Every twenty years or so, trends come back but in a somewhat different form. Although styles from the 1980s were disparaged during the ’90s for being tacky, many popular styles from that decade have come back since 2006. In terms of sunglasses, this includes styles popularized by various films during the ’80s, including wayfarer and aviator sunglasses. The oversized sunglasses look, in addition, was seen last in the early ’80s and this current style has been common for many pairs of women’s sunglasses. New designs for wayfarers and aviators capitalize on the designs of twenty years ago but, instead of seeming completely dated, the sunglasses give a new spin to these older styles.
One of the more surprising styles to come back is wayfarer sunglasses. Although wayfarer sunglasses didn’t die until the mid-’90s when replaced by wraparound styles, the wayfarer look dominated for at least a decade. Although the film that appeared to popularize this look was Risky Business, many other film stars and musicians – as well as any ordinary person on the street – could be seen wearing wayfarer styles. Although top brands of designer sunglasses are re-creating wayfarer styles for men and women by pairing numerous frame colors with dark colored lenses, other brands promote their classic styles without altering the design.
Aviator sunglasses are another style revisited over the past few years. Like wayfarer styles, aviators are a fashion staple for both men and women. This time around, however, the sunglasses are designed in specific styles for men and women. While the sunglasses for men use the basic metal and black shade combination from the ’80s, styles for women experiment with more color, including light colored shades in pink, purple, or brown. The lenses, in addition, are often designed with a gradient appearance, regardless of gender. Aside from the basic metal frames, designers of these sunglasses have been coloring the metal or covering it with plastic to give wearers more than the basic black-and-metal option.
Large frame sunglasses are another women’s style that has come back in recent years and, like aviators, the new designs go beyond the tortoise shell frames and dark lenses on 25 years ago. But whether you’re looking for updated classic styles or you simply want vintage shades, many designer sunglasses brands are revisiting old styles and giving them a modern interpretation.