Michael Caine style: Curry & Paxton’s 1960s Yvan sunglasses

As iconic as the man who famously wore them, Michael Caine favoured Curry & Paxton’s 1960s Yvan sunglasses.

Famously worn in The Italian Job and the Harry Palmer movies, the glasses and sunglasses didn’t just get ‘on set’ by accident. Caine was heavily involved in the look of his character Harry Palmer in the original Ipcress File, and he suggested the style of glasses for the British spy.

Of course, with Palmer, these were glasses, but when it came to The Italian Job, a tint was added for the warmer weather. Few people look cooler than Caine in The Italian Job. Some years back, I had a suit tailored in the same cloth and cut as Caine’s suit because it seemed the epitome of cool. That cost me a bit, and although not cheap, the sunglasses will come in cheaper than that.

Not that the frames were new for Caine. The label has been around since 1920 (and earlier under a different name), with the Yvan being one of the first designer frames on the market. But it was Caine who made the style famous.

They used to sell for a lot of money as vintage, but the company has had the good sense to bring them back in recent years.

You can get them as standard glasses, with the option to add your own prescription lenses if you want to go down the Harry Palmer route, or you can opt for the sunglasses for a full-on Italian Job style.

There are various colours of each, in terms of frame and lens, as well as both an original and narrow fit. You can see a few examples on show here, but check out the site for the full selection. For reference, Caine went for dark tortoiseshell in the Italian Job.

Each pair is made from 100 per cent high-grade cellulose from world-renowned Italian maker Mazzucchelli. It has five-barrel hinges and genuine pin fastenings. Prices range from £249 upwards.

Find out more at the Curry & Paxton website