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Designer sunglasses show no signs in losing popularity, even with the recession having taken a chunk out of the economy. Spending on personal fashion accessories is still on the up, and many seem to be saying “the hell with it” and splashing out on their personal appearance to feel good about themselves. It must be more than a desire to shield our eyes that has led to this insatiable demand for top-quality sunglasses!

There’s been a huge influence of course, from films. Almost a byword for cinema itself, Ray Ban sunglasses have been adorning film stars both male and female for decades. Screen icons like Audrey Hepburn set the fashion world alight with Breakfast at Tiffany’s, whilst the Blues Brothers Ackroyd and Belushi defined a whole new era of cool. Now the modern film industry is picking up people like Robert Downey Jnr in Iron Man as the next product evangelists.

Product placement with film stars isn’t anything new, but now glasses companies are even helping to influence the style of a film with their ranges. The X-Men series of films utilised designs of Oakley glasses, and this is only one of a set of summer-scale action blockbusters which no doubt are intended to boost the company’s reputation as an active and sporty brand. Oakley also has a military distribution, so Black Hawk Down was simply improving its accuracy by including it as part of the actors’ kit.

The great thing about sunglasses is that they are an easy way to be like the stars we watch and admire on film. We may not all be so fortunate to have Audrey Hepburn’s figure and look good in gowns. The rugged sci-fi trenchcoat look may fit well with Keanu Reeves, but for others just makes us look like geeks from the 1980s with no social life. It would be great to have Gerard Butler’s abs or Jessica Alba’s curves, if only we didn’t have to spend hours at the gym or monitoring every calorie to do so. A pair of designer glasses however, don’t have quite the same exacting requirements on our physiognomy and it’s much easier to get that big fashion boost by wearing a pair that suits you well.

There was a time when David Caruso could act. In addition to making a critically well received name for himself on NYPD Blue, he would also put in a very capable turn in films like King of New York. Ok I admit, his range was technically a bit limited to cops, half-Irish cops, military goons, half-Irish military goons, or half-Irish ex-military goons who were now cops, but at least he was playing to some obvious strengths. Can anyone explain what’s happened to him in CSI Miami though? I get that Miami is sunny and therefore wearing a nice pair of sunglasses is more-or-less mandatory, but good grief! Wear them or take them off, David! I counted the glasses going up and down at least fourteen times during one episode, usually coupled with the hand on the hip and some weak one-liner that sounds as if it came out of a Christmas cracker.

This is supposed to be a man that studied Method acting, reportedly utilising it in Hudson Hawk which seems a bit like using a pneumatic drill to crack a nut. At least his character was silent which probably made the rest of the cast’s life a bit easier. I’ll never understand how an experienced actor can forget just about everything they have learned and leans on a pair of aviator sunglasses to encapsulate all they’ve worked on for that character. I suppose it’s a relief it’s just sunglasses, how would the other cast react if he chose something else to play with? Perhaps his underpants. I don’t think much forensic work would get done in Miami and their CSI branch would be actively recruiting for a new head of department.

There are those actors who really know how to wear a pair of shades and look cool. Both Mr White and Mr Orange wearing their ray ban sunglasses in Reservoir Dogs. Arnie in Terminator. Clint in Dirty Harry. None of these characters felt the particular need to keep taking their shades on and off, almost as if the novelty of seeing the world with less glare was an incredible experience that they just simply couldn’t get used to. Glasses maketh the character, David, but they don’t define it.

There are many Celebrities out there that love to wear their sunglasses all of the time and although sometimes the Aviator sunglasses look pretty cool a lot of the time they just look stupid. These are just some of the many famous people that love their sunglasses.

Lady GaGa

Stefani Germanotta or Lady GaGA is always seen wearing crazy looking sunglasses but is there a reason behind all of this? Fashion is actually a big influence to Lady GaGa and she is also influenced by brilliant musicians such as Queen, Bowie and the legendary Bowie. Every outfit she has worn seems to be a bit out there and the press love it. She loves to be a bit different and wearing all kinds of crazy sunglasses like ray bans

Britney Spears

Britney is quite often seen wearing sunglasses in the middle of the night but the real question is, why on earth is this done? The media attention that she is always getting could be one of the reasons behind it all. When all of the press are taking their photos the flashes must be pretty bad. As well as this sunglasses are a great way to hide those tired baggy eyes.

Bono

He has to be the most fmaous person for wearing his sunglasses. Bono is behind the successful U2. I first thought that Bono wore the glasses as part of the look but it would seem like his reasoning is actually because if someone takes his photo his eyes will swell up. He even admits that its part vanity, part privacy and part sensitivity.

So there you have it really, just some of the many celebrities that you could well see wearing their favourite wayfarer.

Next time you go out wearing sunglasses the chances of you getting mowed down by the press are slim but hey, the sunglasses look is cool right?