Sunglasses, They Make You Look Great!

Sunglasses are without doubt one of the more sensible fashion accessories that we wear regularly. Not only do sunglasses protect our eyes from ultra-violet rays and protect from the glare of the sun, they also look cool.

Sunglasses can be bought in a wide range of designs and looks, and are known by countless different names. To name just a few: Speks, shades, sunnies, cheaters, Bonos and tints.

A pair of sunglasses can be bought for just a few dollars or for as much as hundreds of dollars. Nevertheless, you should be able to buy a high-quality pair of sunglasses for under $100.

Shades are very popular for sports where there is lengthy exposure to the sun’s rays, such as tennis, going to the beach, or snowboarding. Before buying, you should be sure that the sunglasses shield you from ultra-violet (UV) rays, which can cause a number of eye problems such as snow blindness, cataracts and eye cancer.

For people who use standard spectacles to aid their vision, it is common to use prescription shades that give all the advantages of a standard pair of eye glasses and also help allow protection from the sun. Another popular solution to this dilemma is to have shaded lenses that flip down over the prescription lenses when required.

Like many fashion items, sunglasses can be bought in a number of shapes and sizes. Here are some of the more sought-after sunglass designs to be had in the shops:

Aviators – These have been popular since originally introduced by Ray-Ban in 1936 for military personnel. They consist of two teardrop lenses mounted in a narrow metal frame.

Wrap-around – Wrap-around sunglasses consist of a lens which covers both eyes and wraps around the side of the head. They offer excellent protection from UV rays and are particularly popular among extreme sports enthusiasts.

Mirrorshades – This refers to the reflective finish on the lenses of certain pairs of sunglasses. This can be used on any type of sunglasses, but is especially popular on aviator and wrap-around styles.

Teashades – Think Liam Gallagher or Mick Jagger. Maybe not so popular at present, these sunglasses, with two circular lenses mounted in a thin wire frame, were all the rage in the sixties and ’70s.

Wayfarers – Also a classic look. Wayfarers were first released by Ray-Ban in the 1950s. The lenses are slightly wider at the top than at the bottom and they have solid black plastic frames. Wayfarers were famously worn by cinema star James Dean.

As well as guarding the eyes from the sun and being popular as a fashion accessory, sunglasses can also have other practical uses. They are at times used to hide the eyes to mask the signs of mourning, weeping or to make eye contact impossible. What is more, it is also common for people to wear sunglasses indoors or at night for that extra ‘cool factor’.