Hollywood sunglasses and glasses have turned props into cult objects: the Wayfarer of the Blues Brothers, the aviators from “Top Gun”, the large dark sunglasses Audrey Hepburn wears in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. Here you will find out which film classics made frames famous, what defines these shapes and how you can wear them today.
Key points at a glance
- Hollywood made four frame shapes into classics: the Wayfarer (“The Blues Brothers”, “Risky Business”), aviators (“Top Gun”), the glasses of the 1950s as in “How to Marry a Millionaire”, and small round glasses (“Harry Potter”).
- In a film, glasses underline the personality of a character. Some models gain cult status that way.
- Many of these shapes are older than the films: aviators date from 1936, the Wayfarer from 1952.
- Today the classic shapes come from many brands. The product block below shows the current selection.
Hollywood glasses: when a prop becomes a cult object
In a film, glasses are usually props. They underline the personality of a character: cool, intellectual, mysterious or seductive. When character, scene and frames fit together, the image stays in your memory and the prop becomes a cult object. Many of these glasses were not invented for the movies. They existed before, and the big screen made them truly famous.
The overview shows the best-known glasses from Hollywood classics at a glance:
| Film | Year | Glasses in the film | Style today |
|---|---|---|---|
| How to Marry a Millionaire | 1953 | glasses worn by the naive blonde (Marilyn Monroe) | 1950s glasses, cat-eye |
| Breakfast at Tiffany’s | 1961 | large dark sunglasses (Audrey Hepburn) | retro sunglasses |
| The Blues Brothers | 1980 | black Wayfarer | Wayfarer |
| Risky Business | 1983 | Wayfarer (Tom Cruise) | Wayfarer |
| Top Gun | 1986 | aviator sunglasses (Tom Cruise) | aviators |
| Harry Potter | from 2001 | small round metal glasses | round glasses |
Hollywood in the 1950s: Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and glasses
Marilyn Monroe is one of the best-known actors of the 1950s. In “How to Marry a Millionaire” (1953) she plays a naive blonde who wears glasses because she needs them. With her, glasses became sexy instead of nerdy. The cat-eye shape, with outer corners that point upwards, became hugely popular in the 1950s and 1960s. Its forerunner, the “Harlequin”, was drawn by the designer Altina Schinasi in 1939. Today it comes from many brands, from subtle to bold.
“Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1961) is one of the best-known romantic comedies in film history. Audrey Hepburn, muse of the fashion designer Givenchy, plays Holly Golightly. Her look includes the little black dress, a string of pearls and large dark sunglasses. Anyone searching for Audrey Hepburn’s glasses usually means these sunglasses. Retro sunglasses with dark lenses are still made by many brands today.
Wayfarer: the Blues Brothers sunglasses and Tom Cruise in “Risky Business”
One of the most famous sunglasses appearances in cinema belongs to the Blues Brothers. In “The Blues Brothers” (1980), John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd play Jake and Elwood Blues in a black suit with a white shirt, a hat and dark sunglasses. The sunglasses are black Ray-Ban Wayfarers. Anyone putting together a Blues Brothers outfit needs this pair above all.
The American actor Tom Cruise also wore Wayfarers in “Risky Business” (1983). The shape came out in 1952: a sturdy plastic frame with trapezoid lenses. You can find the Ray-Ban Wayfarer (RB2140) in the shop at the moment. More about this model: A Classic: Ray-Ban Wayfarer.
Top Gun and aviator sunglasses: Tom Cruise in the cockpit
The aviators from “Top Gun” are among the best-known sunglasses in film history. Their story begins in the 1930s: in 1936 the US company Bausch & Lomb developed them for pilots exposed to glaring light at altitude. A special-purpose pair became a fashion classic, and with Tom Cruise in “Top Gun” (1986) the Ray-Ban Aviator became world-famous. The shape, with large teardrop lenses and a thin metal frame, has hardly changed since.
Glasses of the 2000s: Harry Potter and round glasses
Among the films of the 2000s, the glasses of Harry Potter stand out: small round metal glasses. Next to the lightning-bolt scar, they are a trademark of the character. Round lenses appeared in fashion as early as the 1920s, and the shape keeps coming back. They are available as prescription glasses and as sunglasses, with metal or acetate frames.
Wearing Hollywood sunglasses classics today
You do not have to copy a film look, the shape is what counts. This is what to look at:
- Shape for your face: Angular shapes such as the Wayfarer contrast with soft features, while round and teardrop lenses soften angular ones. Which frames suit which face is explained in What Glasses Suit My Face? Frames for Every Face Shape.
- UV protection: With any sunglasses, look for UV400 and a CE or UKCA mark. Filter category 3 usually suits bright days, category 2 changeable weather.
- Prescription: The Wayfarer, aviator and round shapes are among the flat to slightly curved frames that can take almost all prescriptions.
The current selection includes, among others, the Ray-Ban Wayfarer (RB2140), further Ray-Ban models such as Justin and Bill, the Oakley Holbrook and sunglasses from Prada, Miu Miu and Gucci. Not every colour and size is always available.
Ray-Ban BILL (RB2198 129251)£95.64Ray-Ban CATS 5000 (RB4125 710/51)£95.64Ray-Ban BILL (RB2198 901/R6)£91.47Ray-Ban RB3928 001/S2£113.40Ray-Ban JUSTIN (RB4165 622/T3)£98.96 PRay-Ban RB3774D 001/73£86.47Ray-Ban ZURI (RB4455 135987)£78.15Ray-Ban WAYFARER (RB2140 901)£91.47Frequently asked questions about Hollywood glasses
Which glasses does Tom Cruise wear in “Top Gun”?
In “Top Gun” (1986) he wears aviator sunglasses, the Ray-Ban Aviator. In “Risky Business” (1983) it is the Wayfarer instead.
Which glasses do the Blues Brothers wear?
Jake and Elwood Blues wear black Ray-Ban Wayfarers in the film, with a black suit, white shirt and hat.
Who wears Ray-Ban?
Women and men of all ages wear the Wayfarer and the Aviator. Films such as “The Blues Brothers”, “Risky Business” and “Top Gun” helped make them famous. How you recognise Ray-Ban and other brands is explained in Sunglasses Brands and Their Logos: How to Recognise Them.
Which glasses did Audrey Hepburn wear in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”?
As Holly Golightly she wears large dark sunglasses, with the little black dress and a string of pearls. Retro sunglasses in this style are available from many brands today.
