1980s Christian Dior Avant-Garde Sunglasses – Iconic Bicolour Optyl Design – Made in Austria

These oversized sunglasses were made in Austria for Christian Dior in the 1980s, in Optyl, with a glossy black upper bar and a translucent amber base. They come with their original box. Dior's eyewear licence had passed to Optyl, the Austrian company founded by Wilhelm Anger, in 1969, and by the mid-1970s the collection was among the leading names in designer eyewear.

Optyl, a lightweight thermoset material, could hold bold, sculptural shapes and be produced in rich colours and combinations. It allowed designers to create the oversized, expressive frames that defined late 1970s and 1980s eyewear, from glamorous evening styles to graphic two-tone designs like this one.

In the 1980s, sunglasses became an extension of personality, worn by musicians, actors and fashion figures as part of their image. Bold, unisex frames like these belonged to that culture, in which eyewear was a statement rather than a simple accessory.

The glossy black upper bar gives the frame a strong horizontal line, and the translucent amber base lets light through, softening the effect. The square shape, softened at the edges, and the thick profile make the frame sculptural. At 14 cm wide, it is generously oversized.

Vintage Dior Optyl frames are among the most collected designer eyewear of the period. This two-tone pair, in very good condition and with its original box, is a strong example for collectors and wearers alike.