Ten vintage 90s sunglasses for men and women

Lensmart 2022-11-08 10:47:23

Vintage sunglasses in general could also be referred to as "retro" sunglasses. Vintage sunglasses have a particular style and look. This includes 90s sunglasses.


For sunglasses to be 90s vintage, they have to adhere to that specific style. Most of these styles are cat-eye, rectangle, and oval shapes. These are all in smaller frames. Again, celebrities are at the forefront of making these sunglasses prominent once more.


However, 90s sunglasses are not limited to smaller glasses but also include the round John Lennon and larger Elton John rose colored sunglasses. It is a matter of individual choice how you wish to interpret the 90s vintage style of sunglasses.


90s Sunglasses


The Features of 90s Sunglasses

The retro sunglasses of the 1990s were mostly defined by their smaller frames. Some common styles include cat-eye and rectangle sunglasses. However, most other shapes are well represented as well.


It is possible to choose from a wide selection of sunglasses at Lensmart and still capture the 90s style quite well. An example of this is the oversized sunglasses that were made popular by hip-hop artists.


Some of the major features of 90s sunglasses include some of the following elements:


1. You need them if you want something to grab your attention and be unique.


2. Thick rims are another way to draw attention to your wardrobe. These can be in different colors to suit the color of your outfit.


3. These sunglasses may also feature styles based on the 1970s, '60s, and '50s.


The choice of sunglasses will depend entirely on the look you are going for. This could mean getting a few pairs to suit most of your outfits.


Why are vintage sunglasses so popular?

To fully explain how and why vintage styles never go out of fashion would take far too much time to surmise in this blog post. So, I will be giving you a rundown of the most popular vintage sunglasses styles and explaining why and how each one rose to popularity.

 

Firstly, let's begin with aviator-style frames. Created in the 1930s by Bausch & Lomb to protect the eyes of pilots, this style didn't become a fashion statement until much later on. In 1944 General Douglass Mcarthur was captured wearing his aviators in an iconic photograph which may have sparked the aviator craze.

 

After the war, aviators were marketed as emblematic of American patriotism and became hugely popular amongst all: men, women, and children. The craze continued as the century developed when disco entered center stage in the '70s and brought oversized sunglasses with colorful lenses into the spotlight. 


Then movies such as Top Gun and music stars such as Madonna brought aviator sunglasses onto stages and silver screens which ensured that they would never go out of trend.


Next, we move on to the second most recognizable retro-styled frame: the cat-eye. Marketed as a new era of women's fashion, cat eye sunglasses were favored by several Hollywood stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, and Elizabeth Taylor. 


But cat-eye frames reached the height of popularity when famous actress Audry Hepburn wore them in the blockbuster film "Breakfast at Tiffany's."

 

The Cat-eye styles of the '50s and '60s included a large frame and small lenses. The half-rimmed style was also very popular at the time. Nowadays, cat-eye glasses are much larger and fit a wider variety of face shapes. In more recent years, this style has been seen on the faces of stars such as Scarlett Johansson, Katy Perry, Jessica Alba, Olivia Palermo, Nicole Richie, and Zoe Saldana.


How to pick the best vintage sunglasses?

But which pair to pick? It is so very difficult. Admittedly, I have only had the time to discuss two of the many vintage styles available on the market, so I suppose my first tip would be to explore all your options. Some styles I didn't have time to mention includes browline, wayfarer, and tea shade glasses.


vintage sunglasses of Lensmart

 

Now, secondly, learn your face shape. Is your face more of an oval, a pear, a square? Knowing your facial features and, even better, knowing which parts of your face you want to accentuate is a great starting point for finding your next pair of sunshades. 


For example, say you wanted to draw attention away from your jaw and more towards your eyes and forehead, in which case the top-heavy style of the cat-eyes would be a perfect fit for your needs.

 

Thirdly, find the perfect color. Your skin tone, eye color, and hair color can affect which colors will best suit your style. Find out your skin tone and its undertone before then researching what types of colors fit your skin tone best. Of course, you can try on any color you like. Style is an art, not a science, and all that matters at the end of the day are if you like them.


