Summer Staples with a History

Sunglasses may seem like a quintessential modern accessory, but their roots trace back to ancient history with the first Inuit people crafting rudimentary goggles from flattened walrus ivory with narrow slits to avoid sun glare. Various innovations throughout the 18th and 19th centuries led to the modern understanding of this protective gear, but the fashion revolution began in the 20th century: as advancements in lens technology flourished and basking in the sun became the norm, sunglasses evolved from mere protection to a summer staple.

By the 1930s, Hollywood stars had turned them into a symbol of glamour and sophistication (round shapes being all the rage!). A pivotal moment came during World War II, in 1936, when Ray-Ban introduced the iconic Aviators, designed for military use with anti-glare lenses to safeguard pilots’ eyes. Post-war, these sleek shades transitioned effortlessly into civilian wardrobes, becoming an emblem of cool.

The 1950s ushered in the era of cat-eye and the Wayfarer, the 1960s and 70s embraced oversized frames, the 1980s discovered mirrored lenses, the 1990s were all about sporty eyewear. You may have your signature style or match a different pair with every look, but one thing is for certain, there is no summer without them!

While tiny two-piece swimsuits date back to ancient Rome, the first modern bikini was not technically invented until the 1940s, when French engineer Louis Réard created a design that revealed a woman's navel. Réard, an automotive engineer, took over his mother's lingerie business and became a clothing designer in Paris. While on the beaches of Saint Tropez, he noticed women rolling up the edges of their swimsuits to get a better tan, which inspired him to design a swimsuit with the midriff exposed.

The revealing cut of the two-piece swimsuit was simultaneously considered liberating and scandalous. Future Vogue editor-in-chief Diana Vreeland called the bikini “the most important thing since the atom bomb,” and its name was inspired by the Bikini Atoll, where atomic tests were taking place at the time, symbolizing its explosive impact on fashion.

Since then, women have clung to freedom (and tanned bellies), collecting and accumulating various iterations as seasons, summers, and fashions come and go.

Hats have been a fashion staple for millennia, serving both practical and symbolic purposes. From the late 19th to early 20th centuries, hats played a crucial role in both men's and women's fashion to the extent that an outfit would be utterly incomplete without one. Famous couturiers worked in close partnership with milliners (hat makers) and several (such as Coco Chanel, Halston, and Schiaparelli) actually started their careers as milliners themselves.

Post-WWII brought significant social changes, and by the 1950s, the wearing of hats began to fade. The rise of youth culture, hairstyles becoming significant fashion statements, and the democratization of automobiles all made wearing hats less appealing. Still, chefs, military personnel, and clerics rely on hats to define their role or rank even today.

A hat can make a strong impression, so much so that you are likely to remember specific events associated with a specific hat or associate someone with a hat style before any other trait: Royal Ascot is synonymous with a rainbow of head attire; think of JFK and Jackie, and you might conjure an image of a pink pillbox hat; think of Indiana Jones, and he will be wearing a fedora; think of Charlie Chaplin, and he won’t exist without his bowler.

Today, even if not mandatory, hats are as diverse as ever. Whether for shade, warmth, or style, they’re still a powerful accessory to top off a look with personality and flair.