I've never been a fan of studying history. Although I appreciate where the events of the past have brought us today, I'm much more interested in what's next. That is, until I began relating the subject of history to fashion.
The Ray-Ban "Wayfarer" is arguably the most iconic style of sunglasses to date. Its 1952 debut marked a revolutionary deviation from metal frames. Despite an instant gain in popularity from a cameo in the 1961 classic, "Breakfast at Tiffany's", their popularity faded in the 1970's. In 1981, with only 18,000 pairs sold that year, the "Wayfarer" was about to be discontinued. It was only when a deal with "Unique Product Placement" was signed that the style was saved. Through the $50,000 a year contract, the Ray-Ban classic reached a broader demographic and new generation through television and movies. Another brief decline in sales brought about the product's' 2001 redesign. The smaller and less angular frames were the start of a revitalization in 2007 and 2008 that included folding, colorized, and two-tone styles. Young Hollywood was quick to grasp the trend.
My initial relationship with Ray-Ban's "Wayfarer" began on St. Patrick's Day 2007 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There I sat, un-amused, propped up at the local "watering hole" amidst green beer and a sea of mindless idiots. With rum and coke as my only consolation for the present debauchery, I remained committed to the cause. After looking around for a potential owner, I picked up the forgotten pair of sunglasses that lay beside me. "Humph" I muttered. They were no Gucci’s, that was for sure. However, given the state of my financial status, leaving them behind seemed like a grave mistake. Over time the simple, classic, black shades grew on me. It was only then that I deemed them fitting to be taken out on outings. Now I'm anxiously awaiting a new pair of two-tone black and clear "Wayfarers".
