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I've always been rather curious about Mordecai's glasses. I did alot of looking around and researching for spectacles a few years back for a formal dinner, but all the info I turned up never spoke of armless spectacles. And I'm left wondering about their origins, or if this is what you would call Artistic liscence? I guess my main question is "Are Mordecai's glasses supposed to be armless or does it just look silly trying to fit on his cat face? I noticed they're missing on his human form too"
asker photo Anonymous

Well, being as cat ears aren’t horizontally aligned with the eyes like they are on a human head, there is a practical reason for them, but I didn’t make up the concept of armless glasses.  The type of spectacles Mordecai wears are called pince-nez.  Teddy Roosevelt famously sported them.  They were the preferred style among armed forces around the Great War too, apparently because they were comfortable for wear all day long if properly fitted, and it was probably easier to wear a gas mask over them.  They remained sort of obliquely in style for some time afterward.

Here’s an entire old-timey gallery of folks rocking some pince-nez.

10th June 2012 · 90 notes
  1. popcornfrommars said: OMG that is an amazing and beautiful old-timey gallery!!
  2. afterromulus said: they are so cute i cannot tolerate it. Mordecai is a terrifying delight.
  3. sillybot said: These things need to come back in style
  4. rjbritton said: pince-nez glasses are my favorite <3
  5. cactusrabbit said: Stylish mofos in that gallery
  6. slythgeek said: I’m freaking in LOVE with pince-nez. My friend and I are plotting to make my husband cosplay Mordecai eventually.