WHO: Less preppy and more Jeff Spicoli, this vintage trend veers away from the retro geek chic look of the last several seasons and speaks more to the style-conscious who lead on-the-go, active, fast-paced lifestyles. Urban dandies, fashionistas and the hipster elite looking for more casual and relaxed styles which retain an authentic heritage feel with all the techy bells and whistles this smartphone generation expects.

WHAT: Some sport-oriented eyewear brands have dipped into their archives to re-introduce updated versions of their vintage styles. Heavily influenced by the 1970s, many of these brands are reaching new, fashion conscious audiences by branching out into retro-inspired lifestyle offerings. With shapes rooted in skiing, surfing, jogging and racing, further inspiration for these styles comes from the typical ‘60s and ‘70s-era training outfits and track suits and feature bold color blocking in unexpected, slightly aged beiges and ochres, ash browns and grays and powdery orange, pink and aqua shades.

WEAR: (Clockwise from top left) The Carrera Safari in burnt sienna from Safilo stays very true to the brand’s original inspiration—the iconic Carrera Panamericana Mexican car race of the early 1950s—and though the eyewear experienced a heyday in the mid-‘70s, thanks to modern day music and sports stars the brand is fresh again. With a heritage that spans back over 100 years and a pedigree founded in safety glasses and goggles, Bollé has an extensive archive to pull from and few colors say retro like seafoam green; add a white racing stripe and a groovy oversized silhouette and you’ve got the Bollé Phoebe sunglasses from Bushnell. Converse is the quintessential 1970s sport brand. In 1974, the All Star sneaker was the go to basketball shoe but it became irresistible to a generation of rockers and skaters alike and today the brand pays homage to its origins, including the Breakdown Lane sunglasses with a leather bridge insert that gives a nod to the ’76 Pro Leather All Star. California surf style was a big influence on sport looks in the 1970s and nothing says surfer more than “reflecto” lenses, enter the Revo Grand Classic from Luxottica; a modern style with definite roots in the past, the deep, slightly cat-eye shape is further enhanced by the flash coated lenses in iridescent orange. Begun in 1964 and sold out of the back of a car, Nike as we know it today introduced their first collection of athletic footwear in 1971. Not a brand to forget its roots, Nike has launched the Nike Vintage Vision Collection for Fall featuring six initial styles fusing retro looks with modern day technology, including the Vintage 72 with classic color blocking, racing stripes and mirror lenses.

WHY: Neo-retro sport blends the best of the old with the new. Classic vintage styling is paired with the best technical innovation standards available today to provide wearers with the perfect balance of function and style. In a time when life is moving fast, time is at a premium and most people spend the majority of their day in an office or car. The revival of vintage sport styles recalls the feeling of a natural, healthy lifestyle lived in the open air, without complications or ambiguity. 

Deirdre Carroll, Senior Editor