Iconic Eyewear: Fashion Eyewear for VIPs and Famous Films

Sunglasses were invented centuries ago to protect eyes from excessively strong and annoying sunlight, then over time they became a must-have, an aesthetic detail that characterizes and distinguishes us.

Obviously, in the past, sunglasses were not characterized by many shapes or details, but once they became an integral part of fashion and pop culture, different shapes, styles, and colors emerged, capturing a significant share in fashion and consequently in popular desire.

But what elevated sunglasses to a must-have were actors, directors, and rock stars, who began to wear them habitually to hide their gaze and try to make themselves as unrecognizable as possible.

Of course, this inevitably influenced the masses and the commercialization of sunglasses themselves, making them a sine qua non accessory. It is precisely thanks to actors, VIPs, and rock stars that some eyewear models become iconic and immortal in the collective imagination.

At Bottega di Sguardi in Florence, you can immerse yourself in a 360° experiential journey in search of the eyeglasses or sunglasses that best represent your style and personality.

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  Iconic Eyewear
  
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  Iconic Sunglasses
  
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  Iconic Eyeglasses
  
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  Iconic Men's Eyewear
  
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  Iconic Women's Sunglasses
  
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  Eyewear Icons in Films
  
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  VIP Eyewear
  

Once the sunglasses trend exploded, they underwent a constant and exponential evolution that saw them, over the centuries, both radically change in trendy shapes and colors, and renew themselves by drawing inspiration from their own past forms, which were then elevated to a must-have.

Iconic eyewear, true models that made history.

We see them in metal, small and round in the sixties, just think of the flower children or pop culture, and therefore of John Lennon, to immediately understand the genre in vogue in those years.

In the seventies, however, much larger and squarer frames took over the scene, the so-called oversized, mostly in acetate and with the tortoiseshell effect among the most popular.

However, it was in the eighties that there was a real boom in sunglasses; everyone had at least one, cat-eye shapes returned for women, and teardrop frames appeared in films, which, needless to say, captivated everyone.

At the same time, combined eyeglasses, with temples and the upper front in acetate and the lower part of the front in metal, set the trend.

Then, in the nineties, frames decreased in size and became more angular and increasingly rectangular, or soft but flattened like punk ovals.

But the beautiful thing is that all these fashions are always in vogue, they come and go, they exist always and forever.

In the Florentine boutiques of Bottega di Sguardi, in Via Marconi 19fr and in Via del Parione 54r, we are ready to let you savor a wide selection of iconic eyeglasses and sunglasses.

Over the years, sunglasses have become a symbol of belonging to a group, embodying ideals and adding appeal to those who wore them.

After all, it's pleasant to protect your eyes from UV rays, but it's even more so to feel close to a movie star or a rock star wearing the exact same model as you.

Among the models of iconic sunglasses, we count the square frame with the upper part of the frame in acetate and the lower part in metal, a very popular model between the 50s and 80s, thanks to films and TV series.

We can also think of the cat-eye worn by actresses during this period or, later, the square glasses with a slight cat-eye cut that Bob Dylan wore in all circumstances.

However, we cannot forget the round par excellence, worn by John Lennon and even Janis Joplin, among others.

At Bottega di Sguardi in Florence, you can relive the emotion of these timeless models, as we largely work with brands that draw inspiration from the past, albeit with a touch of the present and future.

Surely, among the most famous iconic eyeglasses of all time, there are those worn by a celebrated Italian director who made cinema history, Federico Fellini.

It is a thick, square-shaped eyewear, a charismatic and elegant piece, far from ordinary, so much so that one of the most known and sought-after luxury eyewear brands in the world, Jacques Marie Mage, paid homage to him by creating the Fellini eyewear.

This is an eyewear entirely handmade in Japan, with 10mm thick Japanese acetate sheets, requiring 300 steps before being considered finished.

A charismatic eyewear, just like our beloved director, offered in a limited edition with serial numbers hand-engraved inside the temple. Truly limited edition sunglasses for enthusiasts and collectors.

Among the few Jacques Marie Mage retailers in Europe, the Florentine Boutiques of Bottega di Sguardi stand out, where you can experience an exclusive journey into the most luxurious brand of the moment.

We speak of iconic eyewear when we encounter glasses that have profoundly marked style and fashion over time; they are timeless classics, imperishable and charismatic shapes that for entire eras have dictated the taste of wearers.

Many, for example, are the iconic men's glasses, just think of the legendary frames worn by personalities like Bob Dylan, Jack Nicholson, or Marcello Mastroianni.

Bottega di Sguardi decided to create its own eyewear line precisely to honor the milestones we have seen worn by so many divas, rock stars, and artists. These are exclusive glasses, completely handmade in the oldest factory in Cadore, that pay homage to iconic eyeglasses and sunglasses that have made history, adding the touch of Bottega di Sguardi and thus making them unique in colors, shapes, and details.

