The Dipple & Conway Archive Collection: 1984

By the time we reach the 1980’s, luxury fashion designers were making an impact in the world of eyewear. Brands previously considered high-end were accessible to more people than ever. Fashion houses and names including Dior, Police, Oliver Peoples, Lacoste and Halston were firm favourites. While Lacroix, Cartier and Donna Karen followed suit, launching eyewear collections for the style conscious. In 1984, frames were oversized with high and low temples, and adorned with intricate designs. Ray-Ban’s were also a key look, and later this decade the brand’s iconic Aviator sunglasses soared in popularity. Although around since the 1930’s, the release of hit film Top Gun in 1986, starring Tom Cruise, may have had some influence! Others looked beyond the glitz of Hollywood to take inspiration from yesteryear, as the concept of retro emerged. In the late 80’s and early 90’s, vintage frames were regularly reimagined; brought back to the optician’s shelf as wearers reinvented looks of times gone by. Luxury eyewear also began to take form, with brands such as Cartier making an impression.