Fifty Shades of Shades

June 27th is Sunglasses Day (yes, that’s apparently a thing) and in honour of this prestigious day, we at BTG Lifestyle have picked out some of the more memorable film and television characters to ever don a pair of shades.In no particular order:

Tarantino and the boys – Reservoir Dogs

Nothing says “cool” more than walking in slow motion with a bunch of guys, all wearing black suits and black shades, while Little Green Bag plays in the background.

Quentin Tarantino’s directorial debut is a cult-classic and is known for having one of the coolest opening credit sequences in cinema history. Those shades just completed the look and every one of them looks so professional. Even if one of them is named Mr. Pink.

David Caruso – Horatio Caine/ CSI Miami

When putting on shades while saying a cheesy one-liner has become your defining characteristic, well then, congratulations – you are Horatio Caine –  CSI Miami‘s super chilled detective.

It’s Miami. He needs the shades. He looks complete with shades. Indoors? In the shower? Night time? Screw it. Always wear it. Oh, you’re already wearing sunglasses? Put on another pair.

“My look is attainable. Women can look like Audrey Hepburn by flipping out their hair, buying the large sunglasses, and the little sleeveless dresses.” – Audrey Hepburn

Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones – Men In Black

Monitoring alien activity on Earth sounds intense. Yes it is. But the Men In Black manage to make it look good. Black tie. Black suit. Black shades. Even Tommy Lee Jones looks pimp. And I don’t think anyone has ever described him as “pimp” before.

While protecting you from getting your memory erased, these shades also manage to make you look cool while doing so. Imagine wearing hipster glasses while deneuralising someone. That’s not pimp.

Tom Cruise – Top Gun/ Mission Impossible/ Risky Business etc

Tom Cruise is exactly who I think of when I hear the term “Movie Star” – and 90% of why I think this is because the dude rocks a pair of shades like he was born to do just that.

Is there a single Tom Cruise movie where he doesn’t wear shades? I distinctly remember him wearing sunglasses in Top Gun, Jerry Maguire, Risky Business, Mission Impossible and Rain Man. Name one movie where he does not wear shades at any point in the film. Please, there must be one!

“With my sunglasses on, I’m Jack Nicholson. Without them, I’m fat and 60.” – Jack Nicholson

Honourable Mentions:

• Everyone in The Matrix
• Wesley Snipes – Blade
• Arnold Schwarzenegger – Terminator
• James Marsden – Cyclops/ X-men
• Audrey Hepburn – Breakfast at Tiffany’s
• John Belushi and Dan Akroyd – The Blues Brothers
• Danny Masterson – Hyde/ That 70’s Show
• Jack Nicholson – As Good As It Gets. Also, Jack Nicholson in general.

If you have any characters who you think deserve a special mention, please add them in the comments section below. Also, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

About the Author: Dean Ravell is a co-founder of BTG Lifestyle and loves to wear a nice pair of shades. See his biography if you don’t believe me.