Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Autopilots: Our Top 10 Aviator shades

autopilots our top 10 aviator shades barl
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Aviator sunglasses: It’s not a case of them being back today because they’ve literally never had a bad landing since they arrived – perfectly on time – in 1936 when eyeglass manufacturer Bausch & Lomb introduced them to get-the-sun-outta-my-eyes pilots in the armed forces.

These sunglasses’ very eclectic path into men’s fashion iconography/history ranges from General Douglas MacArthur wearing them as he stormed the beaches in WWII to the 1980s’ favorite Toms – Selleck and Cruise respectively – donning them in “Magnum, P.I.” and “Top Gun.”

Recommended Videos

And although the general public’s love for the above-mentioned trio may have faded quite a bit since, the eyewear they totally rocked at the time has not. Aviator-style sunglasses are indeed eyewear that isn’t flying off the radar any time soon.

So consider these 10 Aviator shades – in a wide range of prices – that will accentuate your face and make you feel like a badass controller of your life’s current (or next) destination….

AB
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Aviator Sunglasses by Abercrombie & Fitch, $48

Barl
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Hawkeye Square Navigator Sunglasses by Barton Perreira, $445

Dita-con
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Condor by Dita, $395

Dita
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Mach-Two by Dita, $700

Ray-ban
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Original Aviator by Ray-Ban, $150

Shwoo
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Medford by Shwood, $189

Sunday
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Parker by Sunday Somewhere, $370

Thom-Browne
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Aviator Sunglasses by Thom Browne, $675

Toms-M-not-401
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Maverick 401 by TOMS, $159

Warby-Parker
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Dempsey by Warby Parker, from $145

Christopher Blomquist
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Christopher is a native New Yorker who lives and works (mostly) in Manhattan. A longtime fashion journalist, he served as…
Men’s winter outfit ideas: Embrace brown textures and bold blues this season
Look great even when it gets cold
Winter Outfit Feature

Winter brings with it the coldest temperatures of the year. While some people in Florida or Southern California don't have to worry about that in the same way that others do in Minnesota or New York, everyone has to adjust their seasonal wardrobe to stay warm. Much like we did with winter boots, we don't believe one should sacrifice style in the face of cold weather. There are ways to stay warm while still looking great. Because we never want anyone to sacrifice their style while trying to keep warm, we came up with some men's winter outfit ideas you can wear today to look fantastic and not freeze when leaving the house. 
Brown textures

The Pantone color of the year is mocha moose, which means that 2025 is the year of the browns. Wearing brown is a tricky affair at times because the color can feel bland if you do it the wrong way. That is why we focused on bringing textures into my outfit. The corduroy jacket and corduroy pants created a daring look that can play well off each other if done right. Mixing that with the cable knit sweater and suede boots deepened the look in a way that let the textures speak and liven up the browns. Topping that off with a tan beanie keeps the head warm while playing off the lighter brown of the sweater.
Steal the look

Read more
TAG Heuer unveils motorsport-inspired watches (and more) during LVMH Watch Week
TAG Heuer unveils new timepieces
TAG Heuer Carrera Date

Since TAG Heuer is a part of the LVMH group, it introduced new watches into the market during LVMH Watch Week, including timepieces that celebrate its title as the Formula 1 official timekeeper. Apart from the Formula 1 watches, the brand also added new pieces to the TAG Heuer Carrera line.
TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph
TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph TAG Heuer / TAG Heuer

For starters, the new Formula 1 collection has four watches characterized by unique color accents, such as lime green, red, and electric blue. Such colors are quite effective in painting a picture of what goes down on Formula 1 tracks. Every single watch features an aerodynamic casing reminiscent of Formula 1 cars. The watches have titanium cases, bezels, and precision-engineered tachymeters printed on an aluminum insert.
TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche Rallye
TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche Rallye. TAG Heuer / TAG Heuer

Read more
Get this Hublot luxury watch while it’s on sale at $1,800 off
The Hublot Big Bang Original Steel automatic watch on a white background.

While we're always rounding up some watch deals for affordable timepieces, we also check for offers on luxury watches that don't often go on sale. Here's one from Amazon: the Hublot Big Bang Original Steel at 14% off, which brings the price of the automatic watch down from $13,300 to $11,500 for total savings of $1,800. It's still not what you'd call affordable, of course, but if you're on the hunt for a luxury watch, you should heavily consider taking advantage of this deal as this class of watches rarely gets discounts.

Why you should buy the Hublot Big Bang Original Steel automatic watch
Hublot is a famous luxury watch brand that's behind the popular Big Bang line, and the Hublot Big Bang Original Steel showcases everything to like about the series. The 44mm case is made of polished and satin-finished stainless steel, and it comes with black structured rubber straps. The automatic watch is water resistant up to a depth of 100 meters, and while it's a self-winding chronograph, it holds a power reserve of 42 hours.

Read more