Oct

20

A Medley of Style: Designer Eyewear in Hancock

Filed Under Blogroll, Designer Sunglasses, Fun with Eyewear 


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When Will Smith first stumbles across the big screen in the recent Hollywood blockbuster Hancock, he is seen in a pair of bold and original Christian Dior, Mist Sunglasses from the 2007 collection. Though originally designed for women, Smith wears them with masculinity and pride, and they dominate his appearance in the opening scenes of the film. Since the release of the action-packed movie, sales of Dior: Mist sunglasses have increased, presumably by customers of both genders.


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Searches abound across the internet for other sunglasses from the film, including extensive searches for the yellow-striped shades Smith wears with his Eagle costume. Those classy yet bold frames were of custom design for Smith by Oliver People’s Virtuoso, but similar shades are available by Dior and Ray Ban. These shades serve to make Smith appear more like an authority figure and a superhero and less like an ordinary citizen.


Smith also appears in a pair of shades that are reminiscent of black safety glasses. These were Jon Paul Navigator Fitovers, designed to be worn above one’s prescription glasses. Smith looks stylish and bold in these shades, despite having no eyewear beneath them. He wears this as he is reforming his life, and they shield his eyes (and emotions) as he plays the tough guy throughout his rehabilitation.


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It is curious that the creators/wardrobe artists for the film chose to cover such a large amount of Smith’s face with these large and bulky sunglasses. Perhaps it is to make his face more angular, which indeed it succeeds in doing. Perhaps also it is to give him something distinctive that other super heroes on the silver screens have so far lacked. It is a bit ironic that in the opening scene Smith is seen in Dior glasses, though he is supposed to be a penniless drunk bum with little more than a few dollars to his name.


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Charlize Theron reveals a startling twist mid-film, when she flashes across the screen in all-black attire and less motherly makeup. Mid fight she obliterates Hancock (Smith) and then grabs a pair of Paul Smith PS_833s from a street stall before resuming the epic battle with Smith. The Paul Smith’s are a dual-gender design similar to the Ray Ban aviators of old. The style is common in Hollywood both on and off the silver screen, and is especially characteristic of edginess and sex appeal, both traits Theron’s character in the film had not, until the point of slapping on the shades, revealed.


Indeed, sunglasses dominate the wardrobes of the two heroes in the film, and become somewhat of a very noticeable reoccurrence. Though Smith’s character lives in a trailer, and Theron’s character is living off her struggling husband’s meagre salary, the two are decked out in designer gear. It is a very curious choice, but obviously one that proved successful as online searches for all shades worn in the film have increased the sales of these specific shades, and also boosted interest in the film.

Comments

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    I have observed in recent films, most of the heroes wear designer sunglasses meant for woman, is the trend changing? Any comments on it.

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    Informative post. Keep up the great work. Thanks again, Bryan

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