Memorial Day weekend in America is here, which for many is a signal that summer has arrived. Given that, it seemed an opportune time to dig into a collection of choice gear based around summer enjoyment. So, here it is – a mixture of sunglasses I think any Audi enthusiast may want to take notice of.
Here they are in no particular order.
What: Solar Defender by Audi collection USA
Link: AudicollectionUSA.com
Price: $40.95
Why: Available at your Audi dealer or via Audi collection’s online store, this new offering from Audi collection USA is a simple black horn-rimmed take by Sunski on a summer sunglass design icon.
What: Porsche Design Sunglasses P’8981
Link: shop.Porsche.com
Price: $515.00
Why: Porsche sunglasses on an Audi site? It won’t be the only time in this list, but this one is particularly on brand by my measure. If you’re a fan of the Audi RS2 Avant as I am, a Porsche tie-in plus bold blue coloring makes a compelling case. Maybe you don’t have a Nogaro Blue RS2 for pairing with these glasses, but they’re still pretty great.
What: Ray-Ban Original Wayfarer Color Mix
Link: Ray-Ban.com
Price: $207.00
Why: There’s no brand tie-in here, just an iconic design in a really cool spec. The original Ray-Ban Wayfarer has been cool since the Kennedy era and never seems to go out of style. More recent freshening of the range now includes what Ray-Ban calls Color Mix, layered finishes with one finish on the outside, clear plastic in the middle and another finish on the inside. In this case, it’s a piano black-like polished black with light grey gradient lenses and an interior texture that’s somewhere between a graphic plaid or racing circuit curbing in alternating red and white. Whatever the intent of the texture, the colors are also obviously aligned with Audi Sport’s on color motif.
What: Audi Sport Sonnenbrille by Audi collection Deutschland
Link: Audi-collection.com
Price: €149.00
Why: The large mon-lens mirrored design of these Audi Sport branded glasses from Audi collection Germany likely aren’t for everyone. The look is hardly subtle, almost seeming like something one of Marvel’s X-Men should be wearing versus a tourist trying for a stylish day at the beach. Even still, outlandish designed sport sunglasses tend to fit right in at the racetrack, on a bike and other decidedly summer fun representative places. These are also the only Audi Sport glasses of the bunch.
Are you game to rock them? Here’s your next challenge. They’re from Audi collection Deutschland, which is not always the same thing as Audi collection USA. We’re not seeing them in the American inventory, meaning you’ll need to find them online or swing by one of the German Audi Forums or a German Audi dealership in order to score yourself a pair.
What: Porsche Design Sunglasses P’8478 – Turbo No. 1
Link: shop.Porsche.com
Price: $695
Why: The second Porsche design on this list, the Turbo No. 1 offers a fresh take on the classic Aviator style. Their red and silver color way isn’t alien to Audi’s own colors, while the titanium frames and unique grid-design on the lenses offer a rich feel.
What: TOMS Dalston Audi R8 Limited Edition Sunglasses
Link: ebay.com
Price: Circa $50. Prices will vary.
Why: Made years ago as a collaboration between Audi and TOMS, these glasses offered excellent brand cues as measured by subtlety. The only Audi logo was on the inside of the left frame arm, while the outside of the arms that would slot behind your ear had Audi red and beige stripes, which combined with the brown satin clear frames to represent the vintage Audi tri-colore color combination.
The Audi R8 Dalston is no longer in production, though they’re readily found on sites like Ebay.
What: Audi Sonnenbrille Pilot by Audi collection Deutschland
Link: Audi-collection.com
Price: €99.00
Why: A modern deviation from the classic aviator style, this simple set of black sunglasses from Audi collection is one of the most affordable on this list. That makes them a solid set of spares for your center console or not a total downer should you lose them while out enjoying some summer adventure… providing you can get your hands on a pair.
Like the other Sonnenbrilles in this list, the Pilot is from Audi collection Deutschland, which is not always the same thing as Audi collection USA. This means you’ll need to find them online or swing by one of the German Audi Forums or a German Audi dealership in order to score yourself a pair.