Forget Panama hats and patterned swimming trunks, the only accessory
that will really set you apart this summer – if chosen well – is a solid
pair of sunglasses. Whether jetting off for a spring break, working downtown, or
relaxing on a dock in Muskoka, sunglasses are an indispensable part of any
modern man’s style regimen.
If you are like us, you can't have too many
shades. With that in mind, here
are five key sunglass styles to – there’s one to suit every type of man, from
the traditionalist to the modernist.
The Classic
Since their introduction by Ray Ban in 1956, no other style
of sunglasses has inspired the field of eyewear design more than the iconic Wayfarer. Copied,
reinvented and emulated, this acetate-framed silhouette was considered truly
innovative in the 1950s, not only due to its breakaway from traditional round
lenses, but also through its use of new materials; previously, most sunglasses
had been crafted from alloy metals.
Standing the test of time, the Wayfarer remains as popular
today as ever – these are one pair of shades that you’ll never want to be
without. Aside from the original
design, numerous
optical brands offer high-spec interpretations of the Wayfarer
shape.
The Vintage
With the current focus on heritage within menswear, it
should come as no surprise that eyewear is also feeling the retro-design
influence of yesteryear. Round frame styles harken back to the early days of
sun opticals, when the most logical (and easiest) shape to fashion for
sunglasses was circular. Round
frames were the de rigueur shape in the twenties and thirties – it was during
these decades that sunglasses became more widespread, with advancements in
technology and production methods making eyewear more accessible and desirable.
While early designs were made from flimsy plate glass, Bakelite
and alloy metals, today’s sturdy styles are crafted from high-grade materials,
combining the best of fashion and function. Guaranteed to lend a hint of quirky vintage cool to any
look, round frames are best suited to gents with strong jaw lines, as circular
lenses tend to have a softening effect. A couple of suggestions are Mercury’s "Amalfi Coast,"
"Sage,"
and “Rickey.”
The Retro
First developed in the 1930s to protect pilots’ eyes from
glaring sunlight while flying at altitude, aviator sunglasses are as
iconic as the classic Wayfarer. Another design credited to Ray-Ban, the style’s
thin metal frames and large tear drop-shaped lenses were designed to cover the
entire eye socket area, preventing as much light as possible from entering the
eye.
Aviators first rose to prominence in 1942, when General
Douglas MacArthur was photographed landing on a beach in the Philippines during
a military expedition against the Japanese. The style became an overnight success in the 1960s, when
Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr of the Beatles were seen sporting them, with
popularity burgeoning further in the 1980s thanks to Queen’s Freddie Mercury
and “Top Gun.”
An undeniably masculine, retro style, the aviator has been
reincarnated and reworked in many guises, with chunky celluloid acetate and
mirrored styles on offer today. Extremely versatile, the aviator suits most
face-shapes and has the masterful ability to go with almost anything. From
casual summer wear to spring suiting, it’s pretty difficult to put a foot wrong
in a pair of aviators. Mercury has
a number of options including our popular “Rio,”
“Phil,”
"Doyle Cop,"
and "Cancun"
models.
The Contemporary
Eyewear designers are now employing the use of digital
platforms to create contemporary, precision designs using ingenious new
materials such as thermo-set polyamide, which is lighter than traditional
acetate and titanium yet exceptionally strong and flexible.
The ‘D’ frame shape is one of the key silhouettes of modern
sunglass design, and is being produced in a wide range of variations and
materials. Identified by their
square/rectangular, occasionally oversized shape, D-frames have an undeniably
futuristic feel and stand out from traditional eyewear styles.
Chunky statement D-frames are carried off well by gents with
rounder faces, as the shape’s angular lines provide balance. Mercury offers a number of options
including the stylish “Tokyo,”
and "Secret Agent"
models.
The Sporting Enthusiast
Wrap-around frames with their curved, sweeping shape, are
favoured by sportsman due to the superb eye coverage they provide during active
pursuits. Making their debut in the 1960s, wrap-arounds are distinguished by
their semi-circular lenses that sit close to the face, with the purpose of
preventing fine particles and dirt from entering the eye, while also providing
an unbroken field of vision.
These protective goggle-like qualities make them the default
eyewear for sports such as skiing, where protection from flying snow/ice and
clear vision are essential. Crafted from lightweight, high-performance
polyamides and metal alloys, and often fitted with glare-deflecting mirrored
lenses, wrap-arounds serve both a practical and aesthetic role in the skier’s
repertoire. The brand that firmly
planted the wrap-around silhouette on the eyewear map was California brand
Oakley but many notable
brands now offer wrap arounds.
So, what this means is that, whether you prefer the
"quality" of Ray-Ban to Oakley? Or whether you think Bulgari is better
than Dolce & Gabbana, or Salvatore Ferragamo is better than Prada - they're
all made by one company. The
Italian manufacturer Luxottica. Luxottica also makes sunglasses branded
Burberry, Chanel, Polo Ralph Lauren, Paul Smith, Stella McCartney, Tiffany,
Versace, Vogue, Persol, Miu Miu, Tory Burch and Donna Karan.
Where does that leave you, the consumer, in a sea of
variably priced sunglasses? If a
significant chunk of what you pay for isn't the quality of the lenses, it's the
brand. We don't know about you, but we're totally comfortable paying 500-1000%
less than designer prices while still getting 100% of the eye protection. That’s where Mercury comes in.
For over 30 years MERCURY
has made quality, affordable, fashion and performance sunglasses in the latest
trends and styles - all with 100% UV protection. All Mercury Sunglasses frames also have an
unconditional lifetime guarantee. It's simple. You break them, we'll
replace them. Period. Find your Mercury
today.
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A hint of sophistication here,
a clever wink there, a flash of whimsy, a taste of punk—whatever your personal
aesthetic, since 1984 MERCURY
have
specialized in the perfect accessories for your ensemble. WE ARE
Creative insurgency cleverly disguised as a fashion accessories brand.
Mercury customers are creative, bold,
stylish, and fiercely independent - with a dash of moxie. Find your Mercury today on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for our latest information, events
and promotions. Have questions? We're here to help.
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