Aviators Return: An Old-School Frame Is New Again

Good riddance to geek chic. Yes, we could be witnessing the demise of hipster eyewear. You know the kind. They’re black, brown or sometimes tortoise shell. They’re chunky, oversize and made of acetate. They’re part of an L train look that in the last five years has been worn by everyone from Hollywood’s A-list to the local CVS pharmacist. But now, like giving up your favorite dive bar that has been invaded by tourists, it’s time to move on. Kendall Jenner, Tracee Ellis Ross, the blogger Chiara Ferragni and the model Bella Hadid already have. They are just a few tastemakers breathing new life into a classic style of eyeglasses: the aviator. “Trendsetters now want metal frames again,” said Jordan Silver, an owner of the hip eyewear outfitter Silver Lining Opticians in New York. “They want gold. They want silver. They want flash. Because the chunky, oversize look is everywhere, it’s kind of out.” Garrett Leight, the Los Angeles eyewear designer, attributes the resurgence of optical aviators to fashion’s current longing for everything Gucci. “When Alessandro Michele sent an oversize aviator onto the spring 2017 runway, everyone went crazy for it,” Mr. Leight said. “He definitely played a role in this style becoming a trend again. Read more at The New York Times.