Since May 7, 1937, Ray Ban has been creating sunglasses that come in a variety of styles and types. The Ray Ban Company creates sunglasses for men, women and children that not only block out the harmful rays of the sun, but also provide a unique look and sense of style to their wearers. Popularized by General Douglass MacArthur during World War II, Aviators were the first sunglasses created by Ray Ban. In the years since, Ray Ban sunglasses types and styles have evolved to include Wayfarers, those with oval shapes and many in a variety of colors.

If you're planning on buying sunglasses from one of the many Ray Ban distributors, take the time to learn about their various designs so that you can be sure to find exactly what you want at a price you can afford. Here are some additional things to consider about Ray Ban sunglasses types and styles:

1. Ray Ban's Aviator sunglasses are popular wire rimmed glasses which come in a variety of sizes, types and lens colors.

2. Wayfarers come in colors and sizes from pink and red to two-tone color designs to add style to any outfit.

3. Ray Ban sunglasses come in styles for men, women and children at affordable prices that don't sacrifice style.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn about the Aviator style of Ray Ban Sunglasses which are functional and have timeless style

As the creators of the world's best-selling sunglasses, the Ray Ban company is the creator of two signature styles, Aviators and Wayfarers. Aviators are lightweight wire framed sunglasses that come in both large and small sizes with a variety of lens colors including dark green to pink and blue. There are the original Aviator style as well as Aviator Highstreet and Outdoorsman. This line is the favored eyewear of pilots and fashionistas alike, so be sure to have plenty on stock at your retail store.

I recommend: Seek out Ray Ban glasses suppliers such as ShadesDaddy.com to review the various styles of Aviator sunglasses. Get discount Ray Ban sunglasses in the Aviator style from Overstock.com.

Gather information about Wayfarer Ray Ban Sunglasses that come in many colors and styles

Made popular in movies such as 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' and 'Risky Business,' Ray Ban's Wayfarer sunglasses were the first frames that weren't made of wire. Wayfarers come in a variety of colors and sizes from large frames to smaller ones, and include lines of wraparound styles. These are Ray Ban's top selling line, so be sure to stock up on these items for retail business.

I recommend: Get information on Ray Ban sunglasses in the Wayfarer style and more in the Sun collection at the official Ray-Ban site. Learn about the new style of Wayfarers called Colorized Wayfarers which come in 16 colors from red to silver. The site also has a Ray Ban sunglasses store where you can order Wayfarers and other Ray Ban sunglasses designs. Visit Nordstrom, a retailer of Ray Ban sunglasses, to order Wayfarers in many styles and colors.

Order Ray Ban sunglasses for men, women and children to meet customer style and function needs

Besides the various designs of Ray Ban sunglasses, there are also models created especially for men, women and children. Now anyone can have Aviators, Wayfarers or any kind of Ran Ban sunglasses made in sizes to fit them no matter their gender or age.

I recommend: Buy Ray Ban sunglasses for men from Giarre. Order Ray Ban sunglasses in various styles created specifically for women from Lenscrafters. Visit OpticsPlanet.com to purchase Ray Ban Juniors which is Ray Ban's children's line of sunglasses.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Seek out and compare the prices of many providers of Ray Ban sunglasses. Inquire about bulk discounts and develop a relationship to ensure that you always keep your Ray Ban inventory current.

For information on Ray-Ban sunglasses, just watch some of the coolest movies in which they appear. Or look at some of the hottest celebrities wearing them. Starting with Breakfast at Tiffany's (and fading out and coming back repeatedly since) the iconic Wayfarer model has become the archetypal pair of sunglasses (for those who don't only wear them to block the sun).

Known for their quality and innovation, the Ray-Ban company (which is a subsidiary of the Italian company Luxottica Group) has raised its prices on sunglasses significantly since the thirties, but with help finding the right providers of Ray-Ban sunglasses, you'll make a profit, and look great.

Start here in your search for Ray-Ban providers by:

1. Finding discount Ray-Ban sunglasses.
2. Finding Ray-Ban glasses suppliers that have the ones you want (say, the newest and best).
3. Taking their image and making it your own.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find discount Ray-Ban sunglasses, buy the top-sellers

Once you see how many providers of Ray-Ban sunglasses exist, you'll agree that serious weeding-out is necessary. Only go with Ray-Ban glasses suppliers that offer the most popular shades at a discount (no close-out discounts). Look up information on Ray-Ban sunglasses to see which styles are currently in style. Also, look at websites that offer discount Ray-Ban sunglasses for their own lists of best selling styles.

