Hollywood Classics – from Props to Cult Objects

Whether Top Gun, Blues Brothers or Harry Potter – everyone associates certain glasses with these films. Although used mostly as props in movies to underline the personalities of the different roles, some models have gained a real cult status by having been seen in the movies.

We’d like to present you with the best eyewear classics from past Hollywood decades.

In “How to Marry a Millionaire” the Hollywood star, Marilyn Monroe, turned cat eye glasses into a blockbuster, catapulting the model to the absolute trend accessory in the 50s. Initially the cat eye shape was to lend a seductive image but, due to their great demand, cat eye glasses became even more eccentric and colourful in their designs, now standing for coolness and extravagance. The retro model is still very popular today and available in many different variations from many labels, such as Vogue, Dolce & Gabbana, Ralph Lauren, Prada or Gucci.

“Breakfast at Tiffany’s” from 1961, with Givenchy muse, Audrey Hepburn, is one of the best-known love comedies in film history. But the film has also left a lasting impression from a fashion point of view. In addition to the so-called “little black dress” and pearl necklace, the sunglasses in the Havana look, by the Oliver Goldsmith brand, is one of the hallmarks of the movie character Holly Golightly. Havana coloured sunglasses have always been available in a wide variety of shapes and shades, such as the model Tom Ford Amarra or the darker copy of Guess.

Just as well known as the sunglasses from “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” are the Ray-Ban Wayfarer from the 80s classic “Blues Brothers”. The outfit of the two main characters is simple and classical: black suit, white shirt and black sunglasses. The Ray-Ban Wayfarer has seen many revivals since then, being popular retro style sunglasses for men and women. They are now available in different colours, for example in black, brown, red or orange, and coloured lenses, like the Ray-Ban Wayfarer version with blue lenses.

The aviator glasses from the movie “Top Gun” are probably the best known and most successful sunglasses in film history. The first models were already manufactured by Bausch & Lomb in the 1930s for pilots who were exposed to glaring sunshine and the intense blue of the sky while flying. Initially intended only as safety goggles, the aviator glasses became a must-have accessory. And the hype became unstoppable when Tom Cruise appeared in “Top Gun” in 1986 wearing the Ray-Ban 3025 Aviator. The classic Ray-Ban Aviator Large Metal with golden metal frame and dark green lenses is now available in many colourations like blue, pink, brown, orange or vibrant green.

Glasses from the movie classics of the 2000s have also achieved extremely high popularity. For example, if you’re talking about small round nickel glasses, the wizard “Harry Potter” from the film of the same name immediately comes to mind. In addition to the lightning-shaped scar, nickel glasses are one of the hallmarks of the main character. Whether frames such as the JB Musickid from the collection JB by Jérôme Boateng or the Ray-Ban Round Metal or as sunglasses, like the Prada Cinema in silver, the popular Ray-Ban Round Metal or the Polaroid frame – these glasses are characterized by round lenses, a full rim frame made of metal or plastic and a clean look.

We will certainly see some beautiful eyewear in films in the future, which have the potential of becoming cult objects.