The first collection of the brand was initially designed for the US army, more specifically for the US Air Force pilots. The aviator shape originally featured lenses in aviator tear drop shape to protect pilots’ eyes from glare and who found peaked caps really uncomfortable. During the 30s, aviation icons, such as Amelia Earhart, helped to make that model popular among men and women.
Later, Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses were incorporated to the US army gear during the Second World War. General Douglas MacArthur was one of the leading figures that transformed those glasses into a personal signature.
When he landed on a beach in the Philippines during war, photojournalists snapped pics of him wearing his Ray-Ban Aviators, giving the shades global exposure for the first time. Soon his sunglasses became popular among an audience very different from pilots.
However, Ray-Ban Aviator sales boosted thanks to the great success of the movie “Top-Gun”, in 1986, where Tom Cruise, who played the role of Maverick, a talented US Air Force pilot that flies an F-14A Tomcat off USS Grumman Enterprise. The actor wore the iconic sunglasses on many scenes from the movie. From that moment on, many celebrities have showed off their Ray-Ban Aviators in different pictures. Two good examples are American actor Brad Pitt or Spanish actress, it girl and fashion blogger Paula Echevarría.
Model Aviator Classic (model 3025) was characterised by its classic and simple gold frame and tear drop shaped green lenses. Nowadays, this frame is made from different materials and offers a wide range of lens possibilities- G-15 green lenses or B-15 brown lenses, gradient, specials and polarized, mirrored and legends-, with several coatings and filters that provide optimum sharp vision and 100% protection against UV rays.
Over the years, different evolutions have been launched to the eyewear market adding more or less subtle variations to the iconic aviator shaped sunglasses. Let’s make a revision of the course of this design.
Classic model 3025 design was softened to turn out in Cockpit model, very successful among girls. Now this model has blended with mirrored lenses, a clear trend from the last seasons.
Aviator Flash Lenses collection presents innovations from model 3025 with mirrored lenses made in cheerful colours (violet, orange, green, blue…) or the always chic gold, and Aviator Gradient series introduces gradient lenses in flashy colours, with new beige temples and temple tips.
Aviator Polar Special Series combines classic tear drop shaped lenses and gold frame with polarized lenses in very fresh and appealing colours, such as sky blue, orange or pink.
A further revision of the original model is what we find in model Aviator 3449, with semi rimless frame, with metallic rives decoration in arrow shape, with light and highly resistant temples that give the frame a sports style. Metallic temples with flat edges with plastic ends are one of the distinctive features of this update. It’s available with green and brown lenses.
And yet another reinterpretation of 3025 model originated Aviator Flat Metal (3513), made of laser cut metal, what ensures extreme precision, unprecedented lightness and very modern finish. The latest version is fitted with lenses with acetate cover edges, and is available in grey and brown.
Slightly separate from original 3025 shape but preserving aviator style, there are other models, such as Cats, with acetate aviator frame, or model 3509, a softer aviator shaped frame with thick temples as its more outstanding trait.
And for those who are passionate about the classy, tradition joins the most cutting-edge technology to present model 8313, made of carbon fibre, what provides these glasses with an extraordinary resistance and great lightness and comfort at the same time.
Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses, A MUST. The timeless icon that never dies.
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