Eyewear can be a distinct part of a person’s identity. Some of the most famous people who have left lasting legacies in their industries can easily be recognized just by the outline of their glasses. Rounded frames have made their rounds in history (pardon the pun), with thousands of artworks featuring Steve Jobs’ iconic glasses and John Lennon’s unforgettable tinted specs being auctioned for around £3,000 ($3,794) in Surrey as part of the Beatles collection.

This same distinguishable trait can be found in some of the most memorable fictional entities to grace the pages and the screen. Here are some characters you know and love who can’t be complete without their quintessential round eyewear:

Mirabel Madrigal

Encanto’s Mirabel follows a long tradition of pop culture eye-cons who set themselves apart in a large cast of characters with their glasses. However, in Mirabel’s case, her signature round frames emphasize her role as an outcast; not only is she the only member of her extended clan who doesn’t have magical powers, but she’s also the sole Madrigal cousin who needs to wear glasses. Her father, who married into the family and doesn’t have powers either, wears a similar pair. If Mirabel ever made her way into our modern world, we might see her in a pair of prescription round glasses from Ray-Ban, like the Thalia Optics in striped blue and green, which would subtly match the tone and textures of her outfit.

Mirabel’s green glasses represent her down-to-earth but bright personality and indicate a strong connection to her uncle Bruno, whose prophetic powers cause his eyes to glow a supernatural green. Jared Bush, one of the film’s directors, also notes that Mirabel’s name comes from the Spanish word ‘mira’ – which means to ‘look’ – and the glasses further tie into her ability to look past the surface, as she’s the only family member who learns to see the others clearly. Touchingly, when the film was in development, Bush had read a letter from nine-year-old Lowri Moore, who asked for a Disney heroine who wears glasses like her. In a film about accepting yourself and your flaws, Mirabel’s round glasses perfectly represent the struggles of real-life children watching her.

Simon the Chipmunk

Alvin and the Chipmunks have been in the public consciousness for decades, introducing generation after generation to the delightful tunes of three anthropomorphic chipmunks. Simon is largely considered the brains of the group, and in classic ‘60s design, he naturally must be the one who wears glasses along with his little blue hoodie.

With the trio being triplets, Simon’s glasses make it easy for audiences to distinguish him even before he starts saying decidedly intelligent things his brothers wouldn’t know. Thick frames define his rounded glasses in practically every iteration of the character, with kid-centric brands like Big Mo’s even making toy glasses that look just like his for costumes.

Edna Mode

Unlike the other protagonists on this list, Edna Mode is a side character who became a fan favorite because of her undeniable wit, memorable one-liners, and memorable character design. Any content associated with The Incredibles can include the silhouette of Edna’s bangs and the glasses as a reference, and audiences will immediately know who it represents.

Edna has become such a fashion entity that she has even been referenced in various Vogue campaigns and had her own Harper’s Bazaar spread. In 2024, Airbnb launched a mansion dedicated to The Incredibles and had an entire section for the design maven. Here, guests could check out a wall of her looks and collection of her sunglasses, wig, signature black dresses, and shoes. Her persona has often been compared to real-life Academy Award-winning designer Edith Head, who famously wore blue-tinted round glasses for her work akin to Cartier’s signature C line or Ray-Ban’s round metal frames with tint.

Daria

Few characters could define the late ‘90s quite like Daria, the sardonic cartoon girl with a punchy zinger ready for every teenage conundrum she deems unworthy of her energy. Years after her show ended on MTV, Daria would still be cosplayed and parodied repeatedly. Aubrey Plaza even took on the titular role for a College Humor sketch that spun massive fan demand for an actual live-action adaptation.

As evidenced by that brief ‘trailer,’ it’s not hard to capture the ‘Daria’ look in real life. You can easily emulate her iconic vibe with a crisp green jacket, swept bangs, and black rounded frames. The Chilling glasses model from Eyebuydirect is an excellent match for Daria’s signature specs. Packing some hefty existential quips is the only thing left in a carefully curated monotone delivery.