Retro Sunglasses

Retro has always been popular. Whether it is home decor, clothing, or even sunglasses, retro never goes out of style. You have probably noticed a new look in sunglasses lately. But is it really new? Or just the old made new again?

Probably the most well known retro sunglasses designs are the Jackie O or Onassis Glasses that were popularized by Jacqueline Onassis. She wore the oversized sunglasses as she globe trotted all over the world. She became so synonymous with those glasses that they have shared her name since the 1970's. The Jackie O glasses eventually faded from the public eye but have recently been popping up on runways and red carpets all over thanks to celebs such as Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie. Once again, Jackie O glasses are being seen on the faces of the famous and not so famous women of fashion.

Another retro style of sunglasses that has made a recent comeback are the Aviators. These were originally created in the 30's for military pilots then became a hot fashion accessory in the 60's and 80's. Now they are back again being more popular with the young MTV crowd more so than adults. Johnny Knoxville has adopted Aviators for his signature style.

Some retro sunglasses have disappeared from the fashion scene all together and perhaps that is a good thing. However one can never tell with fashion, it always seems to make a return sooner or later.

The over-over sized sunglasses happen to be one of the styles that have thankfully disappeared. Although their original intention was to be a tribute to Jackie O, they instead bordered on the ridiculous because they were so large. Another style of retro glasses that has faded away, made a comeback and faded away again are the Wayfarer sunglasses popularized by bad boy James Dean. The glasses enjoyed a comeback for while thanks to the Blues Brothers Dan Aykroyd and James Belshi. The all black square glasses were the perfect fit for the Blues Brothers but they did not gain the wide popularity that they enjoyed years earlier. Although the Wayfarers did make one more big splash when they were worn by Tom Cruise as an underwear and sock clad young man sliding through his living room.

If you wonder what is next in the world of retro sunglasses, just flip through your favorite fashion magazine and see what old-made-new styles are unfolding. If you have a particular style of sunglasses you love like the cat eye frames and you can't find them sold new today, you can always shop on ebay for authentic vintage frames and have the lenses custom fitted.