Everyone loves talking about the “practicality†of men’s clothing, but let’s be real here for a moment – how often are you going to run in a pair of Flyknits, or fold back working cuffs, or stash something (other than Chapstick) in a cargo pocket? Probably not that often. But how often are your sunglasses going to protect you from the sun? Every damn day. With that said, we know that you’re more concerned with looking like Paul Newman than pleasing your ophthalmologist, so here’s some of our favorite frames for summer and beyond.
Barton Perreira – Make Paul proud.
Illesteva – If you can’t be at the beach settle for the next best thing: ocean-tinted frames.
Garrett Leight – Channeling John Lennon in the Yoko years.
L.G.R. – Big, brown, and bold, just like Gianni Agnelli would’ve worn back in the day.
Oliver Peoples – “The Peck”
Cutler & Gross – If we’re gonna mention Agnelli, we might as well give a nod to Lapo Elkann’s frames as well.
Persol – Mini McQueen’s.
Randolph Engineering – The authentic standard issue Aviator.
Sun Buddies – Handmade frames from the brothers behind Sweden’s Tres Bien Shop.
Oakley – Yes, Oakley. And considering these U.S. made classics are still just as iconic as they were back in the eighties, why not Oakley?
Dom Vetro – Take the red eye.
Those Randolph Engineering aviators. Cool beyond cool.
A fine list that needs THE affordable made in America option, Shuron.
http://www.shuron.com/macarthur.htm
http://www.shuron.com/sidewinder.htm
I’m glad you included the Randolph aviators. My dad — a USAF pilot for 30 years — wore those and not the silly things Tommy Boy wore in Top Gun. Per my dad, the Aviator’s arms were straight because it made them easier to take off when you were wearing a helmet.
No American optical?
Always “you should have included ____” nice
job Jake. I still have my Frogskins from
96.
Hell yeah Frogskins. Had a slew in the early 90’s, all lost or broken now. My favorite were the black frames with purple iridium. May just have to pick up a new pair.