Fashion

The Ray-Ban Wayfarer is back (as if it was ever really gone)

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woman with sunglasses
Some trends quietly fade away. Others take a little break, drink an espresso backstage, and then casually walk back on stage as if they were never gone. Exactly that is happening now with the well-known Ray-Ban Wayfarer. Years ago, you literally couldn't open a terrace, festival, or Instagram feed without that black sunglasses popping up somewhere. From celebs to your neighbor girl on a bike: everyone had one. But as it goes with classics: what was once everywhere eventually becomes timeless. And now it's back. Not only in the OG form but also in new variants. From a puffer twist to a version with a camera in it. Did anyone predict that when we all put it on our noses years ago? Probably not.

Somewhere in the 2010s

Let's rewind for a moment. There was a time, somewhere in the 2010s, when the Ray-Ban Wayfarer had a chokehold on the entire world. The glasses were cool without trying. And that wasn't thanks to you or me. The list of celebrities who wore them is endless. Remember Kate Moss walking through an airport with them and Natalie Portman proving them paparazzi-proof.

Also in the street style world, the glasses popped up everywhere. Models like Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid, and Hailey Bieber wore the glasses day in and day out. A hoodie with messy hair? Who cares: the Wayfarer made the look. That's exactly why these glasses became such a classic. You don't have to be a stylist to make them work.

Ray-Ban x A$AP Rocky

As it goes with classics: sooner or later they get a remix. In recent collections, a new interpretation of the Wayfarer appears: a thick, puffer-like frame that looks as if the sunglasses have had a little injection. The update comes from a collaboration between Ray-Ban and none other than A$AP Rocky. The rapper, now creative director at Ray-Ban, spectacularly kicked off the launch during the Met Gala 2025. There he walked with an exclusive version of the puffer-Wayfarer: a showpiece of 18-carat white gold, set with diamonds and rubies. Subtle is not the word.

Smart Wayfarer

As if a fashion update wasn't enough, technology has now also gotten involved with the sunglasses. Collaborations between Ray-Ban and Meta Platforms have led to smart sunglasses that literally have a camera built in. Yes, really. With this new generation of glasses, you can take photos, record short videos, and even listen to audio. All without taking your phone out of your bag. The tech is subtly integrated into a Wayfarer frame, making it still look like the cool sunglasses. Quite funny, no one thought years ago: “In ten years, I'll be making videos with this.”

Whether you find it deep in a drawer during your spring cleaning or decide to order a brand new pair: the Ray-Ban Wayfarer remains a winner. Trends change, technical gadgets come and go, but this frame will always exist.

Image: instagram | cheriemadeleine