Wayfarer Sunglasses by Ray-Ban

Wayfarers have been manufactured since 1952 so they had been around a while by the time the 80s rolled around, but their popularity was in a steady decline.  All that changed in 1982 when Ray-Ban signed a product placement deal for $50,000 (wow, did they get a good return on that investment or what!?).  As a result of that deal, Wayfarers were placed in movies and TV shows over 60 times per year in the years between 1982 and 1987.

So what was the appeal of Wayfarer sunglasses and where did we see them placed in 80s movies and TV? Well, the fact that hotter-than-hot Tom Cruise wore them in 1983's Risky Business (shown right) probably helped the cause. The Blues Brothers probably had something to do with it too – as did Miami Vice and Less than Zero. Corey Hart even sported a pair in his hit "Sunglasses at Night."  Of course the fact that Wayfarer sunglasses were mentioned in the “Boys of Summer” song probably didn’t hurt either. Yes, when it came to 80s icon culture, Wayfarer had designer eyewear covered.

What added to the “street cred” of Wayfarer sunglasses was the fact that they weren’t just seen in movies or on television. Celebrities actually owned and wore them in everyday life. Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, Madonna and Don Johnson were frequently seen sporting Wayfarer sunglasses.

If you never owned a pair of Wayfarer sunglasses, it’s not too late for you to enjoy the Wayfarer experience. Unlike most 80s fashion trends, Wayfarer sunglasses really never went out of style. In fact, they’re still popular today. You can buy Wayfarer sunglasses at almost any store that sells Ray Ban products.  We caught this pair in action (2009) in Birmingham, AL.  Very cool.

The Wayfarer sunglasses line was improved in 2002 and the new collection features an array of colors to choose from; although I still prefer the classic black Wayfarer sunglasses that ruled the 80s. At least part of our 80s fashion lives on today, and Wayfarer sunglasses are one piece of our 80s wardrobe that we can still wear today without looking like total geeks.