RB2140 (Wayfarer)

Icon status: permanently engaged.

1952

Ray-Ban introduces the Wayfarer — the first plastic frame with style and swagger.
1980

Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi revive the style in *The Blues Brothers*.
1983

A product placement deal puts Wayfarers in *Risky Business*, *Miami Vice*, and more.
2007

Ray-Ban relaunches the Original Wayfarer RB2140 — retro specs, same energy.

Original Wayfarer promotional shoot, 1950s

Design That Disrupted a Decade

In the early '50s, most glasses were wire-thin and straight-laced. The Wayfarer blew that open. With its thick acetate frame and trapezoidal lenses, it looked rebellious — like something James Dean might wear (and did).

The RB2140 wasn't just a frame. It was a rejection of conformity. A wearable middle finger with attitude in every millimetre.

Original Wayfarer promotional shoot, 1950s

The Hollywood Hitmaker

The 2140 didn’t fade — it just waited. Then came The Blues Brothers. Then Risky Business. Suddenly, Wayfarers were everywhere again. Madonna. Michael Jackson. JFK Jr.

Ray-Ban even inked a product placement deal to push them into over 60 films and TV shows between 1982 and 1987. It worked. Sales soared. Cool was back — in plastic.

Tom Cruise in Risky Business, 1983

RB2140 in modern styling — still sharp, still bold

Why They Still Work Today

The 2140 is stubborn — and that’s why we love it. Unlike other Wayfarer versions, this one has a slightly forward tilt that hugs the face and keeps the attitude intact.

It’s chunky but not clunky. Iconic without needing to shout. Whether you go black-on-black or tortoise with green G-15s, you’re stepping into a tradition of deliberate, cinematic cool.

RB2140 in modern styling — still sharp, still bold

Marketing & Advertising

The Wayfarer was a sleeper hit turned marketing masterclass. After a dip in the '70s, a clever product placement deal resurrected its relevance in the '80s. It became a staple in films, music videos, and magazines.

These days, Ray-Ban plays on nostalgia and legacy. Campaigns position the RB2140 as both a fashion statement and a cultural heirloom — timeless, genderless, genreless.