Navigators

Robert De Niro in the film Taxi Driver

Navigator sunglasses are essentially an evolution of aviators, as they also originated from the needs of U.S. military pilots. The main difference lies in the rectangular shape of the lenses, as opposed to the teardrop form of classic aviators. This shift was driven by the transition to jet aircraft, which brought changes in pilot gear — new helmets, headsets, and most importantly, the introduction of oxygen masks that cover part of the face.