Since being purchased by Luxottica in 1999, the line has expanded dramatically and now includes more contemporary men’s and women’s eyeglasses and a line of children’s glasses. Made in Italy, the frames are polished acetate, offering gleam and glamour. The tinted ray ban new wayfarer lenses add high sun protection as well as minimising eye strain and fatigue. You’ll find the brand’s logos engraved subtly along the temples. Proof, if anyone asks, of your discerning fashion tastes, but not so obvious that you’ll be accused of name-dropping.
The result is a pair of sunglasses that’s great for smaller faces, or anyone who feels like the original Wayfarer was this close to getting it right but didn’t quite cut it. This New Wayfarer alters the original design for a slightly less statement-making look. These small tweaks include a more rounded frame and a less dramatic slant toward the cheeks. The result is a ridiculously versatile pair of glasses that maintains the effortless cool but works with just about every face type and personal style.
No need to go full disco, but these look especially at home with a loud, open-collar shirt and some icy necklace. The difference between the Outdoorsman and its sequel mainly lies in the temples. Whereas the original’s temples are made of metal and wrap around the ear 180 degrees, the Outdoorsman II only goes about 90 degrees and is padded with acetate which matches the brow bar. Clubmaster sunglasses were a mid-century staple of men’s style, and thanks to the resurgence of all things mid-century, the frames are back in a big way. The semi-rimless, browline frame is flattering on almost any face and looks great with a huge variety of outfits.
Ray-Ban’s contribution to cinema is well-known, but the glasses also have a deep history in rock and roll. Lou Reed, John Lennon, Bob Dylan and Buddy Holly are just a few of the many artists who’ve sported a pair of the famous frames, and it’s easy to understand the connection between Ray-Ban and rock and roll. The glasses have been a fashion icon since the Fifties, shading the eyes of pop culture juggernauts from James Dean to John F. Kennedy to Michael Jackson. Now, more than 80 years after their debut, the glasses are still as cool as ever. Ray-Ban created the first pair of aviator sunglasses for military fighter pilots in 1937. They continue to create iconic designs known for top-notch performance today.
They also come in a whopping 45 color combinations, so, even though you’re bound to see these around town, you can still choose something unique. Most frames are made of nylon and propionate, a common plastic used in glasses thanks to the fact that it’s lightweight and durable and has hypoallergenic qualities. A number of Ray-Ban frames are made of acetate, which is pricier but offers a glossy look while being strong and scratch-resistant. Other materials include metal, titanium, carbon fiber, and even frames in premium materials like leather, wood, aluminum, and gold. The 1950s revival that fueled the glasses’ popularity in the 1980s lost momentum, and Wayfarers were outcompeted by wraparound frames. During the slump of the 1990s, Ray-Ban’s parent company, Bausch & Lomb was facing pressure from competitors like Oakley.