The Clubmaster style of sunglasses is a variation of the browline style that first came out in the 1940s. In this article, we’ll be talking all about the Clubmasters, its history, and its journey to becoming the iconic style staple that it is today.
Although its first conception does indeed go way back in 1947 as the innovation of Jack Rohrbach, the then vice president of Shuron Ltd, it wasn’t until the 1980s that it garnered incredible popularity in the media. This was all thanks to Bruce Willis sporting them in the much-watched series “Moonlighting”, inspiring thousands of viewers to take note and follow suit. This happened after sales plummeted in the 1970s, despite an impressive, roaring start in its earlier years.
It was Ray-Ban’s decision to launch their version of the famous browline sunglasses upon seeing popular demand for it – they gave it its iconic name as The Clubmasters. They did tremendously well in the market, even being the third most popular sunglasses style of the decade, just right behind Wayfarers and Aviators.
It’s no surprise why this style earned such huge attention. They are defined by an angular style on the upper rim of the frame, tapering down to a thin metal rim (or sometimes rimless) bottom half. It embodies cool, offbeat, and intellectual with its distinctive lens shape.
Synonymous with browline frames, they accentuate the wearer’s natural brows, emitting a bold and chic vibe. They were initially invented for regular eyeglasses and were commonly worn with clear prescription lenses for everyday use. After its surge in demand following its appearance on the small screen, several optical companies picked up the style with their own versions of the Clubmasters.
However, come the 1990s, there was yet another dip in sales due to backlash against the consumer culture, to which the style of the Clubmasters was unfortunately closely linked. The release of the film Falling Down in 1993 in particular caused the browline glasses to be associated with angry, white men.
It wasn’t until the mid-2000s when the stigmas around this style began to dissolve, thanks to beloved shows like Mad Men that brought on a revived fondness for its retro charm. Today, they remain as one of the staples in classic sunglasses styles, and any style aficionado knows all too well that no wardrobe is truly complete without a pair of Clubmasters. To snag one for yourself for that refined and everlasting vintage look, transform your life and shop Clubmaster sunglasses today!
How to Style Clubmaster Sunglasses
When it comes to Clubmasters, you’ll want to choose a pair that matches your style, as well as your personality. Determine your aesthetic goals – if you’re looking for something classic that will complement any of your outfits, then a pair of black clubmasters with a chic silver rim will do the trick. If you’re looking for something a little more bold that will add some edge to your wardrobe, then we would recommend that you go for a tortoiseshell pair with a gold-rimmed frame.
The great thing about Clubmasters is that they will make anyone look stylish and fashionable. They work for any occasion, such as a romantic date or just a casual brunch with your friends or co-workers. You can even wear them at a fanciful cocktail party or you can keep them on for just a regular ol’ stroll around the city.
Clubmasters have that magic about them that pairs pleasantly with any attire, aided by the fact that they have an endless amount of options, colors, and variations that you can choose from. They also do fantastically well in enhancing most types of face shapes, like oval, round and rectangular ones.
Published on Holr Magazine