AT 30 | THROUGH THE YEARS

Everlasting Style

History-defining eyewear styles that have stood the test of time over the past decades, right alongside EB, which celebrates its 30-year anniversary in 2016

WORDS + STYLING BY AMY SPIEZIO
PHOTOGRAPHED BY DAVID KRESSLER

Some eyewear styles have an unstoppable trajectory.

Over the decades, iconic styles have made their mark thanks to universally flattering shapes, ultimately salable style, and serious cult cool.

Making history as they go, the longest-lasting eyewear models have launched a thousand more stylish good looks via other sun and optical sisters. Some of these styles have been tinkered with over time to reflect the color and materials of the day, but when it comes down to it, the basics of the best endure.

Here, we serve up 13 truly iconic specs that have been on-trend for up to three spectacular decades.

The Icons
The three boys of summer have everlasting appeal.
From Top: The Carrera Aviator from Safilo is a fav variation of one of the all-time classics. The Ray-Ban Wayfarer from Luxottica is a pure classic, celebrated by celebs from Bob Dylan to Beyonce. Ronsir, a ’50s-inspired legacy style from Shuron, puts the chic in geek chic.

Timeless, High-End Chic
Luxury looks retain their original designs for enduring style.
From Top: An infinitely cool and immediately covet-worthy silhouette, the Tom Ford Whitney TF9 style from Marcolin was one of the designer’s initial sun pieces—and it remains a collection staple today. The VL0002 from Vuarnet is a highly recognizable classic, ever-ready for the slopes. Back to the future, the J.F. Rey Magneto is part of the anniversary collection, Jean-Francois Rey 1985. Updated with the brand’s trademark red splash of color, the classic Alain Mikli A04003 retains its street-smart edge.

The Color Masters
The art of the hue defines eyewear that boasts eternal cool.
From Top: Tura Model 311 shows why Tura has retained its place as a go-to by taking a traditional style and giving it a color splash. Titan Minimal Art’s rimless, lightweight design went out into space with NASA’s astronauts, and now the Silhouette 4531 shows that style rejuvenated with an updated color and shape for max street chic. Fun and feminine, Fysh UK style 3485 from Westgroupe is a timeless semi-rimless look with colors of the moment.

The Eternal Classics
Go-to styles with universally flattering good looks that deliver, time and time again.
From Top: The ever-classic P3 shape with a cool flat black color story is one of eyewear’s longest-running, go-to styles, shown here in Oga 8204 from Morel. XOXO style Untamed from McGee Group is a beautiful bronze rounded rectangle that fits and appeals to every generation. Setting the bar for flexible materials for decades, Flexon continues to evolve with new style stories, such as the E1010 from Marchon.