7 Iconic Glasses From Movies That Almost Outshone the Stars

The right pair of glasses can truly make or break a look. This is especially true in movies, where some of our favorite characters would almost be unrecognizable without their signature specs or shades.

From quirky comedies to sci-fi thrillers, a fabulous frame can help to transform a character from a capable lead into a cult hero. In light of this, we’ve picked out 7 of the most iconic glasses and sunglasses from the silver screen and the stars who helped make them so well-known.

1. Daniel Radcliffe, ‘Harry Potter’

“Harry Potter glasses” have become a style in their own right, and it could be argued that they are now as iconic as a cat eye or aviator frames. In the Harry Potter films, they highlight Harry’s role as an unlikely hero and are now as iconic as his famous lightning scar.

2. Tom Cruise, ‘Top Gun’

Originally designed for World War 2 pilots, the popularity of 80’s romp Top Gun brought aviators back into the public consciousness. Maverick’s trademark aviator shades are one of the most popular designs around, and this style is one that keeps evolving. This season, clear aviator glasses are arguably the hottest eyewear trend, further proof of their enduring popularity.

3. Keanu Reeves, ‘The Matrix’

Neo’s dark, black shades mark him out as a rebel and contribute, along with his signature trench coat, to his cyberpunk style. Without being able to see all of Neo’s expressions it’s also hard for the audience to tell what he’s thinking, adding an extra layer of suspense and excitement to the film.

4. Mike Myers, ‘Austin Powers’

The Austin Powers series combined a sense of swinging sixties’ fun with a comedy spy thriller. While Austin’s loud suits, cheeky chat and impossibly hairy chest helped, there’s no beating his thick black frames for bringing the sixties’ style back to life in the 21st century.

5. Audrey Hepburn, ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’

Oversized, round sunglasses were the ultimate glamorous accessory during the sixties, made popular by American icons such as leading lady Audrey Hepburn and First Lady Jackie Kennedy. Hepburn’s character, Holly Golightly, brought style, wit, and beauty to the screen and will forever be associated with her striking pair of shades.

6. Jim Carrey, ‘Ace Ventura: Pet Detective’

He may be unconventional, but he gets results…well, at least when it comes to pets. The loudmouth detective’s out-there dress sense is topped off with his dark wraparound sunglasses. These wacky shades perfectly capture Ace’s rebellious style.

7. Christopher Reeve, ‘Superman’

Clark Kent’s oversized, tortoiseshell glasses helped him to keep his true identity a secret. How they stopped Lois Lane from realizing that her love interest and co-worker were one and the same is beyond us!

Glasses That Convey Character

It’s hard to imagine these characters without their trademark frames, proving just how memorable and eye-catching glasses can make a look.

In many of these films, eyewear is used to communicate the character’s nature, whether it’s Harry Potter as an unassuming hero or Neo as a mysterious bad-ass. This helps to reinforce each character’s personality and makes for stronger and more memorable heroes and heroines.

This article was contributed by visiondirect.co.uk.