THE HISTORY OF AVIATOR SUNGLASSES - 2013-07-02 19:46:08

Aviator sunglasses are about as American as Apple pie. Before celebrities made them famous, these sunglasses were created for military air pilots and known only as “Pilot glasses.” Originally developed by Bausch & Lomb and then branded by Ray-Ban in 1936, these glasses were shaped to protect the eyes of pilots during flight. The original design was made only for military and featured tempered glass lenses to help diffuse and block incoming light. Ray-Ban had specifically built these lenses larger than the average eye to prevent as much light as possible from entering at any angle. Ray-Ban also created these glasses with metal frames and specially designed cables to hook behind the ears so they wouldn‘t easily fall off. After only about a year, these glasses became so popular Ray-Ban started to sell them publicly throughout the United States. After being known as pilot glasses, the name Aviator soon stuck and became a household brand.

How The Aviators Came About
While sunglass styles have always seemed to differ between men and women, Aviators never really have. The shape and material of these signature shades have made them timeless and durable to fit any genre of gender. Initially worn by military personnel, Aviators sunglasses became extremely popular between men and women because of their unisex look and fashion. These sunglasses fit any style, figure and form because of their general shape and traditional bronze and silver colors. Classic Aviators have been worn by a collection of people ranging from celebrities, Law enforcement officials, and even NASA astronauts. No one is exempt from looking good in these unforgettable sunglasses.

How Aviators Got Popular

Even though these prolific sunglasses have withstood the test of time, Ray-Ban has often creatively mixed up the styling and colors of these shades throughout the years. The world got it’s first glimpse of these sunglasses in the newspaper, when military leader General Douglas MacArthur was seen wearing them during World War II. As the years followed so did the wave of excitement for Aviator sunglasses. The 60’s, 70’s and 80’s all brought along mainstream exposure, as celebrities, social-lites and rock stars almost always wore these pilot glasses in and out of the public eye. Movie got in on the action as well. Films like Top Gun, Cobra, and To Live and Die in L.A. featured many famous actors wearing these trademark glasses. The styles and colors of these shades have advanced throughout the years, but because of their classic enduring look, Aviator sunglasses have remained the standard of fashion between people young and old alike. Age has become nothing but a number when it comes to choosing Aviator sunglasses.