Ray-Ban Meteor: rains of falling stars

There is a belief that the most hipster (read, "fashionable, stylish, youthful") model of Ray-Ban is the Clubmaster, created in the 1980s, whose design roots go back to the mid-20th century when American politicians and businessmen strolled in such glasses.

But that’s a blatant lie! Of course, not about the politicians, businessmen, or dates, but about the most hipster model. We can confidently state that the title belongs to none other than the Ray-Ban Meteor.

The wind of change

This was exactly the wind that blew in the direction of Ray-Ban in the mid-1960s. Within less than 10 years, the company expanded its range from 30 to 50 models. The heroes of many famous films, and Hollywood’s first stars, chose these glasses. Among others, based on the already successful Wayfarer model (introduced in 1957), the feminine Ray-Ban Laramie and the masculine Ray-Ban Meteor were created.

Meteor is a very fitting name, as it is associated with stars in both literal and metaphorical senses.

Describing a star

So, what defines the Ray-Ban Meteor? A rectangular shape (which dictates its resemblance to the Wayfarer) with a distinct emphasis on the upper outer corners that have a sharp, "angular" form: a strict version of the popular 1960s "cat-eye" silhouette. Additional attention to the corners is drawn by rivets (one on each side), an iconic feature of the Wayfarer.

The frame material is polypropylene plastic. It is well-protected against deformation, resistant to wear. In terms of manufacturing, plastic frames are typically coated with a layer of lacquer for extra protection. Meteor glasses undergo not a single but double coating, making them even more durable.



The lenses in Meteor glasses are another nod to the classics: G-15 — the green pioneer with maximum natural color rendition and the contrasting brown B-15.

I'm a hipster at heart

A logical question might be, what is so hipster about this model? Without waiting for it, we answer:

1. This model is genuinely vintage, hailing from the '60s (unlike the more modern Clubmaster).

2. It has a completely unusual shape, although it resembles something familiar.

3. The production run of Meteor is extremely small.

4. They are very hard to find.





Despite being initially introduced as a men's model, today women love wearing it. Many famous female celebrities have been spotted in Ray-Ban Meteor glasses: Julia Roberts, Lindsay Lohan, Olivia Wilde, Sienna Miller. Additionally, there is a growing interest in this model among fashion bloggers.

So being a hipster isn’t all that bad, especially if you love Ray-Ban Meteor and the rains of falling, and therefore burning with full power, stars! V-)