There are glasses that simply cannot—and do not wish to—go unnoticed. They are the kind seen on catwalks and stages alike, worn by models and performers who use them to “have more charisma and symptomatic mystery”, as Franco Battiato sang in Bandiera Bianca. A phenomenon that has never faded—if anything, it has only grown in recent years.

Just consider Anna Wintour who, at the latest Academy Awards, suddenly slipped on a pair of oversized sunglasses, further underscoring her charismatic persona as the legendary former editor-in-chief of Vogue and the inspiration behind The Devil Wears Prada.

Closer to home, at the Sanremo Music Festival, Laura Pausini—co-hosting alongside Carlo Conti—completed her Balenciaga look (as seen in the opening image – photo by Virginia Bettoja) on the fourth evening with the Stellar Mask, created especially by the maison’s artistic director Pierpaolo Piccioli for the Spring/Summer 2026 show. An exclusive, futuristic wraparound design encrusted with crystals of varying sizes.

At the same festival, Dargen D'Amico stayed true to form, making sunglasses a defining feature of his look. On two separate occasions, he wore the Boom model by Italia Independent in denim rendered in a refined hue, as well as the oversized SK6052 model by Swarovski, inspired by the brand’s Dulcis jewellery collection—crafted in puffy acetate and set with 900 hand-applied crystals.

Few understand the stage quite like Kerin Rose Gold, founder and creative director of A-Morir, who has long created eccentric, sparkling eyewear adored by Hollywood stars such as Rihanna and Lady Gaga, to name but two. It is no coincidence that Selena Gomez wore a veiled pair at her wedding to Benny Blanco. Among her most striking creations is the Dalida Crystal Masque Headpiece, a tribute to the iconic Franco-Egyptian singer Dalida, worn by Missy Elliott and Lizzo during their performances. Each piece is unique, handcrafted in New York from lucite and adorned with thousands of crystals.

Another brand beloved by the stars is Anna-Karin Karlsson, who in 2025 won the prestigious Accessories Council NOW Award at Vision Expo. With her luxurious eyewear—often telling fantastical, imaginative stories—she has conquered stages worldwide from her native Sweden. Among her most notable admirers are Jennifer Lopez and Harry Styles, who wore the Half Moon model in one of his music videos. Precious and sophisticated, the Shady Luv 2.0 mask—featuring Zeiss lenses with an azure anti-reflective back coating—is crafted from pure titanium, hand-plated in white gold and adorned with Swarovski crystals tracing its entire perimeter.