1O
Issue 79 / 2015
FASHION
guestlist.net
Fashion timeline: sunglasses
Sunglasses may just be the ultimate power accessory; there's nothing quite like wearing shades indoors or in the dark to
show everybody who's boss. What started out as an extremely practical item to stop your eyes burning out of your head
has turned into an accessory with attitude. Who cares if summer's over? Shades on people
1962 – The poster for Stanley Kubrick's film
adaptation of Lolita features the now iconic
heart-shaped frames. Sunglasses go seductive.
1968 – John Lennon sports a pair of
rounded lenses, a style that would
become his signature over the years.
1971 – Elvis rocks custom Neostyle
Nautic shades made out of 14k gold,
featuring EP and TCB monogrammed
on the temples and bridge.
1983 – Tom Cruise and Risky Business
revives the Ray-Ban Wayfarers,
making them frame of choice for cool
kids and bad boys.
1990s – Kurt Cobain is often seen
in his favourite cat-eye Christian
Roth sunglasses. Not typical of
the grunge look, the frames just
prove what a badass he was.
1997 – Always one to make a statement,
Missy Elliot slays in a billowing trash bag
and sunglasses/helmet glitter headpiece in
'The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)' video.
2008 – Kanye introduces
shutter shades to the
world. Festivals and
nightclubs soon become
awash in the plastic
monstrosities.
2008 – Lady Gaga wears a flip-up Mickey
Mouse pair of sunglasses in her video
for 'Paparazzi', proving that 2008 was a
strong year for novelty shades.
2012 - Azealia Banks rocks Tatty
Devine's sexy and scary Eyelash
Sunglasses at Radio 1's Big Weekend in
Hackney.
2015 – Bono continues to rotate his collection
of coloured frames, just as he has always done
and will always do.
