Shedding Some Light On Fashion Sunglasses

Sunglasses are without doubt one of the more sensible fashion items 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 great.

Sunglasses are available in a number of of designs and looks, and are known by a number of different names. To name just a few: Speks, shades, sunnies, cheaters, Bonos and tints.

A pair of sunglasses can be purchased for just a few bucks or for as much as hundreds of dollars. That said, you should be able to purchase a high-quality pair of sunglasses for under $100.

Shades are especially popular for outdoor pursuits where there is protracted exposure to the sun, such as golfing, running, or sailing. Before buying, you should be sure that the sunglasses protect you from ultra-violet (UV) rays, which could cause a number of eye problems such as snow blindness, cataracts and eye cancer.

For people who use standard glasses to improve their eyesight, it is common to use prescription shades that give all the advantages of a standard pair of spectacles and also help shield from the sun. Another common answer to this problem is to have darkened 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 fashionable sunglass designs to be had on the high street:

Aviators – These have been much sought-after since initially introduced by Ray-Ban in 1936 for military pilots. They consist of a couple of teardrop lenses mounted in a narrow metal frame.

Wrap-around – Wrap-around sunglasses consist of a single lens which covers both eyes and wraps around the side of the head. These provide very good protection from ultra-violet rays and are particularly popular among extreme sports enthusiasts.

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

Teashades – Think Liam Gallagher or Ozzy Osbourne. Maybe not so popular these days, these sunglasses, with two perfectly round lenses mounted in a thin wire frame, were all the rage in the 1960s and ’70s.

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

As well as protecting the eyes from sunlight and acting as a fashion accessory, sunglasses can also have other practical uses. They are often used to hide the eyes to mask the signs of mourning, crying or to make eye contact difficult. What is more, it is also common for people to wear sunglasses indoors or at nighttime for that extra ‘cool factor’.