Famous Spectacles: Characters and Their Glasses

Eyes are the windows to the soul, and glasses are the window panes that constantly need wiping down due to daily hassles and grossness. Nowadays glasses have become more of an accessory than a necessity for the vision impaired, as you can find non-prescription frames in almost every clothing store at your local shopping mall.

Famous Spectacles

Thousands of people in countries all over the globe have adopted these spectacles as a means of self expression. Niche styles including the “mods”, “hipsters” and the “geeks” all use this accessory to announce themselves. This isn’t a new development, as individuals have been doing so for years. Buddy Holly, Woody Allen, Audrey Hepburn, and Elton John to name a few celebrities who have done so. And as art often imitates life, famous characters in entertainment have rocked the look for years.

Harry Potter

This boy wizard’s spectacles have inspired hundreds of tattoos and works of art since their debut in 1997. Breaking the monotony of large, square glasses, he rocks round ones, making it difficult to hunt down the perfect pair for your cosplay. You’re not costumed as Potter unless you have the glasses to go along with the scar and robe. Harry goes through many changes throughout the series, but his glasses stick with him through them all. But we can’t give him too much credit, with a repairing spell at his fingertips it can’t be too difficult.

Velma Dinkley

Whether you’re looking to solve a mystery or create a new catchphrase, Velma is the girl to go to. Out of all of the characters in this list, Velma very possible has the worst vision. She is also the worst at keeping her glasses on her face, often exclaiming “My glasses! I can’t see without my glasses!” For years Velma has kept short brunettes cool, and can pull off an outfit of all orange better than anyone. Pulling it all together? Those square spectacles

Austin  Powers

Oh, behave. This master of sex and danger is easily recognized by his exquisite sense of style, his token teeth, and those thick, black glasses. His glasses have even made an appearance in Family Guy when Brian wears a pair to bed that play the Austin Powers theme song when the logo is pressed. When your eyewear appears on an episode of Family Guy, you know an impact has been made.

Clark Kent

Clark’s reason for wearing glasses may not be the same as you and me, but he is known for them nonetheless. Do his glasses make him look any less like Superman? Maybe not, but they have become a staple to every “Clark turned Superman” outfit around. As one of the first characters in history to don symbolic spectacles, Clark Kent has a special place the hearts of both comic fans and the vision impaired alike.

Mrs. Doubtfire

Dude looks like a lady, and a dashing one at that. Eyeglasses often symbolize wisdom and cleverness, and Robin Williams uses them to portray just that as Mrs. Doubtfire. Prescription or not, Mrs. Doubtfire uses her disguise as an excuse when dropping character. Even an accidental trip into the men’s restroom can be remedied by a quick “I do need new glasses.”

Milhouse Van Houten

He’s naive, gullible, and super shy around girls. But his loyalty to those closest to him is bar none. Milhouse is the quintessential “geek”, and we love him for it. The black, plastic glasses are the most popular these days, but perhaps we are all missing out on the firetruck red trend.

Noah Bennet

For an extra dash of bespectacled beauty, I present the man with the horn-rimmed glasses from Heroes. Talk about being recognized for your eyewear.