Vogue: Why Wayfarers Deserve a Renaissance
In a Vogue essay, the author argues for a return to the classic Ray-Ban Wayfarer, a style she credits to Bret Easton Ellis's tales of 1980s Los Angeles. Released in 1952, the frames were popularized by Marilyn Monroe, Buddy Holly, and James Dean before nearly disappearing. A 1982 product placement deal with Ray-Ban revived them: Tom Cruise's Risky Business (1983) drove U.S. sales to 360,000, and Don Johnson's Miami Vice (1984) pushed them to 720,000. Recent wearers include Madonna, Kate Moss, Taylor Swift, Kate Middleton, and A$AP Rocky. The author praises the Wayfarer as a timeless, iconoclastic choice amid futuristic trends.
Key facts
- Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses were released in 1952.
- The frames were worn by Marilyn Monroe, Bob Dylan, Taylor Swift, and Kate Moss.
- Wayfarers nearly went extinct by the 1970s.
- In 1982, Ray-Ban signed a $50,000 yearly product placement deal.
- Tom Cruise wore them in Risky Business (1983), leading to U.S. sales of 360,000.
- Don Johnson wore them in Miami Vice (1984), leading to sales of 720,000.
- Madonna wore a pair at Spago in 1985.
- A$AP Rocky wore Wayfarers at the 2025 Met Gala.
Entities
Artists
- Bret Easton Ellis
- Marilyn Monroe
- Bob Dylan
- Taylor Swift
- Kate Moss
- Buddy Holly
- James Dean
- Tom Cruise
- Don Johnson
- Madonna
- Kate Middleton
- A$AP Rocky
Institutions
- Ray-Ban
- Spago
- Fortune
- Met Gala
Locations
- Los Angeles
- United States
- Hollywood