Ray Ban Power Rankings – Four of the most popular models
More than a few namesake American companies have been bought up by off-shore operations and moved over-seas. Usually this scenario ends with a classic American name losing most of its style and quality, and only becoming a shell of what it once was. That didn’t happen to Ray Ban when the Rochester New York company was purchased in 1999, and headquarters moved to… Milan. Yes, that Milan. And thus, the re-birth of Ray Bans began to really gain steam.
Ray Ban has done a fantastic job with continuing production on their classic frames, releasing updated forms of those classics, as well as brand new styles. Here’s four of their more popular models, ranked from worst to first.
#4 – Ray Ban Original Wayfarer | RB 2140
Price: $139.00
Risk: High
Where to Wear Them: In your car. If it’s a DeLorean.
Analysis: Can someone please tell me why these are so popular? They’re the Ascot of the eye wear industry. Granted they can look great on a few faces, but those faces are extremely rare. Most of the time a pair of original wayfarers will make you look just plain goofy. Hipsterish. They don’t blend in at all and are overall distracting. They look gigantic on me, and I’ve got a pretty big head. No thanks.
#3 – Ray Ban Classic Clubmaster | RB3016
Price: $129.00
Risk: Medium High
Where to Wear Them: Hyannis Port. Or on board a sailboat.
Analysis: Like the Original Wayfarer, these have an obvious retro feel. Unlike the Original Wayfarer, they actually look good. Easy to pull off as long as you’re not tromping around in saddle shoes and a fedora. If you’re going to wear these, steer clear of other throwback items. Unless you want to look like you’re headed to a costume party.
#2 – Ray Ban New Wayfarer | RB 2132
Price: $119.00
Risk: Low
Where to Wear Them: Anywhere you want to look good and blend in.
Analysis: If the Original Wayfarer was so great, why’d they feel the need to redo it? The updated New Wayfarer isn’t so jolting in its shape and looks great on almost anyone. You still get the thicker curved Ray Ban earpieces and rectangle lenses, only in a tighter package. There is one drawback: The Tortoise frames are a little too feminine.
#1 – Ray Ban Round Wayfarer | RB4141
Price: $129.00
Risk: Medium
Where to Wear Them: Anywhere you want to look good but not totally blend in.
Analysis: These look like the Clubmaster and New Wayfarer had a baby. They’re bold enough that they won’t look all that great on smaller faces, but on a medium to large face they’re the right balance between the past and present. Would you ever see a Secret Service agent in these? No. They’re not “angry” enough. But as long as you’re not out to look intimidating, you can’t go wrong with these in either the black or tortoise frames.
Must they put their logo on the lens? It’s already on the temples, so in my opinion it borders on over-branding (“Look at me! I’m wearing expensive Ray Bans!”). Anyway, I totally agree on the Wayfarers. Maybe they work on some faces, but they make most people look like they just walked out of a 3D movie.
what about the aviators and all of the incarnations thereof
When I think of Ray-Bans, I usually think of the plastic frames. And most wire/metal frames look mainly the same to me. Except for these Rounded Navigators. Too bad the pewter/green lens model only comes in polarized. Suckers are expensive at $200.
I wear The New Wayfarer in tortoise shell, feminine, maybe on others.
I read an excellent article on glasses in The New Yorker, the salesman spoke about the color going well with the tone of the skin and its true. The black shades are too dark for my complexion, can I rock them yes but I on a daily basis the tortoise shell look better on me and my browning skin over summer. Great list.
Also, I don’t know those round Wayfarers, Ive yet to see them in person, look like Grandma Ethels glasses to me. i’ll go check them out later on tonight.
P.S. I bought The New Wayfarer because Joe featured them a while back on the site and loved them. Listen to this dude! lol
“Grandma Ethels glasses” Ha! Strike my comment about the tortoise shell then. I’ve got a tortoise shell pair of sunglasses myself and I love them. The pattern just looked extremely noticeable/full of contrast in the pic. Fair to assume they blend in a little more then?
The best thing about tortoise shell frames is the amber lenses that go with them. I love how the color green pops through amber, especially in the spring.
Also disagree on the tortoiseshell color. I’m planning on getting some eyeglasses in tortoiseshell. Just the darker kind. Maybe even the original wayfarer style. I think out of all these the hardest to pull off is the clubmaster. Very ivy league…not everyone looks good on them.
And I agree with eyewhere that the aviators are much bigger than the wayfarer as popularity goes. That’s what I think of when I hear ray-ban.
Perhaps it’s my overall dislike for Aviators that has changed what I first think of when I hear: “Ray Ban.” I think Original Aviators like the original Ray Bans are just too big. A little dated. And as far as the tortoise frames, tortoise shell can look terrific on sunglasses. On the pics for these though, it’s so bright it almost looks cheetah. Can’t hang with that. But maybe the pics aren’t so accurate?
There are a number of ray-ban shades that I’ve seen overly bright. I can see where you’re coming from. But if you do get a pair similar to your skin and hair color, whether its the wayfarer or any plastic framed shades (I personally like the D&G aviator plastic frames myself) it makes you look a whole lot better. BTW, I’m not sure if it was your doing or WordPress but the website is now modified for mobile devices. Now its much easier to browse with my phone so I’ll get to keep up with your stuff more often. cool deal…
Thanks Chris. The feedback is hugely appreciated. That was a change that was just made. I owe our consultant a drink or two for that. Spread the word, Dappered is growing, and much of it is due to guys like you who drop a comment or two in with their own opinions. Thanks again.
/me reads Chris’ comment and runs to his iPhone to see the new design.
Love it, Joe. MUCH more usable and quick.
Clubmaster with a Medium High risk? You’ll be always the coolest guy around with the CM. No doubt. Well, if no one else wears them 😉
I bought a pair of knockoffs at Urban Outfitters of all places (before they went all jumbo on sunglasses. Harry Caray would be proud.) and got a pair of tortoise shell that I like. Black is a tough wear, you have to have just the right complexion otherwise you look weird.