Tyler Durden Sunglasses
Identifying the Sunglasses worn by Fight Club’s (199) Tyler Durden
In the 1999 classic “Fight Club,” Brad Pitt plays Tyler Durden (or The Narrator), a mesmerizing and enigmatic figure who becomes the catalyst for the narrator’s transformation. Pitt’s portrayal of Tyler Durden is widely regarded as one of his most iconic and memorable performances. With Confidence and Charisma, Tyler Durden is an all-round character that is really brought to the screens by his unusual attire. Rugged, unconventional, and anti-establishment, Durden’s appearance is brought together by his distinctive eyewear and sunglasses he wears throughout the film. But what brand, if any, are these sunglasses? Are they still available to buy and if so at what price? In this article, we’re going to be discussing the 3 different sunglasses that Duren wore throughout the film. Let’s just straight in.
Tyler Durden Sunglasses: Identifying the Brands
Due to the popularity of Fight Club, it’s no surprise that the sunglasses worn by Brad Pitt in the film have already been widely talked about. Because of this identifying the sunglasses brands was not as difficult as some films I’ve come across. The first pair of sunglasses, and arguably the most famous, is a pair of Oliver Peoples. In fact, all three pairs of sunglasses worn by Durden are made by Oliver Peoples one of the largest and most respected eyewear brands in the world (and owned by Luxottica). The exact model is the Oliver Peoples 523 sunglasses with their curved edges and stark red lenses.
These are considered highly rare at this point and haven’t been sold by Oliver People since Fight Club (1999) aired. Looking at aftermarket rates on websites like eBay showcases these glasses’ desirability with prices ranging anywhere from $700 up to an insane $2,000. That being said their desirability has made them quite common as replicas and many knock-offs of the style have been produced. The likes of the Fight Soap Salesman and SunnyPro Aviators (both available on Amazon) can be found for as little as $13.00. A review and video of the original OP-523 sunglasses can be found here.
The other sunglasses worn by Durden during the film are just as distinctive to the character’s appearance but luckily not as rare as the previously mentioned 523 frames. The first pair are aviator-style sunglasses with smaller frames. Again, these come in Durden’s signature red lenses and were only seen in a few scenes of the film. These are the Oliver Peoples Aero and can be found on secondhand websites for prices ranging from $300 to $500.
The final pair of sunglasses we’re going to discuss is yet again, another red-framed pair of shades. These are the Oliver People’s Sunset and have a very unusual lens shape with a tear-drop appearance. These are razor-thin frames and have a very 90s look to them. Currently, aftermarket prices fluctuate quite a bit, but there are examples of sale prices for around the $250 mark. These shades aren’t as popular as the 523 frames and replicas are had to come by cheap.
Tyler Durden Shades: 10th Annivaery edition (re-release)
In honor of Fight Club’s 10th anniversary, Oliver Peoples reintroduced Tyler Durden’s iconic sunglasses in 2009. The model 523, which had been out of production since 2000, made a limited-time comeback, featuring two captivating color choices: a Silver frame paired with Blood-Red lenses and a Gold frame complemented by Orange lenses. These exclusive editions were made available in a restricted quantity of only 75 each, making them an instant and highly sought-after collector’s item for fans of the movie. Again, due to the limited re-release of the frames, and their popularity, even these new(ish) versions of these sunglasses are had to come by and still fetch a pretty penny online.
