Classic Aviator sunglasses were designed in an attempt to block the sun from the eye socket area. This is generally why the lens is triple the size of this area. According to other sources, most pilots do not wear these glasses while flying as a sunscreen is built directly into the visor of their flight helmet. They are typically used when performing duties outside and on the ground. While Ray-Ban is known to be the original designer of the aviator sunglasses, ironically they are not the company that supplies the military with them anymore.

Retail wise the popularity of these glasses is cyclical depending on the season. Spring and summer are more likely to bolster the sales as people head outside to enjoy the sun. The average American is not likely to afford most of the designer versions of aviator glasses that are available on the market. However, the good news is that copies of the original are plentiful, and can be purchased for as little as five dollars from super discounters, street vendors, grocery stores, and gas stations.

There is something to be said for purchasing and wearing the original Ray-Ban model, as the authentic design, materials, and fitment let you know that you are wearing a piece of American history. As long as the movies keep using to personify “cool” the necessity for everyday people to wear them will stay alive and well.

If you cannot afford the higher end glasses, then consider checking out eBay, or Craigslist for a slightly used but good quality pair at a drastically reduce price. You will want to only buy locally so you can inspect them for damage before agreeing to pay the seller. You never know, you just might find a pair of antique sunglasses for a bargain!

Corporations have used the less expensive version of these mirrored gems as marketing gifts by etching their name and logo onto the bottom corner of one lens. This became a popular way of marketing to the masses back in the late 1980s and these glasses have always made a memorable impression on prospective clients that have received a pair.

You will almost never find a lifeguard on a beach without a pair, as they believe they are a part of their uniform. The movie from the seventies titled “Lifeguard”, and the hit television series from the 90s called “Bay Watch” further embedded this urban myth into the minds of its viewers, and allowed the people at Ray-Ban to enjoy a huge influx of sales over a long period of time.

The Harley Davidson crowd has a special relationship with these sunglasses as they too have been taken in by clever marketing. Who hasn’t seen the smooth movie character riding a thunderous two wheeled machine down a road at breakneck speed sporting a pair of mirrored aviator sunglasses? Tom Cruise furthered the popularity by wearing mirrored aviators in various scenes of the movie Top Gun.

Today, young people who just want to look good when hanging out, or spending a day at the beach with friends, often choose mirrored aviator sunglasses to protect their eyes and their reputation. The designer line of the same glasses by Mark Jacobs are the pinnacle of aviators right now, but with a price tag of almost three hundred dollars only a few will be able to enjoy the benefit of great design.

Even on a budget you can still relax by the pool in a pair of affordable aviators for less than twenty dollars! Sometimes you can even find them at local discounters for less than ten bucks. On the other end of the cost spectrum, you may need to break out the gold card as “the real thing” can cost you in the vicinity of two hundred dollars plus. Branding and fashion go hand in hand and this is reflected in the pricing. Some choose to pay big money just to have the right look.

If you require prescription eyewear to see and drive safely, then just take your black aviator sunglasses to your optician. They will replace the lenses with your updated corrective lens specifications. This will enable you to have both a functional and fashionable pair of sunglasses to wear driving, swimming or on those great sunny days. No one will ever know your secret; they will just see a really great pair of sunglasses.

When shopping for inexpensive aviation sunglasses, be sure to try them on, check the hinges and lay them on a flat surface with the arms extended to see if they are flush and not bent. If everything appears to be straight but they still sit at an angle on your face when looking in the mirror then try another pair. These sunglasses have either been returned, or are not the right ones for you. You may want to ask a sales clerk to bring you a new pair from the stockroom, as they will be in top condition. In the end for less than twenty-dollars, a pair of black aviator sunglasses should last at least a month in the summer. More if you are careful with them. Twenty dollars is a bargain to look fashionable cool, so what are you waiting for?

Their cost is not an issue as they can be afforded by everyone, even those with a small budget. This has created a level playing field allowing all to reach that sought after look. From the five dollar “cheap sunglasses”, section to the pairs that have a designers name attached that run close to one hundred dollars, there is a solution for all to look cool even on the hottest days of summer.

Basic black frames and polarized lenses are the wisest selection for functionality, and style sense, as they will go with any outfit you choose. They will also offer some eye protection that is needed when staying outside for extended periods due to the polarized lenses. While in the past aviators have been predominately a male fashion item, women are no longer exempt from this almost cult following of sun shades. Betsy Johnson offers a line of colorful plastic aviator sunglasses in the mid thirty dollar range that can be used to accessorize everyday work outfits, or your new swim suit for that day at the beach. They are now available in nearly every color imaginable such as cherry, marigold, lime, raven, navy, and tortoise shell.

These inexpensive versions of the Gucci and Ray-ban models will have you blending in without notice from the most discerning of sunglasses critics. It is now so difficult to tell if you are wearing the real thing or not, since the market has been flooded with cheap imitations by fashion wise competitors. So, bank your extra coins and live the life of the fashion savvy without having to take out a payday loan to look the part. If you really need to take it up a notch, the corresponding real metal pair will only set you back a hundred to two hundred bucks, depending on the brand name.