📸 Ian Whent
It’d be unfair to crown Liam Gallagher an ‘Eyewear Icon’ without giving due credit to the, some might say, more talented Gallagher: the quieter force behind Oasis, Noel. Era-defining sibling spats aside, both brothers boast an enviable wardrobe of shades, but in time for their ma-hoosive reunion shows, let’s shine a light on the man whose cool, calculated style quietly influenced Britpop’s biggest moments.
Of course, with Oasis back, if you expected sibling rivalry to steal the spotlight, think again. The real drama is unfolding offstage: Ticketmaster’s dynamic pricing, loaded with “platinum” tiers and sneaky fees, is sending prices soaring and testing fans’ patience. So, while the Gallagher feud might be on pause, the true challenge—landing tickets (and maybe a pair of Noel-esque shades) without parting with your prized Stone Island jacket—is still very much alive and kicking.
Noel’s eyewear game has always been quietly stealing the show. Where Liam brings brash bravado, Noel’s style, like his music video DVD commentary (see: this video—absolute must-watch), is dry, sharp, and honest. Less terrace ruckus, more composed swagger. His frame choices echo the same vibe: no fuss, all flair.
Kicking things off is a frame so synonymous with Noel that Jacques Marie Mage basically had to recreate it: the ‘Supersonic.’ Think height of the ‘90s, “you don’t wanna see what these eyes look like under here” energy. Blacked-out wraparounds that blend classic cool with a quiet menace, the perfect match for Noel’s low-key, unmistakable aura.
Having claimed to wear sunglasses “for about six months straight” because of ongoing on-stage bust-ups, the man knows his way around a statement frame. Enter Garrett Leight’s aptly named ‘El Capitan’: big enough to hide a black eye, sharp enough to mean business, and cool enough to throw serious shade (in every sense).
Speaking of Garrett Leight, Noel clearly has a soft spot. He’s been papped in the ‘Brooks,’ Californian frames that scream success and rock’n’roll excess in equal measure. The kind of sunglasses you’d wear while buying a villa in Ibiza just because it looked like a branch of Boots (true story). Because why not? You’re Noel Gallagher.
“It’s not about fashion, it’s about style.” A quote that’s cocky, self-assured and, honestly, fair. Once again, Noel delivers a clinic in steeze, this time giving us rectangular realness in a pair akin to Kuboraum’s Z18 sunglasses. Effortless, confident, cool.
And finally, as iconic eyewear goes, it doesn’t get more rock’n’roll than a Lennon-esque round frame. You wouldn’t have Oasis without The Beatles, so it’s only fitting that both Noel and Liam have paid tribute in tinted circular specs—a timeless silhouette that brands like VAVA and Jacques Marie Mage continue to riff on. And rightly so.
So whether you managed to snag reunion tickets or just ended up chasing a pair of Noel-inspired shades instead (or both!), one thing’s certain: his eyewear legacy is unmissable. Eyewear icon? No question.
