What’s funny about clout goggles is that they kind of look good on everyone. They’re so exaggerated that just about anyone can wear them and pull them off. But the fact is, even if you’ve never heard the term before, you do know what they are. You just don’t know you know it. We’re not here to judge anyone’s sense of style or fashion choices – wear what you want, it’s certainly not going to cause us to lose any sleep. Clout goggles are a specific style of sunglasses: not a brand, not a silhouette, but a particular shape. No matter who makes them or who wears or what you want to call them, they’re (usually) white plastic frames in a large round shape with dark lenses. Long after Audrey, a decade after Kurt, and ten years before rappers co-opted the trend, there was one other famous fellow who sported the look: Johnny Depp, as Willy Wonka in 2005’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

All trends come and go with time. Some people are early adopters while others only get on board at the tail end of the trend. So we’re assuming there are plenty of people out there who are just about to buy their first pair.Clout goggles has its own entry in Urban Dictionary. But then again, so does clout chaser and clout-tastic. When it comes to clout goggles, you’re in one of three camps:You love them, you hate them, or you have no idea what they are.

The oversized shape is flattering no matter the shape of your face, and they’re bold enough to wear with a hoodie and jeans or a sexy little dress. They make their own statement, so they’re actually kind of easy to pair with any look. Okay, so technically they’re not the same shape, but we are giving them an honorable mention. And that’s mostly for the fact that the ones Willy Wonka wore were actually goggles. Who’s Wearing This Trend? Every social media influencer, reality TV star, and aspiring singer seems to be completely obsessed with clout. If you have it, you’re clout-tastic. If you seek it, you’re a clout chaser. The irony is that when you actually do have it, you don’t need to say so – everyone already knows it. For now, we assume that this will remain a hip hop/streetwear trend (for the most part), though you never know…It’s just a matter of time before those loyal Kurt fans and ‘90s grunge lovers will start sporting them again. Additionally, wearable memes are, bizarrely enough, respectable wardrobe pieces. In an age where sincerity and vulnerability are considered lame, wearing something with meme status is like wearing your aloofness and cynicism on your sleeve—or, in the case of clout goggles, perched on top of your nose bridge—while simultaneously demonstrating your mastery of internet humor. Whether or not clout goggles will continue to be a trend in 2020 and beyond remains to be seen, but we’re guessing yes, to a degree. But what’s all the fuss about? Why have these somehow become associated with having clout? Where Did the Name Clout Goggles Come From? The origin of clout is amorphous and confusing, and there isn’t a clear unifying theory. Did clout climb out of the primordial murk with stubby fins for legs? Did God remove one of Adam’s ribs while he slumbered, and then lovingly shape that rib into a suitable clout fit for him to cherish for all eternity? It’s a debate that will rage until the sun envelops itself in darkness after burning through all its hydrogen. Or at least until we find a more pleasing word.