Randolph Engineering has been the standard issue shades for the American military since the ‘80s. Thanks to the brand’s military-grade precision and craftsmanship, their aviator sunglasses have been outfitting military personnel since the 1980s. Each pair is crafted in the USA in Randolph, Massachusetts in a process totaling over 200 steps (military spec, and all that!). They come in a variety of metal frames including 23k gold and gunmetal as well as polarized lenses with total UV protection.
The Best Sunglasses for Menswear Guys: Persol 649 Sunglasses
Colors: Varies Lenses: Polarized and non-polarized Warranty: 24 months
Would a sunglasses roundup be complete without a reference to Steve McQueen? We’re not about to find out. Persol’s aviator shades are iconic for racing through San Francisco hills atop McQueen’s mug in Bullitt and have been the go-to for professional racecar drivers for decades. Despite the asphalt-burning ties, the Persol’s Italian-made shades were originally designed for sky-high endeavors as a way for pilots to protect their eyes leagues into the air. The tear-drop design crucially expanded sun-coverage while the innovative Meflecto temple design allowed for a flexible and comfortable fit. In tandem with the acetate tortoiseshell frames and you’ve got one of the most stylish sunglasses ever.
The Best Sporty Sunglasses: Oakley Radar EV Path Sunglasses
Colors: Varies Lenses: Polarized and non-polarized Warranty: 24 months
Leave it to the tireless churn of the fashion cycle to make the sunglasses you wore warming the bench on your middle school volleyball team look like the coolest thing in the world again. Call it a quirk of Y2k’s resurgence, or a draft riding in on the gorp wave. Wherever these sporty shades are coming in from is besides the point. The right pair of sunnies will look just as killer with a vintage hoodie and offbeat jorts as they do with a tailored black suit like you’re secondary character in The Matrix. Oakley’s Radar EV Path are the go-to for baseball players shagging fly balls on clear, sunny days and cyclists zooming through open roads, thanks to the maximum coverage of the shield-type lenses, the lightweight frames, comfortable nose pads, and glare-cutting clarity. Like most fashion classics, these shades were built entirely for functionality and, over time, have become menswear canon.
The Best Upgrade Sunglasses: Moscot Lemtosh Sunglasses
Colors: Varies Lenses: Polarized and non-polarized Warranty: 1 year
If the Wayfarer feels a bit too obvious or perhaps slightly aggressive, you might want to go with something more tastefully understated. Enter, the Moscot Lemtosh. The Lemtosh is somehow both iconic and understated. It looks great on every face but also fades into the background. It’s quiet and doesn’t shout, but it’s not boring, either. Where the Ray-Ban Wayfarer draws attention for its angled design, Moscot’s Lemtosh sits back and lets the right crowd come to them. They’re quietly luxurious, made by hand, and are offered in over a dozen colorways and three different sizes to fit just about anyone.
The Sunglasses for Movie Stars: Jacques Marie Mage Ashcroft Sunglasses
Colors: Varies Lenses: Polarized and non-polarized Warranty: 1 year
