A Short History Of Aviator Sunglasses

Aviator sunglasses were made by Ray-Ban back in 1936 where they were used for pilots in the American air force. The reason these glasses were made was because pilots often complained about the sun glare while they flew during day missions. The sunglasses were given their name due to the oblique tear-drop shape, this design matched those of the smoked-lens flying goggles that Ray-Ban was selling to the Army and Navy.

The glasses often use reflective lenses that are three times the area of the eye socket, also the sunglasses use metal frames with either paddles or wire temple which hook behind the ears. The large lenses were not straight like eye glasses but they bulge out slightly, the design of the lenses attempted to cover the entire range of the eye and prevent as much light as possible entering in from any angle.

In 1936 the aviator sunglasses were only available for the American Air Force and now also the law enforcement used the sunglasses for reasons such as to hide the cops eyes from the person he was talking to and also to hide the sun glare for in an instance where the police officer would have to fire his gun, he would have better aim with the aviator sunglasses on.

The aviator sunglasses became very popular with Americans when General Douglas MacArthur landed on the beach in the Philippines in WW2, he was photographed standing on the beach while wearing a pair of aviator sunglasses. Then in 1938 because of the rapid interest in the glasses by the American public, Ray-Bans started to sell their product in stores across America and are still being sold today, but now not just in America but across the world.

For the next 40-odd years the aviator sunglasses were very popular with the male population, and then in 1986 they even got more popular when Tom Cruise wore them in the hit film ‘Top Gun’. Other celebrities around that time who wore them included the Gonzo writer Hunter S. Thomson who was often seen wearing them with a long cigarette holder and burning cigarettes hung out of his mouth.

Now in the 21st century while men still wear them, it’s now more common to see young trendy celebrities wearing aviator sunglasses. From Sienna Miller, Angelina Jolie and Cheryl Cole who are often spotted wearing the glasses. And the men who have been seen wearing them are, Johnny Knoxville, Zac Efron and Brad Pitt. Also even celebrity husbands and wives are often seen wearing the aviator sunglasses when they are out on the streets together, for example David and Victoria Beckham. The glasses have also now been modified into many different styles, from many different colour lenses to even bigger and smaller sizes. The Ray-Band Aviator sunglasses have also become one of the most copied designs in the world.

From when they were first used for pilots to win wars, they are now used for the reason of looking good, for the sake of fashion.

That’s one giant leap I don’t think anyone saw coming.

An Article By Luke Ritta