Aviator Glasses

You know the shades that Tom Cruise wears in that 80s movie? Not the wayfarers of “Risky Business,” but the aviator glasses he wears in “Top Gun.” The secret is the aviator glasses add an air of coolness and sophistication to anybody and everybody.

They were originally developed by Bausch and Lomb, marketed as Ray-Ban and called aviator glasses because the teardrop shape matched the shape of the pilot goggles they were producing for the American military. Technology and care went into these utilitarian sunglasses. Newspaper photographers captured General Douglas MacArthur sporting the glasses after landing on a beach in the Philippines. And their popularity grew from there. Famous icons of all kinds continue to sport the frames.

Aviator glasses are one of the truly classic shapes, and therefore everyone needs at least one pair to outfit their wardrobe. Classics are important to have as staples because they pair well with lots of different clothing styles and can ground some of the more interesting looks. These are particularly appealing on both sexes, so there is really no excuse not to own some.

The aviator glasses shape has been copied and tweaked by many glasses manufacturers. Ray-Ban still makes the iconic black-tinted lenses on black frames and dark lenses on gold frames. But other companies offer glasses in every price range, every frame color and every lens tint. The teardrop shape has been manipulated to fit different face shapes, so slightly different styled glasses can evoke different moods. The classic dark lenses are perfect to hide behind when you want to remain cool and aloof. Or try rose-colored lenses for a more playful appearance. Pick up a pair for yourself, you will instantly look more competent and complete. And because it is a classic, you can wear them any time or all the time.

AO Sunglasses