Back in June, we reported on Oakley’s introduction of the Ellipse sunglasses, a uniquely styled pair of shades paying homage to the brand’s 50th Anniversary. Since then, the Big O has continued to celebrate 50 years of pushing the boundaries of style and performance in sport and casual eyewear. Most recently, this included the launch of the 50th Anniversary Collection, featuring the Ellipse sunglasses and several different goggles dressed up for Oakley’s golden anniversary.
In its history, Oakley has never really shied away from making bold style choices. As a child of the ‘80s and ‘90s, I remember early models of Oakley Blades that initially seemed so outlandish but ultimately became the norm. In my later teens, I saved up to buy some Oakley Eye Jackets that I just had to have because they were so “cool,” but in retrospect, looked kinda ridiculous. Take a look through Oakley’s archive of sunglasses, and there’s no shortage of wild designs, some of which flopped, and others that arguably helped define sunglass style over the past few decades.
I would argue Oakley’s influence has been most apparent in the sport and performance market. While many of Oakley’s latest creations might still be considered absurd — Kato anyone? — I think it’s fair to say that we’ve grown more accustomed to the bold designs. I definitely have anyway. In fact, the new Vanguard Meta AI sunglasses I have looked a little wild to me at first, but they seem normal now.
And with ‘90s fashion making a comeback — I wish I had saved my original JNCO jeans — Oakley is even bringing back some of its iconic styles, like the aforementioned Eye Jackets. Okay, so the new Eye Jacket Redux isn’t an exact copy of the glasses from 1994, but they’re pretty darn close. And there are several other new models in the lineup that bear a strong resemblance to shades from 30 years ago.
So, while they have quite an out-of-the-box design, the Oakley Ellipse glasses don’t surprise me that much. For 50 years, Oakley has always been about “disruptive innovation,” and I’d say the Limited Edition 50th Anniversary Ellipse glasses certainly exemplify that. Sure, their shape mirrors that of the brand’s iconic Ellipse symbol, but they also blend elements of Oakley’s 90s styles with today’s tech into a bold set of shades that’s going to get some attention, for better or worse.
Per Oakley: “Equal parts futuristic, contemporary, and retro, Oakley Ellipse celebrates several design chapters from Oakley’s heritage into one frame. From its circular shape to its 90s-inspired curved details, Ellipse is an ode to the Oakley ellipse logo. To celebrate 50 years of Oakley, this Limited Edition Ellipse is powered by a Midas Gold O-Matter frame and 24k Prizm Technology lenses that provide the detail. The Limited Edition Ellipse 50th Anniversary comes in a custom microbag and box.”
Wearing the Oakley Ellipse
I’ve had the Ellipse sunglasses for a few weeks, and I’ll admit that I haven’t worn them all that much. But, in my limited experience with them, I’ve found them to be quite comfortable and impressively stable on the face. The Prizm 24K lens has a warm bronze base tint, excellent optical clarity, and 11% VLT that works great in bright light conditions. And you definitely can’t see my eyes through that reflective lens.
Given the elliptical shape that tapers toward the temples, I’m surprised by how little of the frame I can see in the periphery of my field of view. And, on a few rides around town, I found they blocked the wind from my eyes very effectively. Honestly, they function and feel so normal that it’s easy to forget that you’re wearing glasses that look like something Frozone might wear (per a reader’s comment).
Like most people, I was and remain somewhat skeptical of the style. At the same time, I have to admit that they’ve grown on me surprisingly quickly. I’m not saying I love the way they look, but they look better than I expected, and they honestly don’t look that much more absurd when paired with a bike helmet than some other cycling sunglasses out there. Preferences vary, of course, as I’ve read quite a few comments online from people who are pretty hyped on the style. To each their own.
Will they catch on? That remains to be seen. I imagine if an NFL star like Patrick Mahomes starts wearing them, or maybe a World Tour road bike team races them to a Grand Tour victory, then maybe… You know Goldmember would be down, simply because he “loves gold.” But, at a retail price of $380, the gold 50th Anniversary edition doesn’t come cheap, and the standard issue (available in numerous color options) isn’t much less at $338-348. That said, I wouldn’t be too surprised to see these on sale at some point soon, either.
Oakley has 50th Anniversary Goggles, Too
If you’re into Oakley, gold, and snow sports, then the 50th Anniversary goggles are worth a look. The Flow Scape L and the Flight Deck Pro L are both being offered in a 50th Anniversary edition that includes Prizm 24K Iridium lenses and a 50th Anniversary Strap. Both come with a second Prizm lens, and they are priced at $406 for the Flow Scape L and $376 for the Flight Deck Pro L, the same as the standard versions. Moto and MTB riders can also pick up the 50th Anniversary Airbrake goggles for $190.
You can check out the Ellipse sunglasses and the rest of the 50th Anniversary lineup on the Oakley website.
