An award-winning stylist and optician based in Salford has shared how he sources glasses worn by some of the world’s biggest television stars.
Media City resident Dan Scott has his sights set on the big screen after dressing the eyes of actor Paul Mescal in his latest major film project, The History of Sound.
Having carved out a niche career sourcing no-reflection glasses for established names in cinema, Dan outlined the factors behind his move into the job.
After rubbing shoulders with broadcast journalists at the creative, tech and digital destination who were struggling to find stylish and suitable eyewear to wear on screen, Dan spotted an opportunity and founded glasses consultancy firm The Eyeware Stylist.
“I realised very quickly that there was a gap in the market in terms of specialist eyewear for those working in front of the camera,” he explained.
“The last thing a presenter or actor wants are reflections and distorted eyes on screen, so I set about researching and working with suppliers to hone stylish, no-reflection glasses.
“With support from my Media City neighbours on promoting this service, enquiries soon started to come in. I was so excited when the movie’s New York-based props and costume department contacted me directly.”
Dan’s brief was clear – the eyewear had to be historically accurate, technically sound for filming, and visually unobtrusive on screen. The glasses needed to support the character without distracting from the story being told.
Set around the time of the First World War, The History of Sound follows two young men played by Paul Mescal – Lionel, and Josh O Connor – David, whose connection is shaped by music, memory and separation.
With a production team working in multiple locations across the States, Dan handled the commission remotely in the UK.
Working closely with the costume and props department, Dan reviewed period references and character context while narrowing down eyewear styles typical of the early 20th century.
“Balancing historical accuracy with the technical demands of the film was at the heart of this project. Through that process, we settled on a rimless, soft oval frame.
“The lenses also needed to eliminate reflections, maintain optical clarity from every angle, and avoid altering the appearance of the eyes on screen.
“My background as a qualified optician allowed me to ensure the lenses performed technically without compromising the period look. The goal was to support the film visually while keeping the eyewear discreet and unobtrusive.”
The project wasn’t without its challenges. The first pair Dan shipped ended up stuck in customs: “There was a real risk that Paul would be without his glasses when the scenes were scheduled to be shot.
“Normally, the glasses take three weeks to manufacture, but I had to pull out all the stops to turn them around in five days while a member of the production crew flew from New York to Manchester to collect them and fly straight back. Luckily, they reached Paul in time.”
Dan has also been catching the attention of UK-based TV stars, including Alison Hammond who regularly wears his no reflection glasses on This Morning, while Coronation Street’s Ken Barlow and Roy Cropper have also donned Dan’s specialist eye wear.
“Alison has been hugely supportive in terms of spreading the word in the industry and my glasses have also been worn by the cast in Eastenders and featured in Andy’s Adventures on CBeebies.”
With a number of prestigious accolades under his belt including EyeCare’s Optician of the Year Award 2025, Dan continues to set his sights high.
“For the future, I’d like to expand the business and train even more independent opticians across the world in eyewear styling.
“Ultimately, I would love to appear in front of the camera myself, sharing my tips on how to look stylish in glasses as well as have the opportunity to style a prominent figure at New York’s Met Gala. It would be a dream come true.”
