Pince-nez (also known as Oxford glasses) are a style of spectacles, popular in the 19th century, which are supported without earpieces, by pinching the bridge of the nose. (The term, pronounced pĭns' nāz, is from the French for "pinch nose.")
Pince-nez first made their appearance in the 1840s, reaching their peak popularity around 1880 to 1900. By the late 1930s, observers noted that they were mostly only still popular with elderly people, suggesting the style was a fad of members of the Progressive Generation.
The spectacles were worn by both men and women. Since this style of glasses was uncomfortable to wear for extended periods, and also because the constant wearing of glasses was out of fashion at the time, pince-nez were usually suspended from a ribbon or chain worn round the neck, or tied to the buttonhole of a lapel. Women often used a special device pinned to the clothing, which would automatically retract the line to which the glasses were attached, when they were not in use.
See also: monocle, lorgnette