As we hurtle into the metaverse, high fashion has found a new digital runway: video games, where beloved iconic characters take on haute couture and the season’s hottest looks. Based on the success of Balenciaga x Fortnite’s exclusive backblings to the Louis Vuitton x League of Legends capsule collections, it’s clear that gamers want to look as fashionable in the virtual world as they do in real life.
Eyeglasses are an excellent option for the less ostentatious gamers who prefer to represent their favorite characters in subtle ways, as they’re something many gamers likely already wear. If you’re due for a new pair of specs, take your cue from some iconic video game characters below:
Bayonetta, Bayonetta
This hack-and-slash franchise from 2009 is still making waves. Hollywood’s It Girls have recently been photographed in Bayonetta glasses, a cornerstone of the TikTok-viral “office siren” fashion trend. Bayonetta’s costume choices are ill-suited for a combat game: she wears a skin-tight leather suit and stilettos, topped with librarian-esque rectangular spectacles that never come off, regardless of the intensity of the fight scenes.
However, gamers will find these women’s glasses quite suitable for everyday wear, as neutral colors like black are always in style. To get the look, the RB5169 OPTICS features the same rectangular shape and can be fitted with prescription lenses for clear vision, just in case you run into a real-life Balder. Rumors are swirling that the beloved trilogy will be making its way to the successor of the Nintendo Switch, so we may see more of our favorite witch and her sensible specs in the future.
Michael de Santa, Grand Theft Auto V
GTA V may have come out in 2013, but its GTA Online arm still attracts hundreds of thousands of players today. The game opens with Michael in an LA therapy session, sporting a pair of tinted aviators while indoors. Sport a pair of men’s sunglasses like the Randolph Aviator for heist-ready coolness.
They have the same double-barred metal bridge that Michael’s glasses do, along with lenses engineered initially for military pilots. In the Three’s Company mission, Michael dons his sunnies to hop on a helicopter and wreak havoc on the city of Los Santos. His shenanigans will be sorely missed in the upcoming GTA VI release slated for 2025.
Raymond, Animal Crossing
“Animal Crossing” and “black market” are two things that shouldn’t seem to go together. But for Raymond, the gray cat villager with an old-school charm and adorable heterochromia, dedicated players were willing to part with millions of Bells, Nook Miles Tickets, and more. Raymond’s iconic hazel-and-green eyes are emphasized by his eyewear.
His thick-rimmed glasses hint at his no-nonsense personality, and Kendall Jenner donned this style at the Victoria Beckham SS23 fashion show. The Victoria Beckham Wide Flat Square Sunglasses feature exaggerated temples and ultra-thick square frames. But let’s face it: even this bold look can’t shield your eyes from the massive debts you owe Tom Nook!
Otacon, Metal Gear Solid
In a universe where robotic enhancement is the norm, there’s something charming about Hal “Otacon” Emmerich’s regular old silver eyewear. Named after the Japanese word otaku, he is an anime nerd with geeky interests. His circular glasses only make him look the part, and longtime fans can do the same with the Zenni Optical x Ghost Gaming gamers’ eyewear collection.
The Round Glasses 3229730 in silver channel Emmerich’s look, and they’re designed to support eye health and protection for gamers of all ages. Otacon wears his glasses for purely functional, not stylish, reasons, and you can’t imagine him without his silver specs.
Glasses pack a one-two punch for gamers, providing clarity and screen protection while sharpening your look. Whatever you play next, keep your specs on for the best visual experience.
