Military Sunglasses

Do you remember the sunglasses that made a fashion statement in movies like Top Gun? They were popular during that time, and military sunglasses are making a fashion come back.

A Brief Explanation

Military sunglasses are also called aviator sunglasses. They were first used by pilots who way back in the 30’s (Wiley X Sunglasses).

You see, visual conditions need to be optimal for pilots. The large lens design provided optimal protection for pilots because most military sunglasses are polarized. Polarization reduces the glare from the sun, as well as UV rays. With military sunglasses, the pilots could see the finest details in the thinnest clouds.

There are also other military groups that are using these sunglasses because the large design helps to reduce the amount of dust and dirt that the wind throws into their eyes.

As A Fashion Statement

Military sunglasses became even more popular right around the time when people started to wear camouflage prints as a fashion statement. The trend for oversized sunglasses was gaining popularity, so the military sunglasses fit right in. Many people started looking like a character right out of Top Gun.

New designs of military sunglasses by top high end designers had fed more fuel to this fashion craze.

Today they are available in many different colors and designs, inspired by the original designs of military sunglasses. Boutiques can provide you with the latest versions of these sunglasses, but if you want the genuine military sunglasses, you can visit a military surplus store.

How Designs Have Changed

Unlike their predecessors, today’s military sunglasses are designed to be more lightweight. The frames are usually plastic or aluminum. The lens are polycarbonate, which makes them lighter than glass.

There are two more popular lens designs for military sunglasses. The silver reflective, or mirror print, is commonly seen among law enforcement personnel. The second is the gun colored lens. Other popular lens colors include the brown, smoke, and charcoal. Most of the lens, regardless of the color, are designed to provide an SPF of 400 for maximum protection against both UVB and UVA rays.

The Hollywood Influence

It was the introduction of movies like Top Gun and more recent movies like Mr and Mrs Smith that sparked an interest and re-interest in military sunglasses. The popular versions of these sunglasses, like the silver lens ones used by police, are also being used in movies.

It is this rising popularity among the stars in Hollywood that have contributed immensely to the public desire to own a pair. People want to emulate the looks of their favorite actors and actresses. As with all fashion fads, the popularity among the stars will dictate whether military sunglasses will remain popular and for how long, but current trends suggest that they will be around for a very long time.