Sunglasses have a dark history, but a brilliant future. The history of sunglasses can be traced back to Roman Emperor Nero who watched the gladiator competitions through polished light emerald green gems held up to his eyes.
The invention of sunglasses was somewhere between 1268 and 1289. A visual historical recording of early sunglasses is a painting done by Tommaso da Modena in 1352. The person in the painting was wearing sunglasses. This was the first painting of a subject in sunglasses and many more were to follow as it became a fashionable symbol of distinction or honor.
Around the twelfth century and before 1430, sunglasses were worn by Judges in the Courts of China. The smoky quartz, flat-glassed panes were not used as protection from the sun. They were used to conceal any expression in their eyes to keep from giving away the outcome of their decisions. Prescription sunglasses were developed in Italy in 1430 and were later used by the Chinese Judges.
By the 1600’s people began to realize the benefits of prescription glasses as helping the elderly to see better and the motto “A Blessing to the Aged” came into being in 1629. It was the motto of an English eyeglasses manufacturer, Spectacle Makers Company.
In the mid 18th Century, James Ayscough developed blue and green corrective lenses which began the use of sunglasses for correcting optical impairments.
The development of glasses and sunglasses continued through the years. Problems in keeping eyeglasses on the face or propped on the nose led to experiments. Glasses frames had been made from leather, bones and metal and were propped on the nose. Sidepieces began as silk strips of ribbon that looped around the ears. Instead of loops, the Chinese added ceramic weights to the ends of the ribbons. Solid sidepieces were finally invented by Edward Scarlett in 1730. Benjamen Franklin’s invention of bifocal lenses followed in 1780.
By the 20th Century, sunglasses were used to protect the eyes from the sun. In 1929 Sam Foster began selling his protective sunglasses at Woolworth stores on the boardwalk at the beaches in Atlantic City and New Jersey. His Foster Grants were the first mass-produced sunglasses and they began the trend of sunglasses for fashion.
In the 1930’s the Army Air Corps asked Bausch & Lomb to develop sunglasses that would efficiently reduce high-altitude sun glare for pilots. Bausch & Lomb came up with sunglasses that had a dark green tint that absorbed light through the yellow spectrum.
Edward H. Land had invented the Polaroid filter and by 1936 he was using it in the making of sunglasses and soon, sunglasses became “cool.” Movies stars began wearing sunglasses as a statement and to hide behind. Aviator glasses became popular with the movie stars and the general public in 1937 after Ray Ban developed the anti-glare sunglasses using polarization. The longer lens was created to give more protection to pilots’ eyes from the light reflecting off their control panels.
By the 1970’s Hollywood stars and fashion designers made a huge impact on the sunglasses market. Clothing designers and stars put their names on glasses and sunglasses and everyone had to have them.
In 2007, stars are still hiding behind their oversized designer sunglasses, making fashion statements and protecting their eyes from the harmful effects of the Ultra Violet (UV) rays of the sun. With modern technology and improvements, sunglasses continue to evolve. We have gone from holding green gems up to our eyes to watch Gladiator sports to Oakley’s 2004 sunglasses with digital audio players built in. What’s next?
Bruce
For golf players, the sense of sight is everything. They rely on their eyes in hitting the ball and in tracking it. Using their eyes, they estimate the distance of the ball from a hole. As golf is played in an open field, it is one of the many sports that exposes the eyes to the sun’s glare and damaging rays. Thus, the need for sunglasses designed especially for golfing.
Golf sunglasses prevent ultraviolet rays or UV which burn cornea and cause photokeratitis, cataracts, and other eye defects.
Golf sunglasses reduce the sun’s glare, sharpening detail and increasing perception and contrast. Golf sunglasses help do away with dust and grime from entering your eyes.
Blocking UV rays is the number one purpose of sunglasses. The sunglasses should prevent over 9% of UV rays. Nanometer ratings indicate the effectivity of blocking UV.
Most effective or quality golf sunglasses are expensive, each can cost between $30 and $300, depending on the brand and features.
Don’t choose heavy golf sunglasses. As they are worn outdoors for quite some time, sunglasses should be lightweight and must seem they aren’t worn on your face. They should perfectly fit your face so you won’t have to be distracted by continually adjusting them.
Prefer golf sunglasses with polarized lens. Polarized golf sunglasses effectivly block UV rays. Never choose sunglasses with low nanometer rating.
Select golf sunglasses with unbreakable or sturdy and comfortable frame, inserts on nosepiece, and a case for safekeeping.
Check if the golf sunglasses have 180-degree vision that allows players to view the line of putt through the lens without lifting your head. A rimless air of sunglasses is also advisable for unobstructed view. Golfers will be focused on hitting the ball.
Don’t choose golf sunglasses without anti-fog lenses, else your vision will be obscured because your lenses would be fogged by your breathing, poor weather, or increased body temperature.
Prefer frames that wrap around your face so there would be no room for wind, dust or debris to enter your eyes. UV rays would also be prevented from entering the top or sides of the eyewear.
Golf sunglasses may have interchangeability of lenses to match it with changing weather conditions. They may have attachments to loop glasses around the eyes to keep them in place.
Many manufacturers offer prescription sunglasses for outdoor sports. People needing eyeglasses can already wear golf sunglasses.
Darks lenses reduce the sun’s glare. Light-colored lens bring more light needed by the eyes.
Having lens in light gray or amber are for dark cloudy days. Amber lens filter blue light to enhance the color of the greens. Gray lenses minimize color change. Yellow lenses increase the flow when the light is low.
Sunglasses block the sun’s glare from our eyes. But what if it’s a cloudy day? Take note that we are exposed to the UV rays even on cloudy days, so we still need the protection. Dark cloudy days can still be glary.
Golf sunglasses are best offered online. You may check offline catalogs of companies selling this kind of sunglasses.
Jack
Oversized sunglasses are more than designer eyewear accessories due to its various uses, people find it multipurpose. They are helpful in reducing glare caused by excess sunlight or reflection as well as provide better and wider protection from harmful ultraviolet rays. Sometimes these sunglasses are useful in hiding natural emotions and facial expression.
Fashion trends are like a cycle, the trend that was popular twenty-thirty years ago becomes hot and in demand suddenly. It happened with oversized sunglasses too. Oversized sunglasses were in fashion during late 1950’s. Oversized sunglasses are also called Onassis sunglasses. These sunglasses are named after Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, the wife of President Kennedy of the United States of America. She was fond of oversized sunglasses. Women became crazy for these oversized sunglasses. They measured it as a real fashion statement because First Lady was using it. Oversized sunglasses are again in demand these days due to their acceptance by celebrities and film stars. Paris Hilton loves wearing oversized sunglasses by Oakley. Carmen Electra, who is famous for her reality TV show, rated as one of the most fashionable women in the entertainment industry uses Missoni shades, whereas Catherine Zeta-Jones prefers Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses.
All these designer brands are highly priced, affordable for a few wealthy people only. Fashion enthusiasts always wanted to have multiple pairs of sunglasses in their collection. In such cases, designer inspired sunglasses are a perfect option. They come at comparatively cheaper prices, and offer similar style sense and quality. For example, an oversized model “A8-MP8279” at Sunglass replica can be an alternative for oversized Chanel sunglasses model 6022Q. Similarly, “A8-MP17824” at Sunglass Replica can be an alternative for Chanel 4164B, 4157Q, or 4145 models.
Sunglass Replicas offers multiple frame colour option like Black Metallic, Black Silver, and Tortoise Gold along with lenses smoke, lavender clear or brown clear. Our massive collection of large, oversized cheap designer sunglasses will force you to have one in your collection.
Hi I’m not a sunglasses girl as of yet, but summers catching up with me and I need to know the hottest trends. I have no idea!
Any sunglas fashionistas please help!
I want to buy some, but they have to be the in thing right now not last season! Ones that only the top celebs are wearing at the moment. Please can you give me a link to the picture.
Many thanks in advance.
Thank you so much for your answers. I’m going to try all these latest trends, then decide which suits me the most.
Corey
When it comes to sunglasses, is retro the way to go? You are probably seeing a lot of different designs of shades these days, are they new? Truthfully, there are really no new designs, just redesigns of a formerly popular style. In the fashion world, retro designs are everywhere–and sunglasses are no exception.
One design that has poked its head back into the fashion world is well known all over. Onassis Glasses, or the Jackie-O design sunglasses were popularized by the former First Lady Kennedy. After becoming Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, she flaunted this oversized style of sunglasses all over the globe. The style was so closely associated with her, that it has shared her name since the late seventies.
After fading from the public eye, the Onassis Glasses lay dormant for about thirty years. However, poised for a comeback, these sunglasses have begun making waves on red carpets and runways all over. The women credited for bringing back the infamous sunglasses are Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton. Since then, Jackie-O’s have been seen on the faces of famous women and trendy-but-average Janes everywhere.
Another retro design of sunglasses that has made big waves recently is the cleverly named Aviators. Originally designed in the 1930’s for military pilots, Aviators were hot on fashionable faces in the 1960’s and 1980’s. True to their every-twenty-year trend, Aviators are back with avengance and have been favorites for men, and women, with style. It is particularly true that this style of sunglasses has caught on with the younger “MTV Crowd” more than with adults. Johnny Knoxville has adapted Aviators as his signature style.
Some styles of sunglasses have briefly shown themselves in fashion, only to never be heard from again. This is not necessarily a bad thing. There are those sunglasses the human race still feels a little silly about. However, let’s not speak too soon. These sunglasses could be waiting in the wings for their triumphant return.
OVER-Oversized sunglasses are one fashion faux-pa most of us would rather not make. The design is a retro tribute to the late Lady O when they are slightly oversized and conservative. However, when the sunglasses appear to be attempting to take over your face, you may have crossed the line into ridiculous. Save the supersized look for clowns and put this design back in the vault.
Another design that some hope will never return carries a soft spot in the hearts of many women. The Wayfarer sunglasses were first made popular by Hollywood’s bad boy, James Dean. After his death, these sunglasses were worn for a time, before slowly falling by the wayside to make room for the newer styles.
However, the Wayfarer was gone but not forgotten. The sunglasses made a double comeback on the faces of James Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, better known in the eighties as the Blues Brothers. The sunglasses with a clean black, square design were a perfect complement to their all black suits, hats and ties.
Wayfarers made one more comeback in 1983 when a sock and underwear clad young man slid into the living room and into our hearts. Before Tom Cruise was the controversial figure he is today, he was a hot high school graduate just trying to get into a good college. The Wayfarers sunglasses haven’t been much on the fashion scene since then, but we’ve never forgotten.
It’s hard to tell what may come next in the world of fashion sunglasses. If you really want to keep up with it, just check the fashion magazines in early spring and see what new old styles are unfolding. You may have seen them all before, but these retro sunglasses are bound to have a new and exciting twist.
Sunglasses represent an essential summer accessory because not only do they protect us from UV rays but they also are an important part of our aspect. It is recommended to choose sunglasses that match your face shape, features and your personal style. Although purchasing sunglasses is more of a challenge than you imagined, perhaps this article will help you transform this activity into a pleasant one.
Sunglasses are available in a wide range nowadays and most people find it hard to choose the one pair that suits them best. The first step to purchasing sunglasses is figuring out if your face is round, oval, square or heart-shaped. Look in the mirror and see which of these forms your face has. People with round faces should avoid round frames and buy something in an angular shape. If you have an oval face you are among the lucky ones because you can choose whatever you please when it comes to sunglasses. Square faces should try round sunglasses while heart-shaped faces are advised to try frames which draw attention to one’s eyes.
Sunglasses are definetely a fashion statement and a must fore those of us who want to protect our eyes. Thus, before deciding on a pair of sunglasses it is essential to make sure that the shades you have chosen have good UV protection. Verify that the sunglasses you will purchase meet the standards established by the Standards Institute. No one wants to spend an important amount of money on a pair of sunglasses that won’t protect one accordingly against UV rays.
Sunglasses should also have some decent frames, especially if you purchase designer sunglasses. When it comes to selecting frames for the sunglasses, one should always consider the weight of the frames, their durability and of course, their style. The ideal glasses are light weight and durable; it looks like nylon is the most durable material. Last but not least see how you look in those sunglasses and ask for a second opinion.
Sunglasses are not a luxury but a necessity. If you can’t afford purchasing designer sunglasses, you should at least buy a pair of sunglasses to protect yourself against the UV rays. With sunglasses, you will be able to see better, your eyes will feel more comfortable, you will avoid making eye wrinkles and you will avoid contracting cataracts or other ailments of the eye.
Many people prefer purchasing designer sunglasses, such as Prada Sunglasses, Gucci, Dior, Armani and others because they are of better quality. Thus, they spend more money than on a regular pair of sunglasses, but at least they purchase a pair of glasses that will protect their eyes properly and last for a couple of years. A name brand such as Prada Sunglasses guarantees a pair of sunglasses made from very good materials and offers a maximum UV protection.
Prada Sunglasses are impeccable when it comes to quality, Prada being among the leading brands that focus on constant innovation, high quality and irreproachable manufacturing processes. Prada Sunglasses are simply unique and they are worth every penny, because they really make a difference. One thing is certain: over the years Prada Sunglasses have proved that they deserve their excellent reputation, being always refined and sophisticated accessories. What else can we desire if not functional, long-lasting and stylish sunglasses?
