American Optical Saratoga Sunglasses: The JFK Shades That Never Go Out of Style
What makes a design unforgettable? Sometimes it’s bold details. Other times, it’s the fan base. Especially if that fan base comprises the world’s most stylish people. Take the American Optical Saratoga sunglasses, AKA the John F. Kennedy sunglasses. These square frames have become synonymous with the president and his sleek, understated style.
JFK could often be spotted wearing his American Optical Saratogas on campaign trails, on his boat, and during downtime with his family. They became such an integral part of JFK’s image that one of his personal pairs of Saratogas are on display at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston.
The design gained a cult following before going out of production for decades. Fortunately, American Optical re-released the iconic design in 2020, so you can recreate JFK’s style in the most authentic way.
Image credit: American Optical
American-Made Quality That Meets Presidential Standards
American Optical’s Saratoga sunglasses are handcrafted in the USA—partly to honor the brand’s heritage, and partly to adhere to its exacting standards of quality.
Composed of durable acetate, the contemporary version of the Saratoga sunglasses have been enhanced with an ergonomic fit and seven-barrel hinges to ensure the highest levels of comfort.
Their AOLite Calobar™ lenses are a defining feature, treated with an impact-resistant, anti-reflective, and oleophobic coating to reduce glare, smudging, and scratches. They’re also exceptionally lightweight for hours of fatigue-free wear.
The Design Details That Made JFK Love The Saratoga Sunglasses
The Saratogas are the perfect embodiment of JFK’s style: timelessly elegant and sharp. Their classic square shape is accentuated by slim temples and kite-shaped silver details at the edges of the frames.
American Optical currently offers the Saratoga sunglasses in several colorways, but we recommend choosing tortoise shell to truly get the JFK look.
Image credit: American Optical
American Optical: The Nation’s Original Eyewear Powerhouse
Legacy label American Optical has been making history since 1833. Founded by pioneering silversmith William Beecher, the brand is America’s oldest and possibly most influential optical company.
American Optical was vital in not only establishing the nation’s eyewear industry, but in making it accessible and beneficial to the masses. The company symbolizes the American entrepreneurial spirit, having invented the first steel eyeglasses, the first rimless spectacles, and the first polarized sunglasses. They were also the first to design glasses with temples at the top of the lenses to enhance peripheral vision, which revolutionized the world of eyewear design.
And if you thought designer collaborations were a modern business strategy, you’ll be surprised to learn that American Optical has been releasing them since the 1950s. They’ve partnered with renowned names such as Elsa Schiaparelli, Oscar de la Renta, and Claire McCardell. American Optical was the largest optical company in the world at one point, and aside from JFK, their designs have graced the faces of even more American heroes, including pilots and NASA astronauts.
Image credit: American Optical
Who Should Wear The American Optical JFK Saratoga Sunglasses?
You’ll love the American Optical Saratoga sunglasses if you …
Want to wear one of the most emblematic designs in political and fashion history
Admire the old money aesthetic, and you consider the Kennedy family your personal style icons
Crave style and substance: you prefer handcrafted quality, and you want your sunglasses to be comfortable, durable, and wearable
If old money style had an official uniform, these frames would be part of it. Channel your inner JFK with a pair of American Optical Saratoga sunglasses.
