Review and Comparison of Ray Ban New Wayfarers and Classic Clubmaster Sunnies

When you're in the vast outdoors, or the sunnyscape of temperate California, one thing you will need in your arsenal is a solid pair of sunglasses. Perhaps you are an avid biker, or an artist or a beach bum... either way, your trusty shades are there with you through thick and thin.

In my case, the criteria for the perfect pair is functionality, durability and style. 

Ray Ban's have been around since the 30's but more prominently in the 50's when they became iconic in American pop culture. When I was little, my dad had a pair of what are clubmaster sunnies today and I remembered how he looked SO cool in them. It was that effortless look that I most loved then and still love today.

Today I'm comparing two of their classic sunnies - the clubmaster and the wayfarer.

Pictured below is the Classic Clubmaster Sunnies 49mm (Tortoise/Arista Frame/Crystal Green Lens). 

This one is the new wayfarer sunnies with tortoise frames and black lenses.

Construction/Craftsmanship

Clubmaster - These glasses are crafted really nicely and the attention to small details is evident in the design. It also feels very sturdy in my hands and all the screws are perfectly in line. Everything from the gold rim to the nose bridge is secure and tight.

New Wayfarer - Solid acetate frames, lightweight and crafted well. The plastic is thick and sturdy and the hinges are strong and secure. It's slightly heavier than the clubmasters but not by much. 

Design/Comfort

Clubmaster - Retro, sleek, unique. Wears really well on my face, and doesn't fall off. The nose bridge support fits perfectly and I don't find myself having to push the glasses up. The lenses are a tortoise tint and isn't dark. In fact, it's much lighter than I envisioned but I really like it. To others, it's very dark and they can't see your eyes (which I love!). In bright sunny days, these shades won't cover the glare of the sun but everything will be a little greenish. 

New Wayfarer - Sharp, much more subtle than the original Wayfarer's. They sit on my face with a lot of ease. Compared to the Clubmaster's, this pair doesn't have a sharp angle with all the metal hardware. Super durable as well. I've had these for about 4 years now and they're still great. I use them constantly. I got the ones with the grey lens. It's much darker than the green tint so during the summer I constantly use these over the Clubmaster's.

Through the lens - Clubmaster's

New Wayfarer

The New Wayfarer's have more "bulk" compared to the Clubmaster's but I don't really mind it as long as it's in a case. Both are very lightweight anyway. The Clubmaster's are great casual sunnies that I take with me everywhere. Such a classic look that transcends time. Very lightweight and folds very flat so no bulky carry case either. You can easily slip them in a cover and it'll protect them. I think both look best with a bright lippie! 

Clubmaster's

New Wayfarers 

Both of these sunglasses are perfect for me and I tend to interchange them depending on my mood. I think they both present two very different looks but both equally flattering and practical. The New Wayfarers look more polished whereas the Clubmaster's are a little more "hipster". Both are great though and I don't think I could choose between the two! 

Price-wise, Ray Ban's are perfectly situated in the lower priced end of "high end" lenses. Each pair of these were less than $150, making it very affordable for someone who doesn't want to sacrifice style for quality and vice versa. They are readily available on Amazon, eye wear stores and online.

I may experiment with the Ray Ban Aviators sometime in the future but from past try-on's, they're not very flattering on me. These fit my round face frame a lot better. 

What is your go-to brand of sunglasses? Low end v High end make a difference?

Lusting Over Warby Parker!

Have you gals heard of Warby Parker specs? I've seen a lot of bloggers sporting them recently and I was really thinking of trying on a few pairs. Awesome thing is that they have a show rooms in big metropolitan cities - I could pop into their SF one. 

Their retro styles are really drawing me in. A few months ago, I ordered a pair of glasses from coastal.com and it was okay. While I liked the styles, I only ordered to claim the first free pair. I could do a review on that if you guys are curious!

Here are some of the styles from Warby Parker that I've been lusting... a lot.

Beckett Stiped Evergreen

Modern librarian nerd chic. Right?  Would be a great addition to your office drawer - looking smart and sharp.

Chandler Olivewood

The bright yellow and contrasting oak colors make the glasses look unique and interesting. I love the sleek wayfarer design, retro frames and simple style. A person wearing this would look nerd chic and enjoy banned books, good coffee and the urban lifestyle. 

Clyde Blue Marblewood

Cozy and retro fitting - a bit of a cat eye and a swirly color wheel.  This would be awesome for casual outings with friends, or novel writing at place of choice.

Most of their specs are $95, and that includes the frames, anti reflective lens and a 30 day return policy. The cool thing is that you can try it on at home ;) You pick 5 pairs of frames and they send it to you at no cost. It comes with a return label so you can ship it back. You have no obligation to purchase but it works out all the better if there is a frame you love. Pretty reasonable, me thinks! :) 

Off to choose my frames! Have you gals every bought or tried anything from Warby Parker? One of my favorite bloggers, Laura from Worldly Delights recommended them to me awhile back. She sports them a lot on her blog and looks ridiculously awesome all the time!

Awesomely cool, awesomely retro :)