What can define a moment in fashion and cultural history faster than a pair of glasses? From John Lennon to Jackie O, one practical and very fashionable accessory has stood the test of time, and continues to inspire trends.
" With my sunglasses on, I’m Jack Nicholson. Without them, I’m fat and 60."
Jack Nicholson
Wayfarers
Sometimes cited as the best-selling design of sunglasses in history (although Ray-Ban Aviators have also been credited with this), Wayfarers are a classic of modern design and one of the most enduring fashion icons of the 20th century. The plastic-framed design produced by the Ray-Ban Company was introduced in 1952, with trapezoidal lenses that are wider at the top. They have famously been worn by James Dean and other icons.
Cat Eye
The cat eye eyeglass shape was made popular by Marilyn Monroe in the 1953 hit comedy How to Marry A Millionaire. They remained trendy throughout the 50s but really took off in 1961 when Audrey Hepburn wore an Oliver Goldsmith pair in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Up until then, the cat eye frame had only been used for optical glasses, but Goldsmith’s signature “Manhattan” shape started the shape’s sunglass craze.
Heart-Shaped
Heart-shaped glasses were made popular by the film Lolita, of the best selling novel of the same name by Vladimir Nabokov, and are sometimes called ‘Lolita glasses’. The novel was first published in 1955 and then made into a movie in 1962 by legendary filmmaker Stanley Kubrick. This sunglass shape still makes appearances in fashion shoots today and are often favourites at music festivals everywhere.
John Lennon’s Round Sunglasses Teashades
Round sunglasses had never been very fashionable until John Lennon wore them – even his reading glasses were the same circular design. This type of psychedelic art wire-rim sunglasses were often worn, usually for purely aesthetic reasons, by members of the 1960's counterculture. Pop icons such as Mick Jagger, Boy George, Liam Gallagher and Ozzy Osbourne have all worn teashades.
‘Top Gun’ Aviators
Popularized by Tom Cruise in Top Gun, these pilot-inspired sunglasses are not only flattering on most face shapes, they also pair with a 'model-off-duty' look quite nicely. Featuring oversize teardrop-shaped lenses and a thin metal frame, the design was introduced in 1936 by Bausch & Lomb for issue to U.S. military aviators. As a fashion statement, aviator sunglasses are often made in mirrored, coloured, and wrap-around styles.
Oversized
Ever since Jackie Kennedy, the glamorous US first lady, wore her patented oversized glasses in public, they have been popular. An extremely private person, complicated by the fact that she was married to the president, to maintain her anonymity (and fashion sense), Jackie would sport oversized sunglasses. Masking much of her face, it was difficult to tell whether it was actually her, or just a lookalike.
Elvis
There was the music, the sideburns and, of course, the sunglasses. Elvis’ silver aviators were polaroid sunglasses model 8004 and were customised for him with gold especially on the bridge and the temples. The other brand he favoured was Neostyle. When 'The King' made several purchases, the brand became fashionable in the US. His model of choice was “Nautic 2”, squared big sunglasses with rounded corner lenses and metal golden frames, wide design temples and finished with brown lenses.
Chow Yun Fat in A Better Tomorrow
Hong Kong crime pictures have a long tradition of heroes wearing kick-ass sunglasses, but the apex of the form remains the pair worn by Chow Yun Fat in John Woo’s legendary A Better Tomorrow. The movie made the style so famous that they remain better associated with this film than with their creator, Alain Delon, whose name they still carry to this day. After the movie, Hong Kong was sold out of Alain Delon’s sunglasses and the French star sent Chow a personal thank you note.
The Matrix
The iconic sunglasses in The Matrix are from the cult-ish label Blinde, which prides itself on producing handmade glasses. The company’s founder, Richard Walker (IV), had to tender against large companies such as Ray-Ban and Arnette to win the film’s sunglasses contract, and set himself apart by scratch-designing pairs of glasses based purely on the characters’ unusual names. Carrie-Anne Moss, in her Catwoman-sleek black leather, concealed herself behind the ubiquitous narrow dark frames. Ironically, after the film, Moss said, “I can’t wear sunglasses. As soon as I put them on, people recognise me.”
Mirror shades
Also known as cop-shades, these smart, square-framed sunglasses have lenses with similar properties to one-way mirrors – a result of mirror coating. Police use them to hide their facial expressions, and they can be intimidating in that you can see your reflection in the mirror frames of the person you are talking with, increasing your self-consciousness.
Suits You
Sunglasses can really make or break a fashion moment; the quickest way to get from plain to polished- so finding the right fit is crucial. Identify your face shape and pick a frame that will get you camera ready
Round
Round faces have few angles–so your sunglasses should. Geometric straight, angular shapes help add more structure in the face, as do styles with a slight upsweep to highlight the cheeks. Shapes like rectangle or wayfarer will help give your look an elegant edge. Also, the horizontal nature of those frames will help your face look longer and thinner by contrast.
Square
Square-shaped faces feature a broad forehead and jawline. Counteract your face’s angular lines with curvier frames. Round or oval styles can help soften your look while styles like cat eye, butterfly or semi-rimless draw the eye up and away from a prominent jaw.
Heart
Heart-shaped faces are widest at the temples and narrowest at the chin. Keep proportions in check with frames that direct attention downward and elongate your look. Lightly coloured frames, ones with thin temples or those embellished at the bottom are good options.
Oval
If you have an oval-shaped face, you can pretty much get away with any look, so be experimental. Rectangular frames are a good place to start, since their horizontal orientation will balance out your face’s vertical. Then try more upswept styles, like cat eye and butterfly, which compliment high cheekbones.
