What do Audrey Hepburn, Bob Dylan, Debbie Harry, and John Kennedy have in common?  The iconic image of wayfarers.  Since their design by Ray Ban in 1956, the wayfarer style has been a staple among sunglass enthusiasts.  The style transcends trend boarders, being worn by a large array of people with varying tastes.  Yet, no matter who wears them, the effect is an air of cool ease.

With summer here, I’ve been searching for new sunglasses to add to my small but growing collection.  No matter what I do or where I look, I find myself trying on some form of this iconic design.  While I own the signature Ray Brand ones, I feel that other designers are making slight adjustments to the design that has freshened their silhouette (and given me an excuse to buy an updated pair).  For example, I recently picked up some from Wildfox Sun called the Catfarer.  The addition of a minimal cat eye structure to the frames gave life to the otherwise usual shape. Even Ray Ban keeps their signature updated by continuing to offer different colors and lenses in their number one seller.

Since the basic idea has been present in many of the newer designs, it’s clear that the wayfarer is a staple in the world of sunglasses.  It’s truly a silhouette that has stood the test of time.

Here are some of my favorites: