As an essential part of any spring or summer wardrobe, sunglasses are perhaps one of the most versatile accessories a person can own. For the most part, a good pair of sunglasses can go with any outfit, fit almost any facial structure, and are appropriate for any outdoor daytime situation. We are all familiar with those black or white CC’s on virtually every woman on campus, but how much do we really know about these practical fashion accessories?
Sunglasses are said to have first been used by the Roman emperor Nero while he was watching the gladiatorial games. In true Roman fashion, the emperor may have had them made out of emeralds. The first proven pair of sunglasses came about in the 1100s in China, again by the elite in the higher courts.
Contemporary sunglasses appeared at the turn of the 20th century when silent movie stars wore them, not to protect their delicate eyes, but to “shield their identity” from the public. Sam Foster, an American entrepreneur, saw sunglasses as the next big thing, and in 1929 he began selling the first mass-produced sunglasses to the American public. In 1936, sunglasses got their final tweak when Edwin Land “polarized” sunglass lenses with his Polaroid filter. And the rest is history.
Interesting Wikipedia facts: “Grey lenses are considered neutral because they do not enhance contrast or distort colors. Brown and green lenses cause some minimal color distortion, but have contrast-enhancing properties. Red lenses are good for medium and lower light conditions because they are good at enhancing contrast but cause … color distortion. Orange and yellow lenses have the best contrast enhancement at depth perception but cause color distortion. Yellow lenses are commonly used by golfers and shooters for its contrast enhancement and depth perception properties. Blue and purple lenses offer no real benefits and are mainly cosmetic.”
Today, sunglasses come in many shapes, sizes and colors; the trick is finding the perfect pair for you. Here are a few helpful hints:
1. If they are uncomfortable to wear (they hit your face in all the wrong places or are too big or small) then they are not the pair for you.
2. You are not a vaudeville movie star. Big sunglasses make you look like the bug that hit my windshield.
3. Thin wire frames break, so don’t buy flimsy sunglasses if you want them to last for more than one season.
4. Unless you are wearing them to make a fashion statement or are a golfer, there is no point in colorful lenses.
5. Mirror-finish sunglasses may be fun for you, but everyone else sees you as a state trooper wannabe.
6. Don’t buy sunglasses for the label. Just because they are expensive doesn’t mean that they are the right pair for you.
7. Sunglasses are not meant to be worn inside or at night, you sketchy creep.
As an avid collector of sunglasses, let me leave you with a few words of wisdom: I love each and every pair of my sunglasses, but at the end of the day, that’s all they are. Whether they are Chanel or ones that you found at the secondhand store, if you love them, that is all that matters.
There is no greater satisfaction when someone comes up to me and tells me how much they love my sunglasses (that I bought at Party City for $1).
Being the thoughtful person that I am, I smile and say, “I know, right?”
