There are new sunglasses trends almost every season, but generally, it may be better to stick to the tried and tested classics, which is what retro sunglasses are all about.
The best small retro sunglasses are designed to fit a smaller face and take their cues and styles from vintage classics that have worked so well over the years.
Table of Contents
- What Defines Retro Sunglasses
- Retro Sunglasses According to Era
- Features of Good Small Retro Sunglasses
- Reviews: The Best Small Retro Sunglasses
- Ray-Ban® Unisex Original Wayfarer Small Retro Sunglasses
- Sojos® Unisex Round Small Retro Sunglasses
- Dollger® Women's Rectangle Small Retro Sunglasses
- Livho® Women's Vintage Small Retro Sunglasses
- Jim Halo® Unisex Aviator Small Retro Sunglasses
- Feisedy® Unisex Vintage Small Round Retro Sunglasses
- Zhanmai® Unisex Vintage Small Retro Sunglasses
- Joopin® Unisex Lennon Retro Round Sunglasses
- Vintage® Women's Square Retro Sunglasses
- Kuguaok® Unisex rectangle Retro Sunglasses
- Index Table: Top Rated Small Retro Sunglasses
What Defines Retro Sunglasses
So what exactly defines sunglasses as Retro in the first place? Retro is another term used for Vintage, which has more freedom to use fashionable styles introduced today and in earlier years.
The retro style is a style that imitates and derives from certain lifestyles, trends, art forms, and historical pasts, including music, fashion, and attitudes.
Much of the retro style is vintage-inspired, including sunglasses such as the round hippie style, the aviator and the wayfarer styles, and the tortoiseshell color that became so popular.
Retro Sunglasses According to Era
To understand retro sunglasses, let us look a bit further into the different stages and eras and what were predominate styles in those years up to today;
- The 60’s Styles – At this time, the combination of frame styles with strong plastic brows, metal rims, and filigree detailing was predominant in men, while the cat’s eye shape was a favorite among women. Wild and funky frames and studded décor were the way to go. Today many popular film stars, just as many popular film stars, and icons in the ’60s, love these retro styles.
- The 50’s Styles – This is when all the real good stuff started coming out. S7unglasses became a must-have fashion accessory for everyone, and the more iconic styles started to hit the streets. This is where the very popular Wayfarer style started emerging, along with chunky and rectangular silhouette sunglasses and loads of plastics.
- The 40’s Styles – After World War 2, General Douglas McArthur became an accidental fashion icon with his Aviators as he won the Pacific. This functional piece of eyewear is a predominant style even today. This age holds some top favorites, such as the Aviators, metal frames, and tortoiseshell color frames. The circular rims with a low temple placement were likewise a top favorite.
- The 30’s Style – In the ’20s and ’30s, most sunglasses were very small in shape and lens and appeared quite minuscule to today’s standards. At this time, metal frames were more predominant as they were more affordable than plastic during the great depression.
- The 20’s Styles – Eyewear makers started to look at sunglasses as a more fashionable, functional item from the twenties. You can still see some of these simplistic designs worn today. The round wireframes became a huge favorite among hippies and similar retro styles. The horn-rimmed frames became popular and were later replaced with plastic and tortoiseshell designs and colors.
So as you can see, many of the favorite styles from the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, and today are derivative of these eras and still a hit today.
Features of Good Small Retro Sunglasses
- Styles – Retro Sunglasses include vintage styles over the years, up to today’s more fashionable iconic designs. These designs include the aviator, round hippie sunglasses, wayfarer stylers, the Tortoiseshell color, oversized styles, and even decorated and studded styles that are more in fashion today.
- Materials – Retro sunglasses come in various materials and construction. The frame can be plastic, carbonate, polycarbonate, nylon, or metal. For the lens, carbonate, glass, or plastic can be used. The lenses may be polarized or non-polarized, depending on the specific brand and model.
- Options – Most brands and models in small retro sunglasses come in different color options for the lens and frame. Some may also have lens size options and different fit options for men and women.
Reviews: The Best Small Retro Sunglasses
Here are some of our favorite retro-design sunglasses that are smaller in shape and design;
1
- The Ray-Ban Original Wayfarers are as retro as possible with a smaller design.
- They have an acetate frame and glass lenses like the original classics.
- They are fully 100% UV protection against UVA and UVB rays.
- The sunglasses are polarized and have a very durable frame.
2
- The Sojos sunglasses are a small round retro design with a double bridge.
- They offer UV 400 protection with an anti-glare coating.
- They consist of a metal frame and composite lenses, which are more durable.
- The unique style is a 20’s retro vintage style, and more colors are available.
- The silicone nose pads make them much more comfortable to wear.
3
- The Dollger rectangular sunglasses for women are also a favorite retro style.
- They have a plastic frame and polycarbonate lenses.
- There is a UV protection coating, and the square design is more protective.
- There are also more colors from which you can select.
4
- The Livio retro sunglasses are a small narrow cat-eye design for ladies.
- They have a resin frame and non-polarized anti-reflective lenses with a mirror coating.
- The frame is durable and high quality, and the lenses offer full UV 400 protection.
- The design is very lightweight and comfortable to wear.
5
Here we have square retro aviator sunglasses that are slightly smaller.
They have a metal frame and glass lenses like the original aviator sunglasses.
The lenses are not polarized, and they have a scratch-resistant coating.
The size is small to medium, ideal for smaller faces.
6
- The Feisedy Vintage small round sunglasses come in fun candy colors.
- They have a metal frame and resin lens with a UV protection coating and are quite durable.
- The lenses are small and round with a more vintage style.
- This style is ideal for hipsters and has many fun and exciting color options.
- They offer full UV 400 protection to protect against UVA and UVB rays.
7
- The package includes seven retro sunglasses.
- They have a cat’s eye design and many colors.
- The sunglasses have a plastic frame and lens.
- They are durable and non-polarized.
8
- The Joopin glasses are retro design and small.
- They are metal frames with ground glass lenses.
- There are many colors available.
- The lenses are polarized.
9
- The Retro sunglasses are a square frame design.
- They come in many colors.
- The lenses are plastic, and the frame.
- They are small in size.
10
- These are rectangular retro sunglasses.
- They have a plastic frame and lenses.
- The sunglasses offer good UV protection.
- They are available in more colors.
Index Table: Top Rated Small Retro Sunglasses
No. | Product | Image | Features | Brand | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ray-Ban Unisex Original Wayfarer - Small Retro Sunglasses |
| Ray-Ban | 98.3 | |
2 | Sojos Unisex Round - Small Retro Sunglasses |
| Sojos | 97.9 | |
3 | Dollger Women's Rectangle - Small Retro Sunglasses |
| Dollger | 97 | |
4 | Livho Women's Vintage - Small Retro Sunglasses |
| Livho | 96.7 | |
5 | Jim Halo Unisex Aviator - Small Retro Sunglasses |
| Jim Halo | 97.7 | |
6 | Feisedy Unisex Vintage - Small Round Retro Sunglasses |
| Feisedy | 97.5 | |
7 | Zhanmai Unisex Vintage - Small Retro Sunglasses |
| Zhanmai | 97.3 | |
8 | Joopin Unisex Lennon - Retro Round Sunglasses |
| Joopin | 96 | |
9 | Vintage Women's Square - Retro Sunglasses |
| Vintage | 96.8 | |
10 | Kuguaok Unisex rectangle - Retro Sunglasses |
| Kuguaok | 96.8 |