Since the 1920s, sunglasses have been more than just a way to protect our eyes from the sun. Movie stars started wearing them making them a fashionable item. Over the span of a century, the world has seen different types of sunglasses: from round and distinct to huge fashionistas. Here is a list of some of our favorite iconic sunglasses. And you, which ones do you prefer?
- Aviator
A distinct type of sunglasses that is still very popular today. The Aviator model was originally designed for American pilots in 1937 by Bausch & Lomb Ray-Ban. With a copper frame, double bridge, and lenses three times the size of the eye socket, they have a unique and refined design. Originally they had to make sure that as little light as possible entered the pilots’ eyes.
- Teashades
These round sunglasses, sometimes also called “John Lennon glasses“, were especially popular and iconic sunglasses in the late 1960s. These days they have regained popularity mainly thanks to the hipster scene, even if the term “tea shades” is not used that much.
- Browline
The popular Ray-Ban Clubmaster is a type of Browline sunglasses, famous for its distinctive eyebrow accentuating frame. It was a very popular model between 1950 and 1960, worn by Malcolm X and Vince Lombardi, and later, in 1980, by Bruce Willis and Kevin Costner.
- Wayfarer
Perhaps the most popular model of all time, ever since Ray-Ban introduced it in 1956. They were popular between 1950 and 1960 and regained popularity during the 1980s thanks to a product insertion agreement. Between 1982 and 1987, Ray-Ban sunglasses appeared in over 60 films and television shows per year, one of the most notable being “Risky Business” in which Tom Cruise wore a sporty Wayfarer model.
- Cat-Eye
The Cat-Eye model was very popular in the 1950s and 1960s, of course in combination with the classic beehive hairstyle. Characters like Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe loved wearing it. Although it has been completely out of the picture for a while, this model has recently made a comeback, only bigger and more than before.
- Oversize
The sunglasses oversized models are a favorite with celebrities, probably because they can conceal part of their face behind the huge glasses. But that’s not the only advantage! Thanks to their large size, a larger part of the face are protected from the sun and they also make the wearer’s nose smaller. Jackie Os is perhaps the most famous type of oversized glasses. This model is named after Jackie Kennedy Onassis who wore them quite often in the 1960s.
- Novelty
Novelty is one of the iconic sunglasses and a mix of joy, creativity, and the latest trends. Whether they have a frame in the shape of stars or chains instead of normal lenses, with Novelty sunglasses you can certainly get noticed. This is a great piece for collectors (although perhaps not very valuable), in fact, many iconic models are associated with a specific period in history.
- Mirror
Since the 1940s, some sunglasses have been equipped with a reflective optical coating that makes the lenses look like mirrors. Due to their popularity among American cops, mirrored Aviator sunglasses are often referred to as “cop shades”. These sunglasses appeared in “Nick Cold Hand” (1967) worn by the “man without eyes”.
- Flip-up
Yes, these flip-up sunglasses were considered very cool in the 1990s. They are mostly practical and are sometimes worn to give a comic effect, but one thing is certain: wearing them does not go unnoticed. You’ve probably seen them in “Everybody in College,” the sitcom in which flip-up sunglasses were the signature accessories of Dwayne Wayne, played by Kadeem Hardison.
- Enveloping
The wrap-around sunglasses have a streamlined design that looks like it’s made to allow you to travel faster but is actually designed to provide maximum protection against the sun. This type of sunglasses became popular in 1970 thanks to Eastwood’s performance in “Inspector Callaghan: The Scorpio Case Is Yours!”. Yoko Ono has transformed oversized wraps into a fashionable accessory. Chopard wrap-around jewel-glasses, with real diamonds, cost around a quarter of 1 million euros.
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