No other eyewear style is much more popular and recognizable than the Aviator and the Wayfarer.
While some brands manufacture the same designs—the Aviator developed by Bausch and Lomb and the Wayfarer by Raymond Stegeman who also worked for the former—these classics remain Ray-Ban’s. Eyewear turned icons thanks to popular culture.
Here are some of the films that made the brand’s classic styles popular across different generations.
Top Gun (1986)
Lt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, played by Tom Cruise, flies high aptly wearing a pair of Aviator sunglasses whose design intends to prevent as much light as possible from entering the eyes from any angle—just what a pilot needs. This romantic action film is loaded with quotable quotes and thrilling aerial fight scenes. Its long-awaited sequel is expected to premiere December this year.
Image courtesy of Paramount Pictures
The Hangover (2009)
As Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms), and Alan (Zach Galifianakis) power through a killer hangover and retrace their drunken steps to find the whereabouts of their friend Doug (Justin Bartha) aka the missing groom, the viewers join the boys in finding out “What the hell happened last night?” A pair of sunglasses with huge lenses is the ideal choice to wear while soldiering through a hangover, right?
17 Again (2009)
A chance accident gives 37-year-old Mike O’Donnell (Matthew Perry) a chance to become his 17-year-old self (Zac Efron) again. As he gets another taste of what it’s like to be important, he also gets a chance to get things right in his life. On top of its heartwarming story, it comes with that unforgettable scene where Mike (Efron) reemerges as a hot new student in his black leather jacket and Aviators.
Risky Business (1983)
Tom Cruise, in his first starring role as Joel Goodsen, rocking his pair of Wayfarer and dancing around in his living room in his skivvies, charmed the hell out of audiences in the ‘80s. This coming-of-age comedy film bravely explores all the good—and the bad—that can result from breaking the rules.
The Breakfast Club (1985)
A true teen classic, it features five teenagers who embody the most common high school stereotypes—the brain, the athlete, the basket case, the princess, and the criminal. Forced to spend together in detention, this John Hughes movie unwraps the person behind each persona. The geek, Brian Johnson (played by Anthony Michael Hall) shows his cool side wearing a pair of Wayfarer.
Image courtesy of Universal Pictures
Easy A (2010)
When Olive Penderghast (Emma Stone) embraced her “dirty skank” identity, she is seen rocking a corset with a red letter A stitched onto it, tight pants, and this classic eyewear to complete that “I don’t give a damn” ensemble. As the film’s audience follows Olive’s high school misadventures, they also learn much about gender norms, stereotypes, and inequalities.
Image courtesy of Screen Gems, Inc.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
This classic teen comedy follows stylish, Ferrari-driving, Clubmaster-wearing Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) as he fakes illness to skip school, and drags his best friend and girlfriend along for a day of adventures around the city. Ferris’ antics ultimately get one important message across: Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.
Image courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Neighbors (2014)
Seth Rogen (as Mac Radner), Dave Franco (as Pete Regazolli), and Zac Efron (as Teddy Sanders with his cool pair of Outdoorsman) bring on the laughs in this unapologetically vulgar but unexpectedly heartwarming story of how new parents cope with having a whole fraternity move in next door, and just how far they are willing to go for some much-needed peace and quiet.
Image courtesy of Universal Pictures
Men in Black (1997)
This out-of-this-world movie is a treat complete with cool duo Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith, alien refugees, black suits, and cool sunglasses. Agent K and Agent J police aliens and protect the earth from extraterrestrial threats while looking good in this ‘90s hit that no neuralyzer could make fans forget it.
Image courtesy of Columbia Pictures
