Close-up of a woman's face wearing large eyeglasses, with clear blue eyes and a focused expression.

When glasses are not just a look but a legacy

From the silver screen to Saturday morning cartoons, glasses have long been more than just a tool for seeing clearly. They’ve been a statement, a symbol and in some cases, a superpower.

Perfectly perched on the nose of a genius detective or dramatically removed for effect (Why, you’re beautiful… without them), glasses have earned their place in pop culture history, frame by fabulous frame.

Let’s tip our tortoiseshells to some of the most iconic specs in entertainment.

1. Harry Potter: The boy who wore round frames

Can you even imagine the wizarding world without Harry’s signature glasses? Those perfectly round, always slightly wonky specs did much more than correct his vision. They became a visual shorthand for bravery and brains, as well as for being the most famous boy in both muggle and magical realms.

Fun fact: sales of round frames went through the roof after the first film dropped. Call it the Hogwarts Halo Effect.

2. Velma from Scooby-Doo: The original chic chick

The moment she drops her specs and says, ‘I can’t see without my glasses!’, we all feel it. Velma’s iconic chunky black frames became a symbol of book-smart cool, and her influence still runs deep – from Halloween costumes to runway homages.

Let’s say it: Daphne had the outfits but Velma had the range.

3. Clark Kent: Superman but subtle

Clark Kent’s glasses are the most debated disguise in pop culture. Can a simple pair of specs really hide an entire, ripped, superhero identity? Apparently, oui.

Beyond the comic book logic, his classic square frames represent the humble side of a god among men. They remind us that sometimes the most powerful people wear glasses – and some wear two very different suits.

4. Morpheus from The Matrix: Philosophy meets fashion

Those tiny round lenses, perched on the nose like a sci-fi oracle’s third eye… Morpheus’s glasses were peak late-90s cool. They had no arms. They didn’t make practical sense. But they oozed style, mystery and existential dread in all the right ways. If you wore sunglasses indoors after 1999, you were either Morpheus or trying very hard to be.

5. Dr Bunsen Honeydew from The Muppets – Visionary Vibes

We had to include at least one Muppet. Dr. Bunsen’s featureless, round specs (resting on… nothing?) made him instantly recognisable — and kind of adorable.

Proof that in the right glasses, even a lime-green puppet scientist can radiate authority.

6. Elton John: The king of maximalist frames

No-one has pushed the boundaries of eyewear quite like Sir Elton. Rhinestones, star shapes, full-on wings – his glasses are an essential extension of his stage persona. His philosophy is always ‘more is more’ and we love him for it.

7. Tina Fey (As Herself and Liz Lemon) – Relatable, Hilarious, Iconic

Tina Fey’s specs are as sharp as her wit — both onscreen as Liz Lemon and IRL on red carpets and in interviews. Her understated black frames became a subtle feminist symbol of owning your intelligence — and looking great doing it.

We're still taking notes.

Honourable Mentions

Iris Apfel – RIP this glorious queen of the oversized statement frame
Edna Mode from The Incredibles movie: ‘No capes!’ and iconic specs
Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, and every other celeb wearing opticals “ironically”

Why It Matters: Glasses shape culture and character

Glasses aren’t just a detail, they signal something. Intellect. Quirkiness. Power. Transformation. Really great taste. At bloobloom, we believe eyewear should help you express who you are, whether that’s a bold creative, a gentle nerd, a hopeless romantic or an off-duty wizard.

Next time you slip on your frames and catch your reflection, remember you’re walking in the footsteps of icons.

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