Aviator sunglasses were first worn by military airplane pilots and get their name from the term aviation. Since their fighter pilot debut in the 1930s, aviator glasses have donned the faces of non-pilots and have served as a fashion staple for men and women around the globe. You may not ever be as famous as Hugh Jackman, and you may not have the money of Beyonce Knowles in the bank. Still, you can channel superstar vibe with a pair of aviator lenses.

Aviator sunglasses generally have a wire frame and oversized mirror lenses. There are a plethora of sunglass designers that have manufactured and have put their own spin on aviator sunglasses. Dolce and Gabbana, Prada, Ray Ban, and Gucci are just a few of the designer brands that offer aviator style lenses. On your quest for the perfect pair of aviator lenses, make sure you have a budget for your sunglasses. The aforementioned designers offer trendier frames, but it will cost you several hundred dollars to look cool. If the designer name doesn't matter to you, you can most definitely find a pair of frames under $20 at a variety of online retailers.

Classic Aviator Sunglasses

Classic aviator lenses offer excellent UV protection due to their curved lenses. Lenses on aviators generally have polarized lenses. You can also choose mirrored lenses.

Trendy Aviator Sunglasses

Trendier aviator styles may or may not have curved lenses and many are not made of wire. Even Rayban has up to ante on their classic aviators, and now offer several trendier styles that pay homage to the old school style. You can now purchase aviator sunglasses in a multitude of hues, shapes, and sizes. Hip hop artist Kanye West has been seen sporting aviator style sunglasses in red and white. These days the aviators are very trendy and becoming on both men and women. You can find aviators with gold arms, gradient lenses, rhinestones, thick arms, and so much more.

Aviators Under $100

Brands like Fossil, Bliss, and Armani Exchange offer both classic and updated aviators for under $100. Fossil and Bliss brands have styles that are closer to the classic lenses. Armani Exchange, however, offers very trendy aviator lenses that are sleek and super fashion forward.

Aviators Over $100

RayBan is the most popular brand for any type of sunglasses. While RayBan does offer aviator sunglasses that are below $100, the majority of frames that you will find exceed the $100 mark. If you plan to purchase sunglasses that are over $50, you should always make sure that you are purchasing a good pair of sunglasses. It would be a waste of time and effort to spend such hard earned money on a pair of sunglasses only to find out they are not worth it. When shopping online for Ray Bans, Prada, Cole Haan, Armani, or any other designer frames, do your homework. Auction retailers frown against selling knock off (fake) merchandise, but there are many people who are simply interested in making money off of unaware consumers and will lie in order to make fast cash. Make sure online retailers are verified, and stand behind the products they are selling.

From fighter pilots to the 80s flick Top Gun. From the 80s to the 2000s. Aviators have stood the test of times. Can't you just see yourself looking super suave in a pair of classic or trendy aviator sunglasses? Yes, we knew you could!