U2’s Bono And His Love Affair With Sunglasses – Style or Necessity?

Bono is the lead singer of a rock band renowned the world over for several decades, so it can be expected that certain sections of the media will pick up on any unique quirks in his fashion sense. It has been well documented that the U2 front man rarely appears in public without a pair of sunglasses, but is this merely a bold fashion statement, or something a little more complex?

Armani affiliation

Arguably the most famous of Bono shades would be his unique rimless single lens pink visor and silver framed Emporio Armani 9285 sunglasses, worn on the band’s 2005-6 Vertigo tour, and also available in colours including the crystal red 9592 model. A deal was struck with Giorgio Armani to jointly back the product (RED) campaign, set up by Bono and Bobby Shriver, the American activist, lending support to AIDS and HIV sufferers using the financial might of consumer sales. Forty percent of profits on proceeds from the specifically designed Armani sunglasses aimed at reflecting Bono’s personal image and palpable star quality go directly to the charity fund.

Alternate egos

Bono regularly began wearing sunglasses as early as 1992, where he posed as a character known as ‘The Fly’, seen as a persona that reflected a transition from album ‘Joshua Tree’ into a more exuberant and flexible song structure and style, with Bono almost making a self-mockery of a stereotypical rock star figure who struts around the stage in large darkened and impersonal looking shades.
This started a series of various personas that reflected a change in direction for the band, which continues to this day. Bono isn’t a one brand man though, with him also being spotted donning sunglasses such as the Bulgari Modello 8025 on the ‘360 tour’, while shades from the Bvlgari Quadrato range including models 610 and 611 were worn during the tour ‘Elevation’ in 2001.

Medical and privacy reasons

Many celebrities thrust into the modern day media hysteria feel they require using sunglasses as a method to achieve a level of anonymity which can be hard to come by, but Bono explained to Rolling Stone magazine last year that part of the reason why he has to wear sunglasses is for medical reasons as his eyes are sensitive to the light.

Bono is a true rock legend but it is not only his musical abilities which are impressive, but his sense of style that is immediately eye catching and recognisable.

Jamie writes for DirectSight and loves keeping up with the latest celebrity trends.

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