Ray-Ban sunglasses (sometimes written simply as “RayBans”) are luxury eyewear products that date all the way back to 1936. The Italian-American brand was founded by Bausch & Laumb, an eye care company that continues to manufacture a wide range of eye care products. However, the signature Ray-Ban sunglasses for men and women have a much more interesting history. They didn’t begin as a fashion statement; instead, they were actually developed to aid the United States military.
In 1929, Army Colonel John A. Macready worked with Bausch & Laumb to develop sunglasses for military pilots. Macready believed that the existing options for pilot glasses and goggles created too much fog and glare, greatly restricting visibility. Thus, the first Anti-Glare glasses were introduced and distributed to U.S. military pilots in the mid-1930s. These innovative sunglasses used green lenses to reduce glare without any substantial reduction in visibility. These sunglasses would later be rebranded as the Ray-Ban Aviator and sold to the general public.
By the end of World War 2, Ray-Ban was already one of the most popular eyewear manufacturers on the planet. Its popularity was only amplified when some of the brand’s collections were featured in the 1969 film, Easy Rider. Today, Ray-Bans are still one of the most popular luxury eyewear brands in existence.
Alternatively, the Wayfarer has a simple, retro design that can work with just about any style. Its basic black body with black lenses and extended end pieces have now been imitated by hundreds of other manufacturers. Nonetheless, the original Wayfarer is a classic look that cannot be replicated.
While the Aviator and Wayfarer get most of the attention, Ray-Ban offers plenty of other designs. The Caravan is simply a variation of the traditional Aviator, with less-rounded lenses. Similarly, the Clubmaster, Justin, and Erika models all borrow from the original Wayfarer. However, many of the other collections in Ray-Bans catalogue are wholly unique.
The Jackie Ohh collection uses a vortex-style design with large lenses. The standard Jackie Ohh model is especially popular with women. Some designs that appeal to both men and women include the Round and Hexagonal collections, with each collection name corresponding to its respective lense shape.
If you’re looking for designs that vary from Ray-Ban’s most popular sunglasses, you can look to the Chromance and Ferrari collections. Both collections feature a variety of lens shapes and temple designs to fit any style.
