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Every day of every month at GQ, we start your morning on Instagram with visual advice on What to Wear Today. But we want to go deeper, and give you the nuts and bolts of how to get the look into your wardrobe. This month we're providing you with a list of menswear essentials to upgrade your closet. Up today: aviator sunglasses you can actually afford.
Some great-looking (and arguably life-changing) menswear buys are hard to fake at everyman prices. Think: shearling outerwear, high-quality knitwear, and Italian-made suits. Others—like aviator sunglasses—are easier. Sure, there are handmade options well over $200, but affordable shades serve a purpose, too: they allow you to look great without emptying your bank account, and easing your worry if you happen to leave 'em at the beach). Ray-Ban obviously does it best with their classic teardrop shades, which date back to the '30s and were worn by military pilots. Then there's Carrera, the Italian eyewear brand known for its sleazy-cool plastic frames. (Jared Leto is the new face of Carrera and makes the oversized shades look all kinds of good.) In terms of modern brands, Warby Parker knows what guys want—variations in color and shape, but not to an extreme degree—and the craftsmanship holds up better than what you'll find at your average mall kiosk. Michael Kors is a good option if you want a little bit more flash without looking like you're wearing crazy sunglasses as a gag. The designer's mirrored lenses and futuristic frames are great on the beach or on the slopes. And if you lose them, you're only out 150 bucks.
