Although the most classic Ray-Ban Wayfarer style features thick, black plastic frames, there are lots of color options to choose from to express your originality and creativity. Try out some of the brand new rare prints that feature fun plaid and floral patterns and flattering colors like burgundy, teal, and white. The Ray-Ban Wayfarer style is available in polarized lens options and you can even get them made as prescription sunglasses. The traditional Ray-Ban signature logo on the sculpted temples makes a statement that you value classic style with a modern twist. But virtually every sunglasses brand worth their salt has created their own interpretation of the iconic silhouette, often with more accessible price tags. One of the best loved Icon styles, the Ray-Ban Wayfarer® has graced the faces of countless celebrities, musicians and artists.
In the mid-2000s, a renewed love of vintage style emerged—and Ray-Ban Wayfarers have maintained their place as leader of the pack ever since. These days it would be easier to list the celebrities who DON’T wear Wayfarers than the seemingly endless list of those who do. Throwing on a pair of these appealing shades allows the wearer to make an effortless statement about being free, fun, and a little bit edgy. Along with their bold, flared shape, in 1952, Wayfarer clubmaster sunglasses pioneered the molded plastic frame and green UV-deflecting lens that blocked 85% of UV rays without noticeable color distortion. These early Ray-Bans featured tear-shaped lenses set in the same wire frames that characterized most eyewear up to that time. Within 14 days of your purchase date, SmartBuyGlasses will verify and match the lower price and credit your credit card for the price difference assuming the above requirements apply and are met.
Sales grew and Ray-Ban sold 18,000 pairs by the end of the year. Though the Blues Brothers are synonymous with Wayfarers, interestingly, the two main characters appear not to have worn the exact same pair. Dan Akroyd’s Elwood wore a slightly squared off, cat-eye frame that was more reminiscent of the original patent, while John Belushi as Jake wore the tilted, rounded Wayfarers that are still for sale today.
Corey Hart’s music video Sunglasses at Night shows the artists wearing Wayfarers in darkness. In response to these placements, Ray-Ban’s Wayfarer expanded from two models in 1981 to about 40 models by 1989. Wayfarer-style sunglasses create a sense of width around the eyes to give a balanced look to face shapes that are round, square or triangular. The shape calls to mind the striking fins on a classic 1950s Cadillac and creates an air of mystery and danger. Jonathan Evans is the style director of Esquire, covering all things fashion, grooming, accessories, and, of course, sneakers.
Streamlined, open-ear speakers are built in, and Ray-Ban Stories’ three-microphone audio array delivers richer voice and sound transmission for calls and videos. Beamforming technology and a background noise suppression algorithm provide for an enhanced calling experience like you’d expect from dedicated headphones. Facebook and Ray-Ban parent company EssilorLuxottica didn’t offer a specific sales forecast, but Bosworth said the glasses aren’t intended to be a niche product.
In addition to coming in several styles and colors, they can be made as sunglasses or untinted lenses, prescription and even progressive lenses. In fact, the Aviators and Clubmasters have even earned spots in our guides to the best women’s sunglasses, best men’s sunglasses, and best polarized sunglasses — they’re that good. In the rare event that you don’t see a pair you like, you can even design your own pair from scratch.
Just look at Snap’s latest version of the Spectacles. It’s a more contemporary look that offers a lighter frame and is more comfortable for those who found the forward tilt to be too much. Although it does come in a 55 eye size diameter that seems larger than the original’s cumbersome 54, it is actually a smaller and less obtrusive fit. If you’re looking for a smaller version of the Wayfarer, this is the one for you. In his patent document, you can see that the original pair looks quite different than what most people think of as the Wayfarer shape.
If you return some or all of the merchandise, the dollar value of this promotion is not refunded or credited back to your account. The Round Metal sunglasses ($161) are by far my favorite Ray-Bans, and truthfully, my favorite sunglasses ever. Inspired by musicians in the 1960s, the style is just retro enough. They’re understated but universally flattering, and they edge up pretty much any outfit I wear.
Wayfarers soon became cultural shorthand for the rebellious rock and roll spirit, as immortalized by James Dean and other celebrities. Browse our collection of iconic Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses and find a multitude of styles to love. As the 1990s began, the frames again became unpopular. 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. In 1999, Bausch & Lomb sold Ray-Ban to Luxottica Group S.p.A. of Italy for $640 million.
Evolve photochromic lenses are light-sensitive and automatically adapt to shifting light conditions. I have been buying from VD for some time now as they represent the best value in the market. I get both sunglasses and prescribed sunglasses and spectacles. Their process can sometimes be a little clunky but their Online support service always sorts it. Whether it’s music, food, movies, or fashion, nothing beats the classics. Ray-Ban brand eyewear understands that holding on to the good ole’ days while grabbing ahold of passing trends is simply part of human nature.