Collectible Classics: Persols
Under our special section “Cool Covets” we get inspiration from the NYTimes Moment’s fashion squad.
What: Persol sunglasses
Where: E bay
How much: Approximately $130Unbelievably cool. Fabulously retro. The designer du jour shades for the uber hip. Bill Murray rocked them in “Lost in Translation” and “Broken Flowers.” Daniel Craig wore models 2244-S and 2720-S in “Casino Royale.” But it was Steve McQueen wearing aviators in “The Thomas Crown Affair” [See Mr. McCool himself next page] who was probably the original Persol trendsetter. [UPDATE: one viewer disputes this, naming Marcello Mastroianni in Germi’s “Divorce, Italian Style”, which came out in 1961, seven years ahead of the original “Thomas Crown Affair.”]
Now these Italian sunglasses, which were originally engineered for pilots and race car drivers, have become collectible classics for those in the know. Whether you’re a connoisseur or just looking for these expensive shades at a discount, there’s a lot of action on eBay for out-of-production vintage Persols. The Moment was kind enough to start the search for you: (click here, here and here); if you act fast, they could be yours.