Vintage sunglasses trends 2023

The '70s are here, and they want their shades back. Oversized retro square frames are super on-trend right now. So if the more rounded styles of the previously mentioned cat-eye and aviator frames weren't your sort of thing, you might want to try out some boxy square shades instead.

 

Speaking of cat-eyes, they are on trend this year in a big way (pun entirely intended). Oversized cat-eye frames are in style this year, though when aren't cat-eye frames in style, let's be honest. I recommend you pair it with a tortoiseshell pattern for a full on-trend effect.

 

You know how I said aviator sunglasses never go out of style? Well, they have been on the runway recently, so now they are even more on-trend. Versace's shows included a number of ready-to-wear summertime accessories, including a number of fun aviator-shaped frames. 


So whilst you definitely don't need to be wearing runway fashion to look good by the poolside, knowing that aviators are incredibly on-trend right now might help guide your decisions next time you shop. 


Five 90s Sunglasses for Men

Wearing sunglasses is not merely an accessory, as they provide protection for your eyes as well. However, it needs to be an attractive feature as well. We offer a few options for 90s sunglasses for men.


1. Choose Eleanor for the Karl Lagerfeld look. He wore these shades and also included them in his designs.


Eleanor: Square Black/Grey Sunglasses


2. We also mentioned Elton John and how he popularized shades with pink tints. If you want to emulate this style, choose our Lincoln.


Lincoln: Square Champagne Sunglasses


3. Mneme are the smaller round sunglasses in our range that will capture the John Lennon look as well as the 90s style quite well. This is a perfect interpretation.


Mneme: Round Black Sunglasses


4. Oversized sunglasses are not only 90s retro or vintage, but sometimes have been most popular list as well. Our Aldo sunglasses make it possible for men to be as stylish as they can be.


Aldo: Square Milky-White/Grey Sunglasses


5. The smaller rectangle Grace sunglasses should definitely be on the list of discerning men and women. These sunglasses do reflect the 90s vintage style very well with their rectangle shape and narrow metal frames.


Grace: Rectangle Black Sunglasses


Five 90s Sunglasses for Women

Women have for very long learned the trick of the trade of matching outfits and sunglasses have always been a part of it. Princess Diana was a fashion icon who always coordinated her sunglasses with her outfits. Here are a few choices for 90s sunglasses for women.


1. The rectangle sunglasses Kiki give women a great choice to wear the vintage style of the 1990s. They perfectly represent this style in shape and size.


Kiki: Rectangle Transparent-Orange/Orange Sunglasses


2. Casen will be a perfect fit for Mary J. Blige, the hip-hop queen. It will fit any woman well, as this is the year when oversized sunglasses are in fashion. These sunglasses seem to have come to stay.


Casen: Square Brown/Gradual-Brown Sunglasses


3. Aviator sunglasses have been around since the 1970s, and they also seem to have come to stay. It is also in its interpretation, such as Rabih, that makes it 90s vintage sunglasses. The color is right on the mark as well.


Rabih: Aviator Red/Champagne-Gradual powder Sunglasses


4. As mentioned, John Lennon made round sunglasses popular. It has never really left the fashion scene, but it has made a comeback in various ways. Kohn, for example, adds an extra touch to the way he wore it. Women can wear these sunglasses with many different outfits, which makes outfit coordination easy.


Kohn: Round Silver/Grey Eyeglasses


5. Nothing says 90s sunglasses more than Nicasia. These small oval sunglasses are typical of the vintage style of the 1990s. If you wish to be even more retro, you can request different tints for your lenses.


Nicasia: Oval Black Sunglasses




Recommended articles:

Retro glasses for men and women: vintage style

Aesthetic glasses: vintage frames and colors

The best 70s and 80s style glasses you should know

10 popular 90s glasses that make you stand out

Eyeglasses trends 2024: more popular styles

Ultimate guide to buying the best sunglasses for your face shape

Sunglasses color guide: what color fits you best?

What vintage glasses are coming back in 2024?

Buying the best retro glasses for 2024