"I'm the only one on the couch that can wear sunglasses now... Music becomes almost like a religion, yeah? Rock and roll is like a religion, so don't ever question one of the key attributes of it."
– Richard Ashcroft, BBC Breakfast (2018)
It was a classic Richard Ashcroft response.
Asked why he was wearing sunglasses during a live television interview, he answered with the confidence and humour that have defined his career. It was more than a witty remark. It perfectly captured the role sunglasses have played throughout his life as a musician. For Ashcroft, they aren't just an accessory–they're part of the image, the attitude and the mythology of rock and roll.
From the earliest days of The Verve to sold-out solo tours, Richard Ashcroft has rarely been seen without a pair. Whether he's striding down the staircase in the Lucky Man video wearing silver aviators with grey gradient lenses, performing beneath festival lights or appearing on television decades later, sunglasses have become inseparable from his unmistakable silhouette.
It's no surprise that fans regularly search for the exact sunglasses Richard Ashcroft wears. While that's understandable, his style has never really been about one particular brand. Instead, it's about timeless design, confidence and choosing eyewear that never feels tied to a particular trend.
More Than Just Sunglasses
Some artists reinvent themselves every few years.
Richard Ashcroft never really needed to.
Throughout more than three decades in music, his style has evolved naturally while remaining instantly recognisable. Long hair, leather jackets, military-inspired outerwear, relaxed tailoring and dark sunglasses have become part of an image that feels genuine rather than carefully curated.
That authenticity is one of the reasons his style has endured. It never appears forced or trend-driven. Instead, it reflects the same honesty and individuality that runs through his songwriting. That's why his image feels every bit as authentic today as it did during the height of Urban Hymns.
The Verve, Britpop & British Style
Richard Ashcroft is often mentioned alongside Britpop legends such as Oasis, Blur and Paul Weller, but The Verve always occupied a space of their own.
While Britpop celebrated sharp hooks, swagger and distinctly British storytelling, The Verve blended psychedelic rock, shoegaze and sweeping orchestral arrangements into something altogether more expansive. Albums like A Northern Soul and Urban Hymns became defining records of the 1990s, yet they never felt tied to the trends of the decade.
Ashcroft's wardrobe reflected that same independence. The result was a style that felt unmistakably British without ever becoming nostalgic.
There were subtle influences from the late 1960s and 1970s, echoes of psychedelic rock and classic British tailoring, but never the feeling that he was trying to recreate another era. Instead, he borrowed timeless elements and made them entirely his own. Like his music, Richard Ashcroft's style has always looked forward rather than backward. It draws inspiration from the past without ever becoming trapped by it.
Breaking Down the Richard Ashcroft Look?
Although Richard Ashcroft has worn different sunglasses throughout his career, the formula has remained remarkably consistent.
His eyewear has always favoured understated design over bold statements, allowing the overall look to feel effortless rather than overthought.
If you're inspired by Richard Ashcroft's style, these are the characteristics worth looking for:
- Classic aviator silhouettes
- Squared aviators
- Slightly oversized square frames
- Black, silver or tortoiseshell frames
- Dark grey, green or smoke lenses
- Minimal branding and timeless design.
It's less about finding the exact frame and more about understanding why the look works.
- Our Picks: Sunglasses Inspired by Richard Ashcroft
Richard Ashcroft has been photographed wearing everything from classic Ray-Bans to modern luxury Jacques Marie Mage designs, but his signature style has never been defined by one particular brand.
Instead, it's built around understated confidence, timeless silhouettes and quality craftsmanship.
Here are five original vintage frames from our collection that we think capture the same effortless British Rock and roll aesthetic.
70s silver polished rectangular frames, fitted with grey gradient lenses which provide 100% UV protection
The Retro Spectacle Verdict
If you want Lucky Man vibes then this is the frame for you. Proportionally, it fits the bill perfectly. Not quite the classic tear-drop aviator shape, a little flatter underneath. The same gradient lens finish, and an authentic vintage non-branded design.
Eschenbach Elegance 3301 Sunglasses
Timeless classic silver squared aviator. A supra design, with no frame underneath.
The Retro Spectacle Verdict
This frame takes us right back to that BBC Breakfast interview in 2018. The square shape, double bridge and grey gradient lenses instantly remind us of Ashcroft's BBC Breakfast appearance. The clue is in the name, elegant and sophisticated.
Bausch & Lomb Ray-Ban L2846 Sunglasses
A timeless classic, and a real original manufactured by Bausch and Lomb not Luxottica. Fitted with the original mineral G15 lenses, a timeless classic fit for collectors.
The Retro Spectacle Verdict
Richard Ashcroft has often been photographed wearing Ray-Ban aviators throughout his career. If you're looking for the finest examples, it's difficult to overlook the original Bausch & Lomb manufactured frames, still regarded by many collectors as the benchmark for vintage Ray-Bans.
Made in Japan, these frames are the highest quality, and celebrities such as Brad Pitt have worn the brands sunglasses.
Finding Your Own Richard Ashcroft-Inspired Style
You don't need to own the exact sunglasses Richard Ashcroft wears to capture the spirit of his look.
- Choose timeless shapes over passing trends.
- Invest in quality craftsmanship.
- Keep the styling understated.
- And wear them with confidence.
A Retro Spectacle, we've spent years sourcing original vintage sunglasses and timeless eyewear that embody those same principles. Whether you're inspired by Richard Ashcroft, the wider Britpop era or simply appreciate classic British style, the best sunglasses are the ones you'll still want to wear years from now.
Richard Ashcroft once described rock and roll as being "like a religion". Whether you agree or not, one thing is certain: the greatest artists understand that style is about consistency rather than fashion.
Much like Urban Hymns, a great pair of sunglasses never really goes out of style.
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