Amelia Earhart makes aviator sunglasses, bomber jacket popular. Again.

October 22, 2009

Amelia, a new bio-pic starring Hilary Swank, captures the life and times of Amelia Earheart. Though Earhart was a pioneer of aviation, she might currently be influencing the fashion industry, the Associated Press reports.

"I'm pretty amazed to see what's happening in fashion magazines," Mira Nair, the director of the film, told the news source. "In the last six weeks, I've seen so many with the aviator look."

Earhart herself was actually very interested in fashion. The pilot had her own clothing line which featured evening gowns and silk tops. However, two of the staples that Earhart brought to the scene were more utilitarian - aviator sunglasses and the leather bomber jacket.

The aviator style may be a classic but it has undergone a transformation in the years since Earhart helped make them famous. Chiara Bernardi, the brand manager of Persol sunglasses which have been used by aviators since 1917, told the AP that new photochromic and polarized lenses allow for protection without the original, more goggle-like look.

Polarized sunglasses filter light and reduce the glare from the sun, making them ideal for activities such as driving, skiing and fishing, according to the American Optometric Association (AOA).