Eyewear is a crucial accessory for various reasons. Things like the rise of eye issues, eye
protection, and style are helping the eyewear market grow at a rate of 8.19%. For many
musicians, eyewear is also essential on and off stage. Not only do they protect eyes from
bright stage lights or conceal any issues, but they can also help create a signature look and
contribute to their personal style. Many iconic artists are known not only for their music, but
the glasses or shades they don during performances and in their daily lives have made them
recognizable among fans and non-fans. Here are a few iconic artists with equally iconic
eyewear:
Elton John
Not many can work both a stage and an outfit like Elton John, whose music and eccentric
looks have kept him in the pop culture zeitgeist for decades. He’s never been afraid to rock
feathers, colors, sequins, and the like, but it was his flamboyant, over-the-top range of
various sunglasses that helped elevate his outfits to the next level. He’s worn colorful lenses,
geometric frames, oversized shades, and even bedazzled sunnies to performances and
concerts, and fans have often worn equally outrageous sunglasses in homage to his look.
But he’s also not afraid to keep things simple, opting for smaller round or rectangular frames
with tinted lenses later on in his career. Because he made eyewear such a big part of his
style, he’s even launched his own brand in collaboration with Walmart. Now, it’s much easier
to replicate his extravagant eyewear, even without the equally grand career to match.
Bob Dylan
Over the course of his 60-year career, Bob Dylan has been regarded as one of the best
singer-songwriters of all time. His music has even influenced other music icons like David
Bowie, who covered his songs and wrote some for him as well. In terms of style, he may be
the most simplistic out of most of the people on this list, but it’s his loyalty to a look that
made his style iconic. In the mid-60s, he often sported a pair of simple black sunglasses
alongside simple yet crisp outfits. The Ray-Ban Wayfarers were a particular favorite of his.
While he wasn’t the first to make them popular, they became a major part of his style since
he kept them on almost all the time, even during recording sessions. These sunglasses
perfectly reflect who he is as an artist: classic and timeless.
John Lennon
John Lennon is one of the most legendary names in music, and his style is just as
recognizable and iconic as his career. His round, thin-rimmed glasses became part of his
quintessential look, and he was hardly ever seen without them. He’s worn many types of
spectacles over the years, but one of his most iconic ones was a pair of custom-made Savile
Row panto glasses that were simple yet made with care. John Lennon wasn’t just wearing
them for fashion’s sake; they did serve a practical purpose as he was short-sighted. In fact,
before he started rocking his signature glasses, he was embarrassed to wear them in public
when he was younger. He was inspired by fellow musician Buddy Holly, who helped
popularize the thicker-rimmed glasses, which made it more comfortable for him to wear his
own chunkier frames.
The Indy Review 