Oversized eyewear - simply gigantic

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In our oversized-eyewear category, there are XXL sunglasses, which may be called oversized due to their size, as well as XL eyewear, which appear oversized due to their shape proportions.
It is often women’s sunglasses that are associated with the oversize design. These vintage sunglasses for women have huge sunglass lenses, which are trendy fashion accessory and wonderfully come into their own with long hair worn down. Oversized sunglasses are often part of an overall outfit. The Christian Dior 2056, 2250 and 2475 sunglasses are great examples of this style.
When we talk about XXL models in men’s eyewear, it’s more about the dimensions, although sizes are always relative, of course. In our FAQs (LINK to FAQ no. 6?), we have shown by means of a diagram that glasses with a width of 140mm can be described as oversized.
However, the vintage 5623 and 5621 sunglasses from Porsche Design by Carrera from the 1980s show how relative sizes can be judged.
Both models are identical in shape but differ in size. The 5623 women’s model was accordingly labelled SMALL and the Porsche 5621 men’s model LARGE.
If the size of the glasses alone were taken as a basis, the Porsche 5623 would not be classified as SMALL today, but rather as MEDIUM sized. And the Porsche 5621 not as LARGE, but as X-LARGE.
However, since the 80s fashion had its own style, numerous similar examples can be found. Many 80s glasses and sunglasses from Alpina, Cazal and Porsche, which were sold as LARGE eyewear at that time, can now be found in our category of oversized XL sunglasses.
Regardless of their size, there were sunglasses already in the 70s that were simply huge in size. Silhouette’s Futura series was deliberately oversized and more of a work of art than sunglasses. The Futura sunglasses were real eye-catchers in striking colours.
For designers such as Nina Ricci, Ted Lapidus, Pierre Cardin, Emilio Pucci and Laura Biagiotti, oversized women’s sunglasses were the zeitgeist of 70s fashion. Some of these 70s designer sunglasses collections consist almost exclusively of oversized XXL sunglasses.
Brigitte Bardot also embodied female sex appeal with her oversized glasses. The sunglasses MARIA and BABETTE by Brigitte Bardot are real rarities today.
In general, one can say that the old oversized sunglasses in unworn condition have become very rare indeed. After almost five decades, the 70s originals are very difficult to find. Therefore, we are glad that we can nevertheless present to you, every now and then, some of these rare vintage glasses in our shop.