My oh my, where do we even begin with such an iconic and transcendent design in eyewear history?! The Ray Ban Wayfarer has been a fashion statement and a lifestyle identifier since the mid-century, and from the looks of the cat walks and celebrity snap-shots, they aren't going anywhere anytime soon! Let's take a closer look into the marvel and wonder of the Ray Ban Wayfarer in our guide.
Metals to Plastics
The Ray Ban Wayfarer first hit the scene in 1952 ' yes, 1952 ' when Ray-Ban took a huge leap from metal eyewear to a new plastic framing technology, creating a revolution in the creation and production of sunglasses that would only continue to evolve until the present day with cutting-edge materials and lens crafting built to last and built for comfort.' Thus began a half-century of plastic eyewear that rivals the formidable legacy of the classic Ray-Ban aviators as being the most popular and most copied style of sunglasses of all time.
For purists and loyalists, as well as vintage-mod lovers, the Ray Ban Wayfarer has been re-released in its original styling. The Original Ray Ban Wayfarer comes in a fun ensemble of colors, of course, so picking out your personal identity in these shades is still an easy option if you insist on standing out. Dark blue frames are paired harmoniously with a blue-to-clear gradient lens and light pink plastic is joined by rose colored glass. But no matter what color, shade, or gradient you choose, just know you will be donning a historic piece of eyewear known for trapezoidal framing and wing-tip metal studding.
Rise and Shine
After the initial peak popularity of the Ray Ban Wayfarer started to wane in the 1970s, they were quickly skyrocketed to A-list status once again with the release of the film The Blues Brothers in 1980 and when Tom Cruise sported the iconic design in the 1983 film Risky Business.' By the end of the 1980s, the Ray Ban Wayfarer had gone from just two models to nearly 40 models in production. Neon colors and bright patters were sported alongside vintage tees, Converse tennies and funky blazers for men and women.
Naturally, what goes up must come down. But the Ray Ban Wayfarer wasn't down for long. With a peaked interest in original vintage frames coming from celebrities and other style icons, Ray Ban took the hint and started to ramp up production of 3 new designs: the Original Wayfarer, the New Wayfarer, and Folding Wayfarer. Interestingly, the original design of the Ray Ban Wayfarer was flat framed and therefore very difficult ' if impossible ' to perch atop one's head. The New Wayfarer solves this problem with a modern curvature and architecture that brings an old classic up to speed with modern eyewear technology.
Today, you can select from a multitude of patterns and colors to find the Ray Ban Wayfarer that says something about you! The Ray Ban Wayfarer even comes in oversized styling to keep in tow with contemporary women's eyewear fashion. This is one fashion train you don't want to miss ' because if history teaches us anything, in ten years you will still be wearing your favorite pair of Ray Ban Wayfarers!
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