Aviator Sunglasses: Classic Style for an Ultra Cool Image

The History: A Classic Style Born

If you're anything similar to me, you always considered Tom Cruise the pioneer of aviator sunglasses to the planet. In 1986, Top Gun set the stage for a fresh fashion era. However, the truth of aviator sunglasses' entrance was very different. In 1936, the U.S. military commissioned Ray Ban to make sunglasses as standard issue for pilots in the Air Force. Pilots needed protection against sun and glare without decreasing visibility. The dark teardrop-shaped lenses do a superb job of covering every angle to keep out as much light as feasible. Aviators have continued to be admired among military and law enforcement persons, but in recent years have grown in popularity among all types of wearers.

Hollywood has started countless fashion crazes, and sunglasses are no exception. Aviator sunglasses became tremendously popular in the '80s with Top Gun and a slew of law enforcement movies. Recently, even more movies have surfaced starring actors and actresses sporting aviators. Johnny Depp played Raoul Duke in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas wearing orange-tinted aviator sunglasses. Carrie-Anne Moss showed off a pair of black aviators in The Matrix. A more recent example would be Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in Mr. and Mrs. Smith. They wore "Nitro" glasses by Oliver Peoples, standard aviators with yellow lenses.

The latest style for aviators is colored lenses. Some of the more familiar colors seen have been yellow, purple, pink, orange and blue. Christian Dior, Oakley, Bolle, Swiss Army and all other popular brands have their own designs of aviator sunglasses. Aviators are even offered as prescription sunglasses.

• Classic Aviator Sunglasses

The only true "classic" pair of aviators is the original Ray Ban. However, most other brands that sell aviator sunglasses have based them on the time-honored, classic aviators.

• Mirrored Aviator Sunglasses

Reflective sunglasses come with a reflective coating that produces a mirrored look. These aviators often come with a gradient coating that steadily changes from top to bottom. The main drawback of mirrored sunglasses is they are easily scratched. Even so, they look really cool!

• Polarized Aviator Sunglasses

Many of the newer pairs of aviators are polarized. Polarized sunglasses obstruct the majority of horizontal light waves allowing only vertical light waves to bypass untouched.

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