Wayfarer sunglasses have been in and out of fashion. They first appeared in the 1950s and remained popular through the ’60s. Ray Ban, the creator and manufacturer for this style, kept them in their product line through the ’70s, although the style itself became less popular during the decade. By the 1980s, however, Ray Ban considered retiring the style unless it became popular. Essentially through product placement in films, wayfarers came back and, in the present, are considered a staple for 1980s fashion.
But, as wayfarer sunglasses have proved, fashion is cyclical and comes back to a trend every 20 years or so. Not every look comes back, but wayfarers have and they’re now a highly sought-after item for eyewear. Originally, wayfarers had an angular appearance, which made them flatter a variety of face types. Anyone with a round to long face shape could wear them and not have a flaw accentuated. In the present, Ray Ban has given the sunglasses a different look: while the more angular frames of the past remain, having rounded edges is the latest look for wayfarer frames.
Color has been one of the selling points for wayfarer sunglasses. In general, wayfarer frames have a unisex or gender neutral appearance; a man or woman can wear a pair of black-on-black aviator sunglasses and not look too masculine or feminine. Although the black-on-black is essentially a classic look for these frames, adding color gives them character and personality. Bolder colors for frames have been popular; Ray Ban, for example, carries turquoise, blue, and red frames and other manufacturers make the style in neon. The lenses are also offered in a similar palette of colors, which also includes metallic shades.
Wayfarer sunglasses came back in style three years ago and now appear to be a modern-day fashion must-have. With many color possibilities, the frames fit in with any type of style. Go for a classic appearance with black-on-black frames or experiment more by adding color.