They are super exclusive limited editions that you can only find in the Florentine boutiques of Bottega di Sguardi, one in the heart of Florence's city center at Via del Parione 54r, and the other at the foot of the spectacular Florentine hills, in Via Marconi 19fr.

Without a doubt, the most iconic women's sunglasses are the cat-eye model, created by designer Altina Schinasi in the 1930s.

Altina, after an eye exam, was supposed to start wearing glasses, but she was horrified by the models she was offered, so she designed glasses herself that she considered more suitable for her, feminine and eccentric for the time, inspired by the commedia dell'arte Harlequin mask.

However, the glasses were not successful; in fact, many opticians and shopkeepers of the time called them an abomination, so in its early years, the cat-eye model was mostly worn by secretaries.

Then came Marilyn Monroe, who wore them in the 1950s film "How to Marry a Millionaire," thus beginning the global success of the cat-eye glasses, as from this moment all women would desire one.

Even today, the cat-eye is a highly desired shape by women; just look at the pop scene to see icons like Madonna or Rihanna wearing them in all their femininity.

In Via del Parione 54r and Via Marconi 19fr, at our Bottega di Sguardi Boutiques in Florence, our team of experts awaits you to offer one of the most exciting journeys to discover this iconic women's eyewear.

Many iconic glasses have been protagonists of globally successful films, but those we are about to mention are undoubtedly the most famous, true eyewear icons in the most famous films of all time.

First in chronological order, the sunglasses model worn by the Diva par excellence, Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast at Tiffany's," large glasses with very dark lenses that before this film were not usually worn as props.

Audrey's photograph with these glasses enshrined her as a style icon.

If we were to award a prize for the most famous glasses in cinema, it would certainly go to those in the film "The Blues Brothers," featuring the famous square black glasses that have influenced viewers of all eras since 1980.

Who can forget the most famous eyeglasses in cinema? We are obviously talking about Harry Potter with his round glasses in perfect Japanese style, which significantly contributed to increasing the aura of great intelligence around the protagonist.

Then we find the most famous aviator of all time worn by the rebellious Maverick, played by Tom Cruise, which became a must-have for all generations of the era.

Of all these eyewear icons in films, at the Bottega di Sguardi Boutiques in Florence, you can find a wide artisanal and limited-edition selection from the most sought-after brands in the world.

One of the most apt examples of VIP eyewear is undoubtedly the sunglasses worn by Bob Dylan, with which he managed to create a style inseparable from his persona.

It was in the 1960s that Nobel laureate and rock star Bob Dylan toured the world with his music and especially with his black glasses, thus adding charm to charm. It's a square frame with a slight cat-eye cut, a timeless model, among the all-time favorites.

Jacques Marie Mage wanted to pay homage to the rebellious American singer-songwriter by creating one of the most coveted glasses of the moment, the Dealan, eyewear with bold volumes and sharp lines, extremely charismatic, just like Bob Dylan was with his inseparable dark glasses.

This highlights how a unique relationship can be created between a man and his glasses.

In Florence, at the Bottega di Sguardi Boutiques, we await you to offer an emotional and sensory journey that will lead you to find your Dealan.

Julius Tart Optical is an original American brand that made eyewear history in 1950s America; its models have been worn by celebrities such as James Dean, Woody Allen, and Johnny Depp.

These are sunglasses and eyeglasses with iconic shapes and enviable quality; in fact, they are completely handmade in Japan with sheets of Japanese cellulose acetate, directly derived from the cotton plant, and this is palpable as soon as you touch a Julius Tart eyewear. You feel the compactness of the eyewear and the balance in the fit.

Julius Tart glasses are timeless, an icon of style with a vintage flavor yet always current and cutting-edge.

In Florence, at Bottega di Sguardi, we have a wide selection of Julius Tart to offer you so that you can have a unique experience through 1950s Manhattan.

We are pleased to present you in Florence at the Bottega di Sguardi Boutiques, a wide and very rare selection of the most exclusive brand of the moment, the most coveted by eyewear collectors: Jacques Marie Mage.

In Babylon, a film set in 1920s Hollywood, released in January 2022, Brad Pitt plays Jack Conrad, an established American showbiz star.

Which iconic eyewear better than Jacques Marie Mage's Zephirin could have characterized him to such an extent? None, because the Zephirin is a unique and spectacular model, reminiscent of a retro design but with a definite edge, it is performing, full of personality and charming, but above all it is unique and elegant and is part of an extremely exclusive limited edition of only 500 pieces worldwide.

The sunglasses in question were inspired by great philosophers and take their name from Pope Zephyrinus. They have a typical caliber of the years before the Second World War but a crescendo of thicknesses that give them an eclectic and unrepeatable personality.

The acetate sheet has a unique thickness of about 10mm, completely handmade in Japan and subjected to more than 200 steps before being finished and hand-polished.

In our two stores, which are much more than just two simple eyewear shops in Florence, you will find iconic sunglasses made by the most exclusive international designers.