8 Brands Making Chic Statement Shades
Popular Types of Retro Sunglasses
- Butterfly: These resemble the shape of butterfly wings, with oversized frames with a gentle upsweep in the outer edges.
- Aviator: Originally created by Ray-Ban in the 1930s, Aviators evoke pilots’ goggles and a sporty feel.
- Cat-eye: Similar to Butterfly frames, but the upsweep is much more dramatic and sharp — as in a cat’s eyes.
- Round: Circular lenses usually paired with thin, metallic rims and temples. John Lennon immortalized the small round sunglass look, reminiscent of reading spectacles.
- Wayfarer: Wayfarers feature trapezoidal lenses with thick plastic frames, and were initially conceived by Ray Ban’s parent company as a mid-century classic in 1952.
- Pantos: Pantos sunglasses look like round models with a slight elongation and tilt at the bottom of the eye. The top is flatter than in round lenses, and both bridges and temples are placed higher than usual.
- Browline: The bold upper part of the frames frame the lenses in the same way that eyebrows frame the eyes — hence the name “browline”. They first emerged in the 50s and 60s. Clubmaster, by Ray-Ban, became one of the most popular browline models in the 1980s.
- Pilot: Similar to Aviators. Pilot sunglasses, however, tend to be oversized and have a thicker bridge. The top bar and bridge are usually united to form a single piece, which makes these sunglasses look like goggles.
To help you visualize these shapes, I paired them with chic examples from 8 affordable brands that are doing an amazing job at reviving these timeless frames. None of the sunglasses listed below are above and the cheapest pair starts at $9.99.
Butterfly: Butterfly by Polette
Price: $39.99
Aviators: The Tuff Safari by CRAP
Price: $74
Cat-eye: Invader by Quay Australia
Price: $50
Round: Retro Hippie by Zero UV
Price: $9.99
Wayfarer: The New Wayfarer Classic by Ray Ban
Price: $140
Pantos: Steff Sunglasses by Wildfox
Price: $169
Browline: Cleopatra by LeSpecs
Price: $119
Pilot: Hot 64mm by Carrera
Price: $169
Any other favorites?
I hope these 8 retro sunglasses and the brands behind them have gotten you excited about trying something new. I know just putting this roundup together turned out to be more expensive than I expected — sorry, credit card! What are your favorite retro sunglass brands these days? Let me know in the comments section below.
