The Rise and Fall of Skinny Sunglasses: A Style History

Dylan Jones, chief content officer of Robb Report, traces the history and cultural significance of skinny wraparound sunglasses, arguing that they are now a fashion faux pas. Originating in the mid-1960s, the style was popularized by the Velvet Underground and Andy Warhol's Factory crowd, as well as British Mods and visitors to Saint-Tropez. The glasses conveyed a sense of cool, rebellion, and sophistication, associated with pop stars, nightclub entrepreneurs, and hip journalists. They faded in the early 1970s with the rise of Foster Grants, cowboy boots, and double denim, as men sought a more mature look. Punk and new wave movements in the late 1970s and early 1980s revived wraparound shades, worn by figures like Johnny Rotten and Jello Biafra, and they became a symbol of East Coast hipster culture. However, Jones contends that today, skinny sunglasses make wearers look like 'a photocopy repair man off to Vegas,' and are often paired with Hawaiian shirts from gas stations and chinos, which he derides. He contrasts this with the current trend of oversized sunglasses, which evoke Robert Redford, Paul Newman, Tom Ford, Alain Delon, and Michael Caine, and are seen as more enigmatic and fashionable. The article includes references to the Velvet Underground, Mo Tucker, and various cultural touchpoints, and is accompanied by a photo of Robert Redford filming 'Downhill Racer.'