If you loved watching TV in the 80s, chances are you were a miami vice fan. Even if you weren’t, any attempt to revisit that era cannot be done without at least a brief mention of the series. miami vice was one of the defining shows of the 80s. Beyond just being good television, it also had a clearly defined aesthetic that came to help mark that era. Let’s take a closer look at how this show and its popularity really helped propel a pair of sunglasses to success.
The cultural impact of “Miami Vice”
miami vice acts as equal parts action crime drama and time capsule. It was one of the most recognizable TV shows of the 80s.
Created by acclaimed director Michael Mann before his subsequent big-screen success, he introduced an iconic style to the cultural milieu. Don Johnson’s Crockett and Philip Michael Thomas’ Tubbs were endlessly cool. Their wardrobes became a sign of the times: the casual yet chic look of men frequently wearing blazers with t-shirts became etched in the memories of many 80s television fans.
It didn’t hurt that the show was also extremely well written and well put together. Mann was obviously talented, and miami vice It was there that he developed his talents as a filmmaker which he would later apply to classic films like Heat and Collateral. Mann even adapted the show for film, directing a film starring Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx.
Along with the show’s great dialogue and action sequences, it also featured some cool clothing. One prop that helped define the show was the sunglasses worn by the two main characters: Ray-Ban Wayfarers.
What are Ray-Ban Wayfarers?
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According to Ray-Ban’s website, Wayfarers represent “the most recognizable style in the history of sunglasses”.
They come in three distinct styles: New, Original and Folding. They are also available in a wide variety of colors, gradient lenses and other customizations.
Some people go for a sleek black look. Others opt for more sophisticated woodwork. Either way, they are extremely well-regarded and the first name many people turn to when shopping for glasses. In many ways, they’ve become like the Babe Ruth of sunglasses – synonymous and almost interchangeable with the word itself.
Of course, this has not always been the case. There was a time when the Wayfarers and the Ray-Ban brand in general were so depressed it seemed hopeless. With the help of a movie and TV show, they rose like a phoenix.
Why Ray-Ban owes a debt of gratitude to “Miami Vice”
In the early to mid-1980s, Ray-Ban didn’t have nearly the same market share as it does today. In fact, the brand itself was near death. According to Mental Floss, however, miami vice played a big part in their resurrection and subsequent success.
Although Ray-Bans are worn by many people now, they weren’t very popular in the early 80s. What started the reversal of this trend was a young star named Tom Cruise. Cruise wore a pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarers in the film Risky business. This caused a spike in sales.
To add fuel to the fire, Johnson wore them on Miami Vice. By 1986, thanks in large part to the combined efforts of Cruise and Johnson, they sold 1.5 million pairs.
What is the lesson here? If you have a brand of clothing or accessories, ask someone as popular as Johnson was in the 80s to wear your brand. While he is now considered a veteran statesman of the theater world, at the time Johnson was an idol and hugely popular. Just putting on the Wayfarers was enough to boost their sales. The sunglasses went perfectly with the rest of her wardrobe, so it didn’t seem forced at all.
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