A Rant About Vintage, Punks, Senility, And Sunglasses

[jyl]

As mentioned in another thread, I'm thinking about getting some sunglasses. There are a bazillion sunglasses out there. Wayfarers, aviators, sport shield/Oakley types, hippie/Lennons, etc. For some reason I've been thinking hardest about a brand and style that I recall as once being ubiquitous, but that now seem all but forgotten. Vuarnet Cateyes. Like:



You know, Portland is full of retro and vintage stores and enthusiasts, and they are enthusiastically diving into 1980s stuff, including sunglasses. Lots of styles from that period are back, from the one piece visor look to aviators and "big glasses". Even cateyes. But these tattooed hipster vintage dudes and dudettes seem completely blind to Vuarnet cateyes.

First, they don't recognize that the style shown above is called "cateye". They think the term refers only to the 1950s/1960s glasses with horn rims and exaggerated flared corners. A oh-so-hip woman at a very good vintage store here told me flatly that a pair of vintage Bolle glasses in the shape shown above were absolutely never called cateyes.

Second, they barely recognize the brand Vuarnet. They nod and go um-hum but their eyes are blank without recognition. And indeed I never, I mean never, see Vuarnets in the local vintage stores. They are on eBay occasionally, but never in stores.

I guess I'm just venting. I may be an old fart with one foot in the grave, but damnit I'm not senile and I know what was what in the 1980s when these punks were just semen dribbling down their mommy's legs.

Oh by the way, would an old fart look like an idiot in Vuarnet cateyes today?

What sunglasses do you like? Pics are best!

[RWebb]

not forgotten by me!

I have several pair - they work very well

BTW - why not let the makers of Portlandia know about this -- they can do a show on it and you can star...

[Laneco]

You guys are kidding, right?

Nobody, not even Chuck Norris would look manly in those. If Chuck Norris accidently put those on, he would kick his own ass.

And this is coming from someone with a pink bicycle and a rhinestone covered helmet...

angela

[jyl]

Oh come on, Jean Vuarnet was a gold medal Olympic ski racer, that's pretty manly isn't it?



Anyway, you watch your tongue, little missy. Webb and I are the manliest men on PPOT, we're the ones manly enough to drive Vanagons.

[Dottore]

Those were my sunglasses of choice throughout the 1980's. Not sure why the company seems to have disappeared.

[HardDrive]

They were great ski glasses. I had some back in the day.

Vent all you like, but they would not look fashionable today. I with the kids on this one.

[DanielDudley]

Interwebs iz yur frend...

[azasadny]

I wore Vuarnets form the late 70's through the mid 80's and loved them!

[billybek]

Vuarnet Sunglasses » Home

[Eric 951]

I still wear my Vuarnet cordoury cap on occassion.

[Embraer]

i wear about 4 different pairs of Julbo glacier glasses. most people don't know what they are...and no, i know they're not cool. ha

[scottmandue]

I too was a fan of Vuarnet's back in the day.

I now wear some fancy Italian frame with prescription lens, they are gigantic and my wife hates them. We call them my bug eyes.

To my surprise her daughter thinks they are cool

Raybans are hard to beat too.

[Laneco]

Originally Posted by jyl

.....Anyway, you watch your tongue, little missy. Webb and I are the manliest men on PPOT, we're the ones manly enough to drive Vanagons.

Yes, indeed, manly men without question.

But if I see you wearing those I am going to collapse into uncontrollable laughter.

Like many things that were cool in the 80's - popped collars, shirts with alligator emblems, stirrup pants, etc., they are a fashion idea that came and went. And we are all better for it going away forever.

angela

[Tobra]

My ex-brother in law stole my Vuarnet sunglasses before I married his sister. Best shades for snow skiing I ever had

[RWebb]

laugh if ya want

my point is that they are xlnt sunglasses - being out of "fashion" just makes them cheaper on the used market

and I only have a stock motor in my Vanagon, not the all powerful Sube like John has.

[Damian in NJ]

Vintage Sunglasses - Home

Great stuff you may not find anywhere; I've bought two pair of Ray Ban Wayfarer Clubmasters in a size they don't sell anymore.

[Zeke]

Jean Claude Killy



Only $950.

http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0065/9882/products/fs_0017_killy_red_grande.jpg?101114

[Zeke]

Jean Claude Killy



Only $950.

http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0065/9882/products/fs_0017_killy_red_grande.jpg?101114

[VaSteve]

Where's Byron? You know he's got a pair.

[Tobra]

I bet my sister's husband has at least a few pair