From La Mode Retro to Vintage Sunglasses

The vintage style arguably started sometime in the 1970s, with the most fashionable culture, the French. Originally a literary movement, 'La Mode Retro', which reappraised, both in film and novels, what they dubbed, 'les annees noires', the black years, it soon evolved into nostalgia for the fashions worn during the French Resistance of German occupation in the 1940s.

The term retro was later adopted into the English language to develop into its current definition:

ret�ro
noun
1. a fashion reminiscent of the past
adj.
1. involving, relating to, or reminiscent of things past; retrospective

Retro clothing and accessories have now been part of a fashion sub-culture for decades, but it hasn't been until recently that top designers are designing their products with a more vintage look in mind.

Some retailers are even going as far as reintroducing dead-stock, which is brand new merchandise that is vintage in age, typically anywhere from 15 to 20 years and older. The benefit being, you can be purchase a vintage piece that is new, instead of new-to-you.

Probably the most popular vintage piece, that the majority of people own, are a pair of vintage sunglasses. Whether they are true vintage, being a pair of used sunglasses 15 to 20 plus years old, dead-stock, new sunglasses that are 15 plus years old, or replicas, a new pair of sunglasses made to look like they are vintage, you are bound to either own a pair or know someone that does.

Today vintage sunglasses have even transformed from mere fashion accessory to collectable, as can be seen by the many vintage styles that pop stars, such as Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, currently model.

If you are looking to add to your own collection, bar far, the leading vintage sunglasses brands are those made by Ray-Ban. Founded in 1937 to produce sunglasses for pilots in World War II, their Aviator style is among one of the most sought after vintage pairs of sunglasses.

Other popular vintage sunglasses include those introduced in:

The 1950s, such as the wraparound style and ones made with plastic frames, like the Wayfarers worn by James Dean.

The 1960s saw the introduction of wire-framed sunglasses, commonly known as Teashades, such as those made popular by John Lennon, as well as popularizing oversized sunglasses, such as those favoured by Elvis Presley.

The 1970s brought in the appeal for designer sunglasses, such as those introduced by French stylist Emmanuelle Khanh. The 70a were also the rise of plastic lenses, allowing designers to produce oversized sunglasses, like the Carrera Porsche Design. Oakley also introduced their famous wraparound style in the late 70s.

The 1980s saw most of the major clothing designers of the time introducing a line of their own branded sunglasses, such as Dior. At the same time, German sunglasses maker Cari Zalloni of Cazal was designing flashy, yet high quality, sunglasses that became popular with the members of the emerging hip-hop and rap genre.

When looking for a pair of vintage sunglasses, whether for a fashion accessory or for your own collection, the age should not be the biggest deciding factor, always go with the style and the design. If you like the way a particular pair of sunglasses looks on you, then buy them.