15 Iconic Sunglasses Through Pop Culture History

1986’s Top Gun may have turned Tom Cruise into a household name, but his Ray-Ban aviators were definitely the star of the film. After the movie’s release, sales of this exact model increased by over 40%, cementing their status as pop culture’s go-to action-hero sunglasses.

By the 1960s, John Lennon was rarely spotted without his small, round, wire-framed sunglasses. Arguably one of the most famous people on the planet at the time, Lennon influenced hippies all over the world with his minimalistic, utilitarian style, and circular lenses are still associated today with the counter-culture hippie movement.

Known for his over-the-top performance looks, Elton John is just as famous for his flamboyant and colorful sunglasses as he is for his music. Over the years, the “Rocket Man” singer has donned wildly inventive shapes, bright colors, and bedazzled frames, and his eyewear has become an important component of his identity as an artist.

In 1961’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Holly Golightly is first introduced to audiences in the window of a Tiffany & Co., outfitted dramatically in a little black dress, rhinestone jewels, and a pair of oversized shades. The impactful Oliver Goldsmith “Manhattan” sunglasses helped to establish Hepburn as a style icon.

Former First Lady Jackie Onassis Kennedy was often photographed in large, dark sunglasses during the 60s and 70s. It happened so often, in fact, that many people people still refer to oversized women’s sunglasses as “Jackie O’s” to this day. 

For most of 1999’s The Matrix, Morpheus wore frameless pince-nez sunglasses that were slightly too small. By clipping the shades to his nose rather than hooking them over his ears, the resulting look was both futuristic and mysterious, which was perfect for the cyberpunk tone of the movie.

The Blues Brothers with John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd defined the ultimate cool-guy aesthetic with the simple-yet-elegant Ray-Ban Wayfarers. With their sleek, black design and universally flattering shape, it’s no wonder why Wayfarers were so popular during the 80s.

When Madonna first burst onto the scene in the early 80s, teens all over the country scrambled to copy her style, from her fingerless gloves to the accessories on her face. She was most often seen in cat-eye frames, which were beloved by anyone trying to recreate Madonna’s “girl from the big city” vibe. 

Besides helming the American pop art movement of the 60s, Andy Warhol was also famous for his unconventional and striking sense of fashion. He preferred high-impact, black shades that were both instantly noticeable and mysterious, just like his public persona.

For a rock star who rejected mainstream fashion, Kurt Cobain was highly influential in shaping 90s culture. One of his favorite accessories was a pair of white women’s sunglasses. They symbolized his distaste for traditional masculinity, but not without inspiring countless others to emulate his style.

Fans of the X-Men comics and films know that Cyclops has a destructive, optic-blasting ability, which he shields with a ruby-quartz visor. Not only does this visor help you identify Cyclops as a character, it’s also an imaginative example of superhero eyewear.

Michael Jackson initially made Ray-Ban aviators his trademark as he set off on his “Bad” and “Dangerous” tours. This look persisted through the years as the rest of his style evolved. The white glove and fedora may be considered classic Michael Jackson, but history shows that aviators were his true calling card.

The lead singer of U2, Bono is hardly recognizable without his sunglasses, which actually have an important function. In 2014, he divulged that he has had been living with glaucoma for years, and his sunglasses helped to alleviate his discomfort. Luckily, most people wouldn’t bat an eye at a rocker who never takes his shades off.

In the 50s, nobody was cooler than James Dean, who exuded classic American style with a devil-may-care attitude. He was often spotted in a pair of tortoiseshell glasses with slightly rounded frames, which went on to become his signature look.

A lot of fads are inspired by the movies, and the black sunglasses craze of 1997 is no exception. Thanks to The Men in Black, which featured Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones in simple black suits and sunglasses, legions of fans wore black shades to reference the blockbuster film.