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Aviator sunglasses: a timeless classic

Published on July 15, 2013

Aviator sunglasses: a timeless classic

Aviator sunglasses are a style of sunglasses that were developed for pilots by the company Bausch and Lomb, during World War II. They were branded as Ray-Ban – the most famous brand of sunglasses today.

Vintage and retro glasses

Aviator sunglasses were created during World War II. The Air Force instructed the company Bausch & Lomb (then owner of the brand Ray-Ban) to design special glasses that would protect pilots from the glare of sunlight at high altitudes. In 1936 the Bausch & Lomb team created the first "Aviator sunglasses" RB3025 model. The following year they began to be sold to the public.

The first model were characterised by dark, often reflective lenses, and very thin metal frames. The large lenses are not flat but slightly convex. The design attempts to cover the entire range of the human eye and prevent as much light as possible from entering the eye from any angle – perfect for flying.

Although originally designed ‘just for aviators’, the style soon became popular after General Douglas MacArthur arrived wearing Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses on a beach in the Philippines during World War II in 1944. There were several newspaper photographers there, and the images were soon seen in the US. That’s when the craze for aviator sunglasses took off!

aviator sunglasses [caption Douglas MacArthur (centre) as he lands on the beach in the Philippines in 1944.]

aviator sunglasses

The success of Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses has meant that the brand has been labeled by many as the first modern manufacturer of sunglasses. This naturally led to many companies imitating the style. Here is a link to show you how to spot the originals.

The Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses have maintained their essence over the years, but they have also evolved slightly. For example, today there are versions with polarized glasses, more transparent lenses, a huge range of different colour lenses, and even different colour frames. They even come in smaller sizes for children!

aviator sunglasses

aviator sunglasses

ray-ban aviator sunglasses

After their first wave of popularity in the 1940s, Aviator sunglasses became fashionable again in the ‘80s, when celebrities like Tom Cruise (in Top Gun) and Sylvester Stallone (in Cobra) wore the aviator model in the films. (In the 7 months after the release of Top Gun, sales of Aviator sunglasses rose 40%!).

Aviator sunglasses: a timeless classic

rayban tom cruise

Ray Ban aviator cobra

sylvester stallone cobra

Today we are on the crest of the third wave of popularity for Aviator sunglasses. The ‘vintage’ look is back in, and Aviator sunglasses are certainly a statement in vintage style. The question is, will it last? Or will the style be replaced by the re-emergence of other vintage styles, such as round sunglasses? Check out my next post to read more about this latest trend!