Of course almost everyone wore a pair back then, especially around 1983/4. It wasn't just to block out the sun, it was a fashion statement. 8)

However, you could argue that shades had been around in that regard since the 50's. Today though, it seems they're not that cool anymore - heck, I remember a couple years back when I wore a gigantic 80s-like pair to class, my friends/classmates gave me strange looks!

Even in the 90's, I'd say they were slightly "cooler" than today. What do you think?

Of course almost everyone wore a pair back then, especially around 1983/4. It wasn't just to block out the sun, it was a fashion statement. 8)

However, you could argue that shades had been around in that regard since the 50's. Today though, it seems they're not that cool anymore - heck, I remember a couple years back when I wore a gigantic 80s-like pair to class, my friends/classmates gave me strange looks!

Even in the 90's, I'd say they were slightly "cooler" than today. What do you think?


I really don't like to wear sunglasses.  I never have.  The only time I wear them is when I'm driving and the sunlight is so bright that I can't see the road.  But yes, I remember we used to make fun of the guys who wore sunglasses to school dances (where the atmosphere was pretty dark anyway) ;D

Or the cliche' Las Vegas stereotype with the laughable 70s looking polyester shirt unbuttoned down to the stomach, hairy chest with a big honkin' gold chain around his neck, the song "Copa Cobana" playing in the backround and wearing dark sunglasses in the casino even at midnight.  ;D

I don't think shades have ever gone out of fashion, but the styles have definitely changed. Today, most people wear the wraparound Oakley type, whereas back in the 80's the Ray-Ban "Wayfarer" style (popularized by Tom Cruise in "Risky Business") were more in vogue.

http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/warner_brothers/risky_business/tom_cruise/riskybusiness4.jpg

Sunglasses have always been fashionable - I wouldn't call it 80's... Eric Estrada CHIPS glasses in the 70's, Jackie O' had big ones in the 50's/60's and John Lennon / Yoko Ono had those little round hippy ones. So each era had them, but each decade probably had different styles i.e. 80's were always luminous and made of cheap plastic  ;D

I don't know where you live, but shades are very popular today... especially tinted ones. I think with the US being so vast, a lot of lesser states get left behind fashion wise. In the fashion capitals of Europe sunglasses are alive and well. Look at David Beckham and Victoria... Ambassadors of sunglasses.

Ray-bans were definitely 80s -and I do recall a couple of boys wearing them to a school dance in '88. I guess it would've been a good way of ogling girls, without making obvious eye contact. Around '84 I remember a trend among kids was the fluro plastic sunnies that doubled as a headband/alice band for girls. Will try and find a pic.

Yeah shades will ALWAYS be popular.  It's the type of shades you wear though. 

If you wear those rayban or aviator sunglasses, that's when people will say, "eaaau, that's so 80s, whats' wrong with you?  Do you think you're Tom Cruise or Michael J. Fox?"  (Tom Cruise wore Raybans and Aviators in "Risky Buisness" and "Top Gun".  And Michael J. Fox wore his aviators in "Back to the Future")