Vintage Persol Sunglasses for Men

When new brands are popping up everyday, I love gaining confidence in a product by discovering the long history of its designer.  Persol has been creating fashionable and technically advanced sunglasses since the company was started as a humble optical store by Giuseppe Ratti in 1917.  Originally Ratti created glasses for pilots and sports drivers, which began the brand’s focus on revolutionary designs.  The brand was named Persol from “per il sole” meaning for the sun.

The Persol Model 649 was created in 1957 for tram drivers in Turin who needed protection for their eyes from sun, air, and dust.  The design had a distinct style that was copied by many competitors over the years and has made historical appearances in classic movies like “Divorce Italian Style” and multiple James Bond movies.

Image: Nordstrom

The classic vintage style has been re-created by Persol and is available for fashionable men today.  The sunglasses are finely crafted in Italy with beautiful metal arrow inlays and the distinct keyhole nose bridge.   The Persol Retro Keyhole Sunglasses are available for $310 at Nordstrom.