Many of the sunglasses trends from the past decade have leaned toward retro – although not always ironic. Both standard and designer brands have brought out styles that were popular twenty years ago, including wayfarer, oversized, and aviator sunglasses. But, makers of these designer sunglasses didn’t simply tread out old styles. Instead, they updated old designs for the new millennium and, in some cases, even made more masculine styles feminine. Often, many of the styles of sunglasses seen in department stores are the same as those seen in vintage clothing shops, but with updated colors and frames.
Before the ’00s, aviator sunglasses were common fixtures in ’80s films like Top Gun and Cobra. However, such a style at the time was often seen as masculine. But, while the ’90s saw wraparound styles become popular, the ’00s saw the aviator style come back, but, this time, the shades have been more gender neutral – and even feminine. Designer aviator sunglasses have used colored plastic frames and traditional metal ones, as well as faded lenses in various colors ranging from black to purple.
On a similar note, the last time oversized sunglasses were popular was the early ’80s and, twenty years later, appeared on the market. Nearly every designer brand catered toward females has at least one style for oversized sunglasses. But, whereas designs from the ’80s focused on basic black or tortoise frames and dark lenses, modern oversized sunglasses experiment with colors. Frames can be red, pink, or blue, while lenses can be as equally light or bright a color. Additionally, many of these styles have included frames or lenses embellished with rhinestones.
The second half of the decade saw wayfarer sunglasses appear again. Although wayfarer styles lasted into the ’90s, they were replaced by wraparound shades by 1995. In the present, wayfarer designer sunglasses by Ray Ban and other manufacturers are still unisex, and, like many modern-but-retro designs, use many color options for both frames and lenses.