50 shades: cinema’s greatest sunglasses

It’s no wonder that Federico Fellini’s 8½ is so many film directors’ favourite film. This 1963 classic holds up a mirror to their own profession, perfectly capturing the chaotic bustle of the life of a filmmaker: the creative decisions he must make; the producers, journalists and beautiful women who orbit around him; the daydreams that give him respite from the media circus.

And in that oh-so-flattering mirror is Marcello Mastroianni, in black suit, thin black tie, white shirt, and those legendary black sunglasses. Moviemakers ever since have surely nodded vainly in approval of their surrogate image. Certainly fashionistas have ever after tried to identify the make and model of the shades. Fifty years later, the question is still being asked in internet forums: what are the sunglasses Marcello wears in 8½ and how can I get some?

Only last year, Marcello’s look was considered sufficiently iconic to adorn the official poster for the Cannes Film Festival, with the actor depicted suavely peering over the top of the sunglasses – a reminder to attending directors to fix up and look sharp.

Now Fellini’s masterpiece is back in cinemas, we thought a rundown of cinema’s other most stylish sunglasses was in order. But once we started thinking of them, more and more came to mind. So here are 50 shades – which is your favourite?