Sunglass Class

John Bledsoe
Phi Kappa Tau

Every fraternity sees one of their “new boys” walk in the house shortly after pledgeship ends wearing a pair of non-Greek Oakley sunglasses.  Obviously someone has to tell them that their sunglass choice is not up to par in this new world they’ve put themselves in.  So one may ask themself in this predicament: what sunglasses help me stay classy?

Ray Bans are always an excellent choice especially the Wayfarer style shown in this picture; nothing screams class quite like a pair of polarized Wayfarers.  Costa Del Mar also makes an exceptional array of sunglasses that are more than acceptable.  Personally, I enjoy the Brine and Harpoon styles.  Costas are very well made sunglasses that come in such a wide variety of lenses and frame styles.  The tortoise frame being one of the more popular styles, and Costa even gives the wearer an option between glass or plastic lenses.

When buying sunglasses my dad has always pushed me to buy Maui Jim’s which are his favorite sunglass choice.  Maui Jim’s are fantastic sunglasses that are extremely classy, but in my mind they can only be pulled off by a select group of people, and they belong in the “frat dad” category.  I have to tell him every time I want to go buy a new pair of sunglasses that I just haven’t reached his frat dad level at this point in my life.

No pair of classy sunglasses is complete without a pair of Croakies to go along with them.  Everyone has many options in the Croakie department, but it’s always a safe play to go with the fat-strap style of Croakies.  One should look for his Croakies in his favorite clothing brand’s store.  Southern-Tide, Vineyard Vines, and Volunteer Traditions all make great Croakies that every sunglass wearer should have to make their sunglass “that” much better.  Ray Ban wearers may find that they like their Wayfarers without Croakies.  This is a style that is still more than acceptable.  There’s really no way to go wrong with your Wayfarers. Well, except maybe attaching some god awful Cablz to them.  Don’t do that.

Some people can pull off an aviator style of sunglasses and remain classy.  It’s tough, but it can be done, and even Ray Ban makes classic aviator styles. But let’s be real here. It’s no longer 1986, and Tom Cruise isn’t Maverick anymore, so don’t take any unnecessary risks.

Hopefully after reading this all new boys will get the picture on what sunglass styles are classy and how they can properly wear them.  Now they won’t make the mistake of getting scolded every time they walk through the front door of the house.  So go out there new boys, spend a little bit of left over Christmas money, and achieve some sunglass class.

John is a freshman studying chemical engineering. You may contact him at jcb0043@auburn.edu.