I recommend: The Ray-Ban website lets you know what cool people are wearing now, and what new styles will be popular next--like new colors for Wayfarers! Georgia Shades has good discount prices, and BestBuyEyeglasses.com has some impressive deals and a top-sellers list. I'd recommend only stocking these styles unless your customers request other models, since they are expensive and, although known for function as well, considered mostly fashion pieces.

Consider even cheaper options to Ray-Ban sunglasses

Since Ray-Ban sunglasses are so notably pricey, they may make the rest of your more affordable sunglasses look like better options. Many stores carry fake Wayfarers and cheaper Aviators (not really knock-offs, since they don't have a defining logo). I would suggest stocking both. In this way, your customers can see the difference in quality, and make their own decision. If you sell used sunglasses, vintage Ray-Ban sunglasses (like the original real-glass Aviators!) are usually a hit.

I recommend: "Risky Business" sunglasses from Fred Flare or CutesyGirl are much cheaper, but not necessarily as cheap as the "Risky Business/Men in Black/Blues Brothers" party favors some other companies make. Amazon.com has a constantly updated range of new, used, vintage and imitation versions of Ray-Ban sunglasses.

Take Ray-Ban sunglasses advice from the experts

If you want more information on Ray-Ban sunglasses, just look at the list of films they've changed for the better. Customers are often excited about buying a brand just because of the beautiful film stills featuring it. Surrounding your products with black-and-white Ray-Ban shots, in which the glasses are the focus, could be what sets you apart from other Ray-Ban glasses suppliers. If that seems a bit much for your store, a collage of tabloid items might work better.

I recommend: Della Moda's "Fashion Dictionary" is a good places to start. If you're selling more styles than the two most obvious choices (which are not always the top sellers--the Jackie Ohh's, as seen at Amazon are some of my favorites), don't forget to include pictures of them.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Information about Ray-Ban sunglasses is easy to find, but how to buy Ray-Ban sunglasses is something that changes daily. Check the prices on the Ray-Ban website (or, for used ones, eBay or Amazon) and compare them to the ones you're considering to see if the discount is substantial enough.
• •  Always look at shipping costs and large-order discounts. You can usually find free shipping and a better overall price for larger orders, but some Ray-Ban distributors offer free shipping for any size order.
• •  Ray-Ban sunglasses can be as casual as Chuck Taylor's, but, for now, they're considered more glamorous (at least cost-wise). Customers who need the signature in the corner of their lenses also want the best in service. Offer full-length mirrors, extra cleaning cloths, cases, different sizes and colors (if available) and warranties. If your store is online, offer a simulation of, or a recommendation to, the virtual mirror on Ray-Ban.com.

Ray Ban sunglasses let everyone enjoy a little movie star glam. Most people choose a style carefully, though, because Ray Bans are a bit on the pricey side as accessories go. Fortunately, there are a myriad of styles and colors—something for everyone. While long time Ray Ban fans will know just what they’re looking for when shopping for new shades, first time buyers may want your assistance and advice. The better you know the Ray Ban product line, the better positioned you’ll be to give them the valuable “second opinion” they are looking for.

Here are some of the Ray Ban trends and terms that you’ll find useful:

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Colorblock

Colorblock Ray Bans are a variation of the popular Wayfarer style. They have an ultra-cool two-tone plastic frame. The Ray Ban logo appears on the upper right lens and also on the temples.

I recommend: To view photos of Colorblock Ray Bans, go to shopbop.com.

Cats

Ray Ban has recently reissued its trendy Cats model. Cats is available in an assortment of 11 colors. The men's version is the Cats 5000. The women's version is Cats 1000.

I recommend: Click the color icons at EyeGoodies.com to see Cats Ray Bans in various colors.

Junior

Cool kids wear Ray Bans too. Parents like them because they are shatterproof and have 100% protection against ultra violet rays. They come in the same styles as adult Ray Bans, only smaller.

I recommend: For more information about Junior Ray Bans, visit the OpticsPlanet website.

Jackie Ohh

Ray Ban's Jackie Ohh model was inspired by the late Jacqueline 'Jackie' Onassis. Jackie Ohh's have a stylish lightweight frame that comes in a wide range of color choices. Jackie Ohh's can be made into prescription sunglasses.

I recommend: To see a assortment of Jackie Ohh Ray Bans visit the Sunglasses Shop website.

Polarized

Polarized Ray Bans filter out glare. They are ideal for driving or when taking part in activities around water. Polarized Ray Bans are made of optical quality glass.

I recommend: To learn more about polarized Ray Bans visit PolarizedLenses.com.

Skinnies

Skinnies is another cool, slightly slimmer variation of the Wayfarer style. Skinnies frames are two-toned plastic and are available in black, white, tortoise and neon orange or yellow. They are hailed as a 'glam' accessory for women.

I recommend: You can see Skinnies in black at the Plaza Too website.