"Vintage" sunglasses

Time for news in the world of sunglasses (and beyond). With the new year, the most famous fashion houses launch new trends that will characterize the look of the coming months, but there is a style that has been gathering more and more support for some time. A style linked to the charm of history, of times gone by but capable of evoking distant passions and emotions.

We are clearly talking about "vintage", that is, those models, original or inspired by the originals, which in the past decades have identified a style, a myth, a famous person, and, in some cases, have become real cult objects.

It is the elegance of the past that always remains current and contemporary, it is the "classic" styles that cross the eras while preserving their contemporaneity and giving a "retro" touch to an intriguing and non-conformist look.

What is meant by “Vintage”?

The term vintage was born in France in the world of viticulture to indicate the vintages of wines, in particular those of greater value and quality, but starting from the sixties the concept also began to establish itself in the world of clothing, progressively acquiring a dignity and a ever-increasing following.

“Technically” to be vintage, a dress or glasses should have at least twenty years of “life”, so as to be an authentic product of the past, iconic and sometimes unrepeatable. A tangible object with lasting charm, capable of expressing nostalgia for times gone by, but also enhancing the aesthetic standards of the era to which it refers.

More commonly, however, the term "vintage" is not only associated with actually dated objects, but with styles attributable to the "classics" of the past, which modern designers sometimes take inspiration from. Here the "new" vintage tries to recover the spirit of an era, the aesthetic canons used in its time and the suggestions left in the collective memory.

“Vintage” sunglasses

From a niche phenomenon, starting from the early years of this century, vintage aesthetics are spreading rapidly, driven by social media which have rekindled the interest of "Millennials" in more classic accessories to combine with contemporary clothing. And the number of brands that have added "nostalgic" trend models to their assortment has increased, from Gucci to Armani, from Tom Ford to Carrera, without forgetting the strong vintage design of many iconic Ray Ban models.

We have therefore witnessed a real revival of shapes such as Cat Eyes and Aviator, initially adopted by Hollywood stars of the 40s and 50s, and now used by jet-set celebrities, career managers and fashionable young people. Even the square glasses from the 70s, with thick frames and oversized dimensions, have been rediscovered by many high fashion brands which, albeit through some revisiting, have enhanced the retro look of these solutions.

Furthermore, most of these models are offered at prices which are on average more affordable than the more innovative collections, making them accessible to a wider and more varied audience. It is therefore not surprising that the popularity of vintage sunglasses is constantly increasing, now constituting a consolidated trend and alternative to contemporary design. Classic fashion never sets.