Vintage Square Aviator Sunglasses

The History of Aviators

Ray Ban is the godfather of the aviators, having created them in 1936 for pilots. The shape was just right and the anti-glare factor made them an immediate winner among the guys who flew (it didn't hurt that military pilots got them for free). The additional depth of the lenses allowed pilots to look up at what was ahead, and back down again at the airplane operation panels without having to refocus. Previous lenses had been short, so when the pilots looked down at the control panels, sunlight and glare could leak in.

The aviators fit like goggles, but acted like sunglasses. Not long after the pilots fell in love with the style, so did the general public. After that, other brands copied the shape, adding their own twists like color tweaks and shape-altering (like square!).

An interesting tidbit: the year the aviator style came out was the same year that polarized lenses debuted. And yes, the Ray Ban aviators had them. That's how they did such an adequate job of cutting glare for the pilots.

Vintage Sunglasses in General

Vintage sunglasses are those from the 1920s to the 1980s. Throughout those years, as with regular vintage clothing, the trends have changed quite a bit. You won't find aviators from before the mid-1930s. You may, however, be able to find quite a few aviator styles still hanging around from the 1980s, though they won't necessarily be the square type (those seem relatively new) because of the popularity of the movie Top Gun where Tom Cruise sported a pair.

Vintage Square Aviator Sunglasses—No, Really

Combine aviators with vintage appeal and you're really onto something. Here are a few examples of what happens when you combine a square with flair:

• The OC Deep Square Aviator Sunglasses are large and contain a polycarbonate lens, which is stronger and less likely to shatter than plastic. Your color options range from saucy black and lavender to classic tortoise and amber. The cost is surprisingly low: $16.95, plus you get 30% off if you buy two or more items from the website.

• If this pair isn't your thing, check out the spin on them, the Vintage Square Oversized Sunglasses. They're available in the same two color schemes and would make even Paris and Mary-Kate proud.

• Neither pair is officially "vintage" because they're brand new, but the feel is still there. You can tell everybody you found them in your grandma's attic. If you're looking for true vintage, you may want to check eBay.

• The Sunglass Warehouse has a squared off version of the aviators, available with silver frames and pink lenses or a silver frame with smoke rose lenses. The cost is only $14.95.

Even though aviator sunglasses were designed primarily for men back in the 1930s, most of the new square aviator sunglasses seem to be pitched to the female crowd.

Who Can Wear Them

If your face is already fairly angular, you'll be best served by the traditional, more rounded aviator shape. If you've got round cheeks that get you carded at the liquor store, you can balance your features out with the squared off shape of vintage square aviator sunglasses.

Super petite faces will do best in sunglasses that aren't oversized, so try to stick with smaller frames, even within the square aviator style. There's no need to hide behind huge glasses; just get them big enough to shield your eyes and the skin around them from UV rays and slap sunscreen on your cheeks, forehead, nose, etc.