Few films embrace 1970s style quite like American Hustle.
Released in 2013 and set against the backdrop of the FBI's Abscam operation David O. Russell's film is a riot of elaborate hairstyles, wide collars, plunging necklines and some seriously good vintage eyewear.
Starring Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, the film simply doesn't borrow from the decade. Costume designer Michael Wilkinson immersed himself in this period, combining specifically created costumes with genuine vintage pieces to build the characters distinctive looks. The result earned him an Acadamy Award nomination for Best Costume Design.
For vintage eyewear enthusiasts, that makes American Hustle particularly interesting. Look beyond the costumes and you'll spot designs from Christian Dior, Lacoste and Ted Lapidus, alongside classic aviator styles that could have come straight from a late-1970s optical display.
And one pair in particular caught our attention – firstly, because I personally own a pair myself and secondly, because we have the very same model in our collection.
Amy Adams' Sunglasses in American Hustle – Christian Dior 2250
Of all the eyewear in American Hustle, the pair worn by Amy Adams as Sydney Prosser is perhaps the most memorable.
The oversized sunglasses have been identified as the Christian Dior 2250, an original vintage Dior design that perfectly suits the film's glamorous late-1970s aesthetic. Bold without being overly extravagant, the frame has the kind of presence that makes it instantly recognisable, particularly to anyone familiar with vintage Dior eyewear.
I know the 2250 especially well because I own a pair myself. They're one of those vintage frames I genuinely love wearing, although mine very nearly disappeared into the Mediterranean.
While swimming in Nice, I made the questionable (stupid) decision to wear them into the sea and was promptly wipes out by a wave. The sunglasses vanished. We quickly found one lens, but there was no sign of the rest of the frame. After around 25 minutes waiting on the pebbled beach, eventually it washed back up.
Remarkably, the frame itself was in perfect condition. The lenses hadn't been quite so fortunate after being tumbled backwards and forwards across the pebbles, but thankfully those could be replaced. The Dior survived and I learned never to wear sunglasses in the sea again.
That personal attachment made spotting the same model on Amy Adams particularly satisfying. We currently have some original vintage Christian Dior 2250 sunglasses in our collection, offering a rare opportunity to own the same model worn in one of the most stylish films of the last decade.
Christian Bale's Sunglasses – Lacoste 707F
Christian Bale's transformation into conman Irving Rosenfeld is one of the most memorable in American Hustle - not least because of the elaborate comb-over, which gets its own brilliantly detailed opening scene.
His sunglasses have widely been identified as the Lacoste 707F, an oversized design with a strong brow-line that feels completely at home in Irving's world.
This is another frame we happen to know well. We currently have some original vintage Lacoste 707F in stock, although ours appears to be a slightly different colour-way to the pair Bale wears on screen.
One detail that's just as important to the look is the lens colour. Bale's frame is fitted with a distinctive pale brown-orange tint rather than a conventional dark sunglass lens. It's subtle, but gives the glasses much of their unmistakable character.
It's also a look we can recreate. We can fit a bespoke tint to suitable vintage frames with or without a prescription, making it possible to capture the feel of Irving Rosenfeld's glasses without tracking down the exact screen-worn colour-way.
The same vintage model was often produced in several colours and finishes, so finding the correct model number doesn't necessarily mean you've found an identical pair. Sometimes it's the smaller details – particularly the lenses – that really bring the look together.
Jennifer Lawrence's Sunglasses - Ted Lapidus TL-10
Jennifer Lawrence's Rosalyn Rosenfeld has some of the most extravagant looks in American Hustle, and her eyewear doesn't disappoint.
Among the frames she wears is the Ted Lapidus TL-10, an oversized design with distinctive gold detailing.
French designer Ted Lapidus was known for bringing a glamorous, fashion led approach to ready-to-wear, and his vintage eyewear followed much the same philosophy.
We don't currently have the exactly TL-10 worn by Jennifer Lawrence, but we do have a collection of orignal vintage Ted Lapidus glasses and sunglasses, including designs from the same era. For anyone drawn to Rosalyn's wonderfully unapologetic American Hustle style, they're well worth exploring.
Bradley Cooper's Gold Aviator Sunglasses
As FBI agent Richie DiMaso, Bradley Cooper takes a slightly different approach to the oversized eyewear seen elsewhere in American Hustle.
His sunglasses have been identified as a vintage Girard 3700, a French made gold aviator with large lenses and unmistakable period proportions. Paired with Richie's tightly permed hair and increasingly flamboyant wardrobe, they're another great example of how the film uses eyewear to help build a character.
The original Girard 3700 is a difficult vintage frame to source, and it's not a model we currently have in stock. Fortunately, the look itself is much easier to recreate.
Our collection regularly includes original vintage gold aviator glasses and sunglasses, including oversized designs from the 1970s and 1980s. Choosing the right frame and pairing it with an appropriate tinted lens can get remarkably close to Richie's American Hustle look, with prescription lenses available too.
Its a style that has never really disappeared. The gold aviator may be instantly associated with the 1970s, but more than fifty years later it remains one of the most recognisable shapes in eyewear.
Robert De Niro's Wayfarer Glasses
Robert De Niro makes an uncredited appearance as Victor Tellegio, the intimidating Mafia boss at the centre of one of American Hustle's most memorable scenes.
His eyewear is suitably understated compared with some of the films more flamboyant frames. De Niro wears a vintage Ray-Ban Wayfarer, fitted with lightly tinted lenses.
It's a classic choice for the character. While everyone around him seems determined to make an impression, Tellegio doesn't need to try quite so hard.
Original vintage Ray-Ban Wayfarers remain highly sought after today, particularly earlier Bausch & Lomb examples, and they're another reminder of just how carefully chosen the eyewear throughout American Hustle was.
Why the Eyewear in American Hustle Feels So Authentic
One of the reasons the eyewear in American Hustle works so well is that it doesn't feel like a modern interpretation of the 1970s. Genuine vintage pieces were used throughout the production, helping the characters look as though they actually belong in the period.
The glasses and sunglasses aren't simply accessories; they help define the characters – from Sydney's carefully constructed glamour to Irving's larger than life confidence and Richie's increasingly ambitious image.
For vintage enthusiasts, that's part of the pleasure of watching American Hustle. These aren't simply retro inspired props, but recognisable designs from an era when eyewear was becoming bigger, bolder and an increasingly important part of personal style.
Final Thoughts
More than a decade after its release, the eyewear in American Hustle remains every bit as distinctive as the hairstyles, costumes and characters themselves.
For us, spotting genuine vintage frames on screen is always a part of the fun, particularly when one of them happens to be sitting in our own collection.
If nothing else, American Hustle proves that a great pair of sunglasses can play a surprisingly memorable supporting role.
American Hustle Eyewear FAQs
What sunglasses does Amy Adams wear in American Hustle?
Amy Adams wears Christian Dior 2250 sunglasses as Sydney Prosser in American Hustle. The oversized Dior design is one of the most recognisable pieces of eyewear in the film, and we have in in our collection in numerous colours.
What sunglasses does Christian Bale wear in American Hustle?
Christian Bale's sunglasses have been identified as the Lacoste 707F. His pair features a distinctive pale brown-orange lens tint that plays a big part in creating the look. We currently have an original 707F available and can also recreate a similar bespoke tint.
What sunglasses does Jennifer Lawrence wear in American Hustle?
Jennifer Lawrence wears the Ted Lapidus TL-10 as Rosalyn Rosenfeld. We don't currently have the exact model, but we do regularly source vintage Ted Lapidus eyewear.
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