’s experiences as a woman in the art world. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Short Subject (Two Reels).
George Grosz’ Interregnum (1948):
This documentary film about the German artist George Grosz was Schinasi’s mentor. Altina’s work achieved the prestigious accolade of winning the Golden Lion at the esteemed Venice Film Festival.
Schinasi also produced the documentary Operation Bootstrap (1950), which chronicled the economic development of Puerto Rico.
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Conclusion
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