The History of the Wayfarer: How One Frame Defined Cool

From its 1952 debut and 1980s movie revival to today's budget and smart-glasses versions, here's how the Ray-Ban Wayfarer became the most influential plastic…

If the aviator is the defining metal frame, the wayfarer is the defining plastic one. Its trapezoidal shape — wider at the brow than at the cheek, with a slight forward tilt — has been copied by nearly every sunglasses brand. Here is how it got there.

1952: a break from metal

By the early 1950s, most sunglasses were thin metal frames like the aviator. Advances in plastic molding allowed designers to make thick, strong frames in new shapes. Ray-Ban designer Raymond Stegeman created the Wayfarer, released in 1952, with a heavy acetate front, angled lenses, and metal rivets at the hinges. It looked nothing like the soft, round eyewear of the time.

The 1950s and 1960s: stars and musicians

The wayfarer quickly found a following among actors and musicians. James Dean, Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's, Bob Dylan, and jazz musicians of the era wore wayfarer-style frames, linking the shape with an effortless, rebellious kind of cool.

Decline and revival

By the 1970s, tastes had moved to oversized and metal frames, and wayfarer sales fell. The comeback came in the 1980s: The Blues Brothers (1980) and especially Risky Business (1983), with Tom Cruise in a pair, triggered a dramatic sales jump. Through the decade, wayfarers appeared on music television and album covers, and the frame became permanent.

Original vs New Wayfarer

Ray-Ban still sells the Original Wayfarer RB2140, with its pronounced forward tilt and acetate frame. Decades later the brand added the New Wayfarer RB2132, a slightly smaller, flatter frame that sits closer to the face and fits more people comfortably. If the original tilt bothers you or your cheeks touch the lens, the New Wayfarer is the one to try.

Why the wayfarer suits so many faces

The strong top line and angular corners add structure to round and oval faces, and the broader brow balances triangle-shaped faces with a wide jaw. Very angular, square faces sometimes prefer a softer shape; see our square face guide.

Today's wayfarers at every price

Beyond Ray-Ban, the wayfarer is the template for many popular budget frames. Knockaround Fort Knocks Polarized (about $40) and Knockaround Premiums Polarized (about $36) offer the shape in many colors. Goodr OG (about $25) adapted it for running, the Suncloud Mayor (about $60) adds a lifetime warranty, and the Oakley Frogskins (about $140) is Oakley's 1985 interpretation. At the high-tech end, the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer (about $300) builds a camera and speakers into the classic shape.

Prices are approximate and change with retailers and colorways. Check for a clear UV400 or 100% UV label, and compare frame width with a pair you already own before ordering. You can browse the whole shape family in our sunglasses directory.