70s sunglasses: 8 styles and how to wear them now
9 February 2026
In summary: 70s sunglasses were big, bold and often tinted. Eight styles defined the decade: oversized, square, oval, butterfly, round, aviator, thick tortoiseshell frames and tinted lenses. Each style is easy to wear today and available with prescription lenses and 100% UV protection.
Jackie Kennedy Onassis wore hers so often that the shape still carries her name. Elton John’s sunglasses were so oversized they became part of the act. John Lennon went the other way, with his small round tinted frames known as teashades. In the 70s, sunglasses weren’t something you grabbed on the way out the door. They made the outfit.
That instinct is back. The oversized shapes, tinted lenses and warm tortoiseshell acetates that defined the decade keep showing up on modern icons and in fashion shoots. Call them 70s shades, vintage sunglasses or just retro. Here's what defined each sunglasses style, who wore it and where to find your own pair.
| 70s style | Worn in the 70s by | Suits these face shapes | Lens to pair it with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oversized | Elton John, Diana Ross | Oval, heart, oblong | Dark grey or brown tint |
| Square | Elton John | Round, oval | Brown gradient |
| Oval | Jackie Kennedy Onassis, David Bowie | Square, heart, diamond and triangle | Solid dark tint |
| Butterfly | Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren | Heart, oval, square | Grey or brown gradient |
| Round | John Lennon, Andy Warhol | Square, angular | Amber or brown gradient |
| Aviator | Elvis Presley, Gloria Steinem | Most face shapes | Green, grey or brown tint |
| Thick tortoiseshell frame | Worn across the decade | Most face shapes | Brown tint |
| Tinted lenses | Elvis Presley, Elton John | Any frame shape | Amber, rose or yellow |
Top 8 70s sunglasses styles
1. Oversized sunglasses: disco-ready and daring
Oversized sunglasses were the loudest 70s sunglasses style: big lenses, thick frames, nothing subtle. Acetate and plastic let frames grow large without getting heavy, so they kept getting bigger.
Elton John and Diana Ross made them part of the show, worn with sequins, platforms and real rock 'n' roll swagger. Today stars like Jennifer Lopez and The Weeknd wear the shape, and it turns up in TV dramas such as The Serpent, which is set in the 70s.
For disco-era glamour without the squint, choose tinted sunglasses that block 100% of UV rays.
Try this look: shop oversized sunglasses in bold acetate.
2. Square sunglasses: sharp lines, big attitude
Square sunglasses gave the 70s its graphic edge. Large square frames, usually in thick black or tortoiseshell acetate, were the angular answer to the decade's curves.
Elton John wore square frames in almost every colour, alongside quirkier geometric shapes. The straight lines of square frames add structure to soft, round or oval faces.
For the most authentic vintage 70s finish, pick thick-frame square sunglasses with brown gradient lenses.
Try this look: shop square sunglasses.
3. Oval sunglasses: the Jackie O look
The most famous 70s sunglasses belonged to Jackie Kennedy Onassis: big, dark and oval. She wore them so often they became known simply as the "Jackie O" look.
Men wore ovals too. David Bowie, Marc Bolan and Freddie Mercury made them part of glam rock, and Lady Gaga and Harry Styles have since brought them back. Ovals soften square jaws and suit heart-shaped, diamond and triangular faces.
Add some rock 'n' roll to every day with thick-framed ovals in black or tortoiseshell, available with prescription lenses.
Try this look: shop oval sunglasses.
4. Butterfly sunglasses: 70s glamour at its finest
Butterfly sunglasses flare up at the outer corners and drop wide at the bottom, like a pair of wings. They were the most glamorous shape of the decade.
Elizabeth Taylor and Sophia Loren wore them as a mark of confidence and mystery. Brigitte Bardot wore big dark frames through her summers in Saint-Tropez, in the south of France. The wide lower edge balances a narrow chin, so the shape suits heart, square and oval faces.
A gradient lens, dark at the top and lighter at the bottom, keeps the look soft and makes it easier to read your phone.
Try this look: shop oversized sunglasses and filter for butterfly and cat-eye shapes.
5. Round sunglasses: effortlessly cool
Round sunglasses are the most unisex 70s style, and nothing says "retro" faster. Think John Lennon's small metal frames, or Andy Warhol's tortoise and clear designs.
Round frames are light and easy to wear. They suit square and angular faces best, because the soft outline balances sharp features.
For a true vintage 70s finish, try gradient lenses in warm brown or amber. They work for festival season and everyday wear.
Try this look: shop round sunglasses, with or without prescription lenses.
6. Aviator sunglasses: rock 'n' roll rebellion
Aviator sunglasses were made for pilots first. Bausch & Lomb sold them to the public under the Ray-Ban® name in 1937, and by the 70s they were rock 'n' roll uniform.
Elvis Presley, Gloria Steinem and Stevie Nicks all made aviators part of their signature look. Double-bridge designs, with two thin metal bars across the brow, gave them a military edge. That same metal hardware still gives modern pairs a vintage feel.
For a modern twist, choose square aviators. For timeless 70s style, stick with the classic pilot shape in gold or silver metal. Or, pick a classic 70s acetate style in colours like deep black, avocado green, burnt orange or rust brown.
Try this look: shop aviator sunglasses or metal frames, or get more ideas from our favourite aviator sunglasses for women.
7. Thick tortoiseshell frames: the everyday 70s staple
Thick-frame sunglasses in tortoiseshell were the everyday 70s glasses: chunky, warm-toned and worn by almost everyone. The mottled brown-and-amber pattern once came from real turtle shell; today it's made from acetate.
Tortoiseshell works with most skin tones and hair colours, which is why it has outlasted the decade. It also crosses over well. The same thick frame with clear lenses makes a pair of 70s-style glasses you can wear indoors.
Pair tortoiseshell with a brown tint for the warmest, most authentic 70s look.
Try this look: shop tortoiseshell sunglasses, or browse tortoiseshell glasses for clear-lens 70s glasses.
8. Tinted lenses: the 70s colour filter
Tinted lenses were the decade's signature finish. Amber, rose, yellow and blue sat alongside classic grey, often in aviator or round frames. Elvis Presley's gold aviators with tinted lenses are among the best-known pairs.
Light tints look great, but they let more light through. A category 1 lens transmits 43 to 80% of visible light, so it suits overcast days and city evenings rather than a bright beach. Any tint, light or dark, should still block 100% of UV rays.
See our guide to lens colours to match a tint to how you'll wear it.
Try this look: add a tint to any frame with prescription sunglasses lens options.
Our top 70s-style sunglasses
Scout East with sapphire Transitions® GEN S™ lenses
How to choose and try on 70s sunglasses
Before considering a 70s style, start by looking for a frame shape that suits your face. Then check the size, pick the lens and try them on before you commit.
- Match the shape to your face. Angular and square faces suit round frames. Softer, rounder faces suit square and oversized frames. Aviators suit most faces, so they're the all-rounder. Our face shape guide goes into more detail.
- Check your size. Glasses Direct frames come in four sizes, based on internal frame width. See the table below, or use our frame size guide and Best Fit Machine. The three numbers on the inside arm of a pair you own (lens width, bridge width and side length) are the quickest comparison.
- Choose UV protection first, tint second. The College of Optometrists advises looking for the CE, UKCA or BS EN ISO 12312-1 mark when buying sunglasses. Then pick a tint category for where you'll wear them.
- Add prescription lenses if you need them. Every style here is available as prescription sunglasses, so you don't have to choose between seeing clearly and looking the part.
- Try them on. Use Virtual Try-on to see the shape on your face, then order up to four frames on a free Home Trial and try them for a few days.
- Order. And we'll send your new 70s sunglasses directly to your door!
Glasses Direct frame sizes
| Size | Internal frame width | Usually suits |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 125mm and under | Narrow and petite faces |
| Medium | 126–130mm | Average-width faces |
| Large | 131–135mm | Wider faces |
| Extra-large | 136mm and over | The broadest faces |
Read the Glasses Direct frame size guide for more information.
Sunglasses lens categories
| Category | Visible light let through | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 80–100% | Fashion tints, indoors and night |
| 1 | 43–80% | Overcast days, city evenings |
| 2 | 18–43% | Everyday UK sun |
| 3 | 8–18% | Bright sun, beach and holidays |
| 4 | 3–8% | Very bright sun and glare; not for driving |
Categories follow BS EN ISO 12312-1. Read more in our guide to sunglasses categories and UV protection.
70s sunglasses FAQs
What sunglasses were popular in the 70s?
Oversized, square, oval, butterfly, round and aviator sunglasses were the defining 70s shapes. Thick tortoiseshell acetate frames and tinted lenses in amber, rose and yellow were everywhere too.
Are 70s sunglasses unisex?
Most are. Round frames and aviators were worn by everyone in the 70s, and men such as David Bowie and Freddie Mercury wore oval frames as part of glam rock.
Can I get 70s sunglasses with prescription lenses?
Yes. Every style in this guide is available as prescription sunglasses at Glasses Direct, with tinted, gradient and polarised lens options.
Do tinted sunglasses protect against UV?
Only if the lenses block UV. A lens’s colour or darkness doesn’t tell you how much UV it blocks. Look for 100% UV protection (UV400) and a CE, UKCA or BS EN ISO 12312-1 mark.
What lens colour is most 70s?
Warm brown and amber gradient lenses are the most classic 70s finish. Light rose and yellow tints are the more playful choice, but they let more light through, so save them for duller days.
How do I know what size 70s sunglasses to buy?
Check the three numbers on the inside arm of a pair that fits you, then compare them with the frame size guide. Glasses Direct sizes run from small (125mm and under) to extra large (136mm and over).
What's the difference between oval and butterfly sunglasses?
Oval frames are evenly rounded all the way round. Butterfly frames flare up at the outer corners and widen towards the bottom, like a pair of wings.
Sources and further reading
- The College of Optometrists, Look After Your Eyes: advice on buying sunglasses with a CE, UKCA or BS EN ISO 12312-1 mark.
- The College of Optometrists, news release, 3 July 2019: the CE mark confirms sunglasses meet BS EN ISO 12312-1.
- British Standards Institution, BS EN ISO 12312-1:2022, Sunglasses for general use.
- Glasses Direct, frame size guide.
- Glasses Direct, sunglasses categories and UV protection.
