The New Black Woman Fashion

Sunglasses can be found around every corner you turn today.  You can find them in grocery stores for a few dollars or in specialty stores for a few hundred dollars.  Sunglasses come in so many different shapes, designs and colors that there is a pair out there for everyone.  But the market for sunglasses has not always been this way.

Sunglasses have been in use for centuries and have evolved over time into what they are today.  They were not always the fashion icon they are today.  Similarly, they were not always used for the same reason they are today either.

Surprisingly, the first form of what we have as sunglasses today were not originally developed to shield eyes from the sun or help poor vision.  In Ancient China, sunglasses were developed out of smoky panes of quartz glass.  Judges wore these prehistoric ray bans as a way of keeping their expressions to themselves.  Little did they know that poker players centuries later would adopt this same principle use of the eyewear.

Ancient Rome can also take part of the credit for today’s sunglasses.  The Emporer Nero, while watching gladiator fights enjoyed doing so through polished gems.  It is possible that the Emporer saw the benefits of distorting the sun’s beams as a way of seeing more clearly.  It is also possible that he enjoyed these early sunglasses because he thought the gladiators looked better in different colors.  For whatever reason, sunglasses still today are available in any lens color you can imagine.

During the eighteenth century, the design of the sunglasses were altered by an inventor seeking to use color as a vision correctioin.
He was convinced that blue and green tints helped the eye see better when vision was poor.
He had no reason to consider the advantages of shielding the eyes from the sun, as no one knew what a UVA ray was at the time.
It was not common knowledge during this time that the sun could be harmful and cause future vision problems.

Sunglasses were finally introduced in the United States in the early twentieth century, around 1930.  These innovative eye pieces were marketed on the boardwalks of Atlantic City and promised to protect the wearer’s eyes from the harmful sun.  It was in this same decade that polarization of the lenses was developed as well.  The inventor of the famed Polaroid camera integrated his Polaroid filter into the makeup of the sunglasses’ lenses.  This technology, which is still used today, was the greatest step of its time toward the protection of the eyes from the sun.

Since the 1930′s, sunglasses have steadily become a favorite accessory for everyone from the true fashion icon down to the style novice.  Sunglasses have been implemented as a way of showing off one’s style, sophistication, and social status.  Individuals have made their own styles famous and timeless.

The most famous of all the sunglasses style icons is unarguably the late Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, or simply “Jackie O.”.  The oversized sunglasses of the same name were a token symbol of the former First Lady and American Icon.  Around the year 2000, Jackie’s signature style was made popular again for young women by another style icon, Nicole Richie.

Sunglasses have come a long