S
ummer is sunglasses time, of course. And while we are great fans of the classics — and who doesn’t look good in a pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarers (as sported by Tom Cruise in Risky Business), American Optical Original Pilot aviators (as issued to the crew of Apollo 11 in their survival kits), Persol 714s (see Steve McQueen in The Thomas Crown Affair) or Vuarnet Legend 06s (thank you, 007, in No Time to Die) — there are new styles that are worth exploring.
Some of the best models come care of collaborations, creating characterful mash-ups. The first that caught our eye, so to speak, is the Ray-Ban x Lenny Kravitz partnership, which has produced a “reverse” version of the US brand’s famous aviators. This style was designed in 1937 for American pilots and has become a classic. Last year Ray-Ban decided to play with it and introduced a concave lens in place of the usual convex one. Kravitz clearly enjoys the idea of reimagining the aviator: “It’s about breaking boundaries, embracing individuality and seeing the world from a new perspective through those innovative lenses.” The models come in black, chrome and a limited-edition gold version, and etched discreetly on the top of the left lens you’ll see the musician’s signature.
