The Havana-brown tortoiseshell frames are perfect for sultry August evenings—especially with a white sundress. And the square shape, as we said, is ideal for those with round faces looking for definition. Le Specs is an Australian label that combines the best of Swedish and New York street style.
Available in six colorways, these shades boast nylon frames — flexible, lightweight — and draw inspiration from the original Wayfarer shape to provide a larger, softer profile than their source material. Each frame color option has a different corresponding lens, so whether you want gradient lenses, G-15s, red-tinted or even mirrored, consider yourself covered. Like classic P3-style glasses before it, the RB2180 features a rounded shape with a keyhole bridge. The acetate frames come with Ray-Ban’s signature logo and rivets and a Johnny Depp-level of cool. Ray-Ban’s updated take on what’s arguably its most classic design, these feature a slightly smaller profile and softened frame shape.
They also come in a whopping 45 color combinations, so, even though you’re bound to see these around town, you can still choose something unique. Most frames are made of nylon and propionate, a common plastic used in glasses thanks to the fact that it’s lightweight and durable and has hypoallergenic qualities. A number of Ray-Ban frames are made of acetate, which is pricier but offers a glossy look while being strong and scratch-resistant. Other materials include metal, titanium, carbon fiber, and even frames in premium materials like leather, wood, aluminum, and gold. The 1950s revival that fueled the glasses’ popularity in the 1980s lost momentum, and Wayfarers were outcompeted by wraparound frames. During the slump of the 1990s, Ray-Ban’s parent company, Bausch & Lomb was facing pressure from competitors like Oakley.
The standard lens option is slightly convex but you can also find these with perfectly flat lenses to give them an even more opaque look. This Aviator riff combines the metal frames of the original and wraps the lenses in colorful acetate from the across the top bridge and around each lens. If you couldn’t decide between acetate and metal, this one lets you have it all.
Add in Ray-Ban’s classic G-15 lenses and shiny gold-tone frames and you’ll look like a walking tourism ad for the sub-tropical locale you wish you were already in. An easy way to take your sunglasses to the next level seems to be to mix acetate with metal, pretty much exactly like the Round Fleck sunglasses. The round frames combine the two materials deftly and the result is dripping in style. These oversized lenses offer a similar retro profile to the Square 1971, but in a slender acetate frame and with the arms positioned slightly higher on the lenses. It wasn’t the original (that’d be the aviator), but the Wayfarer is the classic Ray-Ban.
The AGX lens selectively highlights soothing green and yellow wavelengths, helping to reduce eye fatigue. The lenses are also polarized for glare prevention and feature anti-reflective clubmaster and blue-light-filtering technology. We also have dedicated guides to the best blue light blocking glasses, the best places to buy glasses online, and the best sunglasses for men.
The Oval narrows in on the silhouette of Ray-Ban’s iconic Round frames for a look that’s more reminiscent of the 1990s but still counts as a classic. Made with metal frames, silicone nose pads and a handful of lens choices from the G15 to gradient lenses and more, the Oval exude 1996 Brad Pitt (orThe Matrix, if that’s more your speed). An angular cousin to Ray-Ban’s classic Aviators, these flat double-bridge shades come in several frame finishes — gold, light bronze, black and gunmetal gray.
Since being purchased by Luxottica in 1999, the line has expanded dramatically and now includes more contemporary men’s and women’s eyeglasses and a line of children’s glasses. Made in Italy, the frames are polished acetate, offering gleam and glamour. The tinted ray ban new wayfarer lenses add high sun protection as well as minimising eye strain and fatigue. You’ll find the brand’s logos engraved subtly along the temples. Proof, if anyone asks, of your discerning fashion tastes, but not so obvious that you’ll be accused of name-dropping.
The vibe is very cosmopolitan, as evidenced in these so-called ‘Equinoctial’ shades. Made from lightweight acetate for easy breezy wear, the round frames are particularly flattering for those with square or heart-shaped faces, downplaying sharp lines and angles. Warby Parker makes quality and stylish prescription eyewear at an accessible price. They’re exceptionally wearable and constructed from hand-polished cellulose acetate—a material made from wood pulp and considered a ‘natural’ plastic. Inspired by Jackie O’s iconic oversized shades, the brand’s Elinor sunglasses offer immediate elegance. Hand in-laid with high-end Mazzucchelli acetate, they definitely err on the side of luxurious rather than utilitarian—and that’s fine with us.