There’s no stigma attached to wearing glasses any more (though as any spectacle-wearing woman knows, it's not without its challenges). The right pair on the right person looks beautiful. Case in point: Daryl Hannah in Steel Magnolias wearing pearlised cat's-eyes. Or Thora Birch in Ghost World back in 2001, firing the starting pistol for the many years of dark, heavy frame-wearing to come.

If you prefer real references to cinematic ones, then we’d like to direct you to Karlie Kloss, modelling tortoiseshells by Illesteva back in 2012; the time Honor Blackman styled hers with just a beach and a bikini in 1964; Zandra Rhodes brilliantly bonkers in a rhinestone pair that Elton John would fight her for, and we have a real soft spot for the adorable Elle Fanning’s entire spectacle collection. The distinctive embellished orange frames that she wore to the Venice film festival in 2010 are a particular highlight – days were lost in the googling frenzy that ensued after she stepped out in those.

The gist is that there are just too many stylish glasses moments to count. We could talk your arm off on the subject for days and days, but in the interests of practicality, we’ve settled on rounding up our favourites off the top of our head. So click through the gallery to see 46 times spectacles looked magnificent (warning: this gallery will create the strong desire to book an appointment at the opticians).

 

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