Sunglasses

Aviator sunglasses, which are also referred to as pilot shades, were first invented for military pilots to shield their eyes from the harsh glare of the sun while they conducted daytime flying missions. They were invented in the mid-1930′s by Ray-Ban. He modeled the aviator sunglasses after the goggles that the military worn, and then he sold them to the Navy and Army. The distinguishing characteristics of the aviator shades are their oblique teardrop shape, metal frames with wire temples, and dark, reflective lenses that are two to three times the size of the human eye. The lenses bulges slightly as opposed to being a straight lens, and they are made of actual glass. Undoubtably, the movie Top Gun, starring Tom Cruise, is the image that comes to mind when you hear … Read entire article »

I lose count of the amount of summers that have passed, where hoards of my friends rushed out to buy the next episode of the more than famous ‘Aviator’ sunglasses. Usually, I was amongst them and can boast at being the proud owner of a few pairs. However, self-praise aside, how can I explain this madness to those of you who might not be the owner of a pair? It’s simply this – Aviators in all their glory, are a trend in their own right, a statement if you like. Since the first days they joined human face, they have been iconic and went on to accentuate many trends in the years to come. You only have to dig up a little of their history, to discover what makes them so … Read entire article »

Have you ever wondered where those cool big lenses and signature frame originated from? Maybe you are a little curious as to how aviation shades have gotten so big in recent years? In this article I will discuss how “pilot glasses” began, as well as how they got where they are today. After reading this you may just decide on getting a pair for yourself! The shades we know today were first created way back in 1936 by none other than Ray Ban. The reason they are known as “aviator sunglasses” is because they were developed specifically for pilots back in 1936. Pilots needed a good pair of anti glare sunglasses, and Ray Ban’s design satisfied this requirement perfectly. The design that Ray Ban came up with was actually modeled directly from the … Read entire article »

The original aviator sunglasses were created by Ray-Ban for military pilots in the mid-1930s. With their efficient and comfortable tear-drop shape, anti-glare lens curvature, and rugged construction, they were a welcome addition to the military pilot’s flight gear. Ray-Ban later made further improvements to these pilot spectacles by introducing the mirrored lens which increased the clarity of this soon to be famous eyewear. The final improvement to them came with the advent of polarized lenses. Over the years, Ray-Ban’s aviator sunglasses have become ingrained into the American subconscious. Synonymous with “cool” as a fashion statement, they have never gone out of style. Because of their adoption by law enforcement, they now represent authority in a somewhat stereotypical manner, as emphasized in movies and in television. This, however, has not deterred them from becoming … Read entire article »

Like many people who own them or who want to own them, I feel that aviators are plainly the coolest and sexiest type of sunglasses on the market. The design is simply iconic and they have a certain air of nostalgia about them. How did they get that reputation? Most people, especially youth, don’t even realize that they were actually designed to be practical and originally for military use, not so much fashionable. I also doubt that most people realize that it was a very well known brand that invented the original design: Ray-Ban. It’s fascinating how apparel that has origins in military use, makes its way into fashion, from cargo pants to dog tags. To be fair the aviation industry, more than the military, had a critical role to play in … Read entire article »