The year has begun on a positive yet very chilled out note. Quite a surprise as I tend to get internally hyper about the things to come or the stuff that is not happening. Calm before the storm? I hope not…
Well in the cool spirit of things, let me not worry about the fact that I’m not worried and go on to speak about the cult classic Ray-Ban Wayfarers that have been in my possession for a few years now. These are definitely one of the finest representations of the casual cool vibe with a pinch of mischief thrown in…
So facts first — these were launched in 1956 and were popular through the 50’s & 60’s; before slumping in 70’s and then rising to popularity in the 80’s with Ray- Ban signing on a whopping product placement Hollywood deal. They then featured on Tom Cruise (hot in the 80’s; not now) in the movie ‘Risky Business’ (ahem!), and on the stalwarts like Madonna, Debbie Harry and Michael Jackson. Even Jack Nicholson and Anna Wintour wore them then but…lets stick to the purveyors of “cool”. They were redesigned in the 2000’s and made millennial appropriate so that people like me can also experience a bit of vintage nonchalance…
Now, when I tried these on…I was super excited that they looked alright… but what I figured is that they need to be accompanied with a sure-of your self, effortless attitude… which is NOT easy to master. (the irony!).
At the behest of my brother, I bought these with tremendous hesitation. I was in Delhi and with the sun beating down on me most year, I had to buy a pair… Funnily, I didn’t wear them for quite a few days. I don’t know why but I would feel super conscious wearing sunglasses unless it was a necessity. It was just one of those things…
I started wearing them to work while driving, necessary having no tinted windows on my car. I guess the Sun Gods made me do it. Now, that I look back maybe they were urging me to ‘Stay Cool’ in every sense. Moving on…that became a regular practice until I wore it out and nobody looked at me funny. So yes epiphany!! I wore my wayfarers all summer…appropriately of course…not inside a pub or at night (that’s just way creepy).
Fast forward to today, I wear them all year when the sun is beating down and they keep me comfortable physically and mentally cool. I think I am much cooler than I used to be… not in an arrogant sense, but just more relaxed, surer of myself, and more comfortable in my skin and with the choices I make. (its always a work in progress right?)
Sometime, I feel my wayfarers have helped along the way… telling me that ever whirlwind can be weathered — all you need to do is stay cool and of course…“never hide”.
What are the classics you all swear by? Leave me comments below!
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