Marilyn Monroe Sunglasses

The Look: Marilyn Monroe Sunglasses

True to the trends of her era, Miss Norma Jean has been photographed wearing two types of sunglasses: big…and cat-eye. Both styles are epitomes of vintage style and both looked fabulous perched on her petite nose above those bold red lips she was famous for.

She didn't single-handedly make either of the styles as famous or as trendy as they turned out to be, as other cultural icons of the same time were wearing them, too. There's no doubt, though, that of all things Marilyn Monroe, sunglasses were something people saw her wear and wanted for themselves—in the same shapes and styles. Not everyone could pull off the little white halter dress, but sunglasses made it easy to capture some of her magic.

Big Sunglasses

Big sunglasses come in all shapes, but the ones favored by Monroe and other glamour girls of the same era were usually round. In many cases, the temples had detail on them and curved up to ear-level. The legs attached at the bottom of the lenses rather than the middle, as with modern styles today. In other cases, as with this Dior knockoff style, the legs went straight back from the center of the lenses to the ear. Here are a few more to consider:

• Malibu Sunnies
• Oversized Christian Dior 2450
• A wide selection from Sunglasses-Shop.co.uk

Cat-eye Sunglasses

Another type of sunglasses Marilyn Monroe seemed to be a big fan of was the cat-eye style. For an example, visit SaksFifthAvenue.com and look at Tom Ford's Anouk Cat's-Eye Sunglasses. They're $300.00 and come in tortoise and black colors. These will be around for a while in the fashion world, since they're classically shaped and colored. Because of their angles and curves, they complement several face shapes.

For true 1950's—and Marilyn—style, you could shop around for rhinestoned versions, or add rhinestones yourself.

If you have Marilyn Monroe's taste in sunglasses but nothing near her budget, you can get the glam look on a poor girl's salary. Try these styles:

• Sparkly Red Rhinestone Swarovski Crystal Retro Cat Eye Sunglasses
• Sparkly White Rhinestone Swarovski Crystal Retro Cat Eye Sunglasses

Marilyn Accessories

Sunglasses need accessories. Your Marilyn Monroe-inspired sunglasses could use a case to keep them scratch-free and protected from breaks. How about a matching case? This one's sleek, silver, and has Marilyn Monroe's face on the front. This one can also be found on eBay sometimes, so if you're a fan of the auction sites, check there too.

You've got to have somewhere to keep the sunglasses and maybe the case. That's where the Marilyn Monroe purses come in. You can find them at boutiques in malls or online. Here are a few styles:

• Film Legend Style
• Beautiful Forever
• Collage in Black and White

To balance glamour with casual for a modern look, you could use a t-shirt with the blonde beauty on the front. This one even throws a retro spin on things since it's 1980s-inspired.

Fashion vs. Practicality

While it's fun to introduce frivolity and glamour into your life, don't forget that you owe it to your eyes to make sure your new sunglasses have adequate UV protection. Don't just buy a cheap pair of sunglasses off the rack without checking the tags first to make sure they're going to give you the 100% UV protection you deserve. Buying sunglasses without UV protection can cause your pupils to dilate because of the darkness of the lenses, and then allow more sunlight in, doing more damage than even going without shades at all.