Glasses were once considered unfashionable, but that era has passed.

In an unexpected reversal, frames have become a style statement – elevating looks and even appearing in purely decorative form on runways and streets alike.

The “geek” label has been recast as chic, with bookish and intellectual cues now signalling modern cool.

Much of this shift may be traced to pop culture, where some of cinema’s most beloved characters are defined by their glasses.

In The Devil Wears Prada 2, fictional magazine editor Miranda Priestly (played by Meryl Streep) rocks a pair of glasses.

She already wore them in the original 2006 film, but that detail is resurfacing in a moment when being “four-eyed” is no longer a target for name-calling, but a marker of style.

Jonathan Bailey sparked a similar wave of interest last year after his character, Henry Loomis, in Jurassic World Rebirth appeared in glasses.

He helped turn the accessory into an unexpected fashion talking point and a trend driver.

Read more: Futuristic yet sophisticated, slim and sleek shades are the ultimate trend piece

Bailey has said he has long been a fan of the bespectacled look.

“I do have 20/20 vision, but I’ve always had a thing for glasses,” he told GQ, adding that he even faked an eye test when he was younger just to get a pair.

In Project Hail Mary, Ryland Grace also made glasses part of his persona.

Viewers were quick to notice how prominently they feature throughout the film, often perched on his face or hanging loosely as an unmistakable part of his look.

Interestingly, Grace never wore glasses in the original book.

Ryan Gosling, who took on the role, told USA Today that one of his daughters encouraged him to wear them for the character, after saying they made him look “smarter”.

This neatly captures the essence of the trend, where glasses are increasingly worn for style rather than necessity.

In many ways, they now function like any other fashion accessory – similar to a handbag, scarf or jewellery, chosen less for functionality and more for expression.

Beyond films, celebrities are also wearing glasses at public events.

Andrew Garfield was seen swapping his sunglasses on the red carpet for reading glasses when he took the stage to co-present an Oscar. He did the same thing two months earlier at the Golden Globes, too.

On both occasions, social media quickly lit up with reactions, with many noting that glasses have never looked sexier.

It is this refusal to hide the need for them that helps flip the narrative around glasses.

Bella Hadid is unafraid to post photos of herself wearing glasses on Instagram, often sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses of her high-profile modelling life.

Read more: What are dress sneakers and why have they become integral to modern men’s style?

Fashion often follows celebrities, and eyewear is no exception.

Designer labels like Michael Kors and Philipp Plein sent models down the runway wearing glasses for their Spring/Summer 2026 shows.

It used to be that sunglasses were the ultimate symbol of attitude, but now clear frames and optical-inspired styles are taking on that role.

Tinted lenses are also gaining traction, offering a hybrid appeal that blends the practicality of eyewear with the mood and mystique of shades.

Perhaps style has never been clearer than when seen through a pair of glasses.