Just in time for summer, American Optical has launched two new sunglasses styles: the Jaguar and the Lennox. The Jaguar revives a thick-profile frame first introduced by the company in the 1960s. The Lennox harkens back to the oval wire-frame designs popular in the early 1900s. AO has also refreshed two classic styles with new colorways. The Racer now comes in tortoise, and the Hadley in black.
Like J. Press, Benrus, or Hells Canyon Bolo, American Optical is a brand more concerned with elite craftsmanship than mass appeal. It might lack the name recognition of Ray-Ban, Oliver Peoples, or Persol, but the company has maintained a devoted following for nearly two centuries. JFK, Malcolm X, and Neil Armstrong were famously AO loyalists.
Founded in Southbridge, Massachusetts, in 1833, American Optical is the oldest eyewear manufacturer in the United States. AO has deep ties to American military and aviation history, producing some of the first aviator sunglasses issued to U.S. Army Air Corps pilots in the 1930s. In later decades, the company supplied eyewear to NASA astronauts.
Sunglasses for dressing up
Of the two new releases, I’m partial to the Lennox. The svelte profile and gold trim make them elegant enough to wear with a suit or tuxedo. In signature AO fashion, the frames and bridge feature delicate coin-edge filigree—subtle decorative embossing in the metal. If you look closely, you’ll find the AO insignia subtly engraved in hidden places throughout the frames. The tiny shield appears on the upper corner of the left lens, the inside of the temple, and the nose pads. These discreet hallmarks help distinguish the real McCoy from counterfeits.
They’re too delicate for beach days or hiking trips, but they’ll be my shades of choice for summer weddings and rooftop bars in Manhattan. It’s a rare occasion when I wear them without getting compliments or inquiries. They slip easily into my blazer pocket next to my cigars and AirPods. And those oval wire frames really do make a man feel like John Lennon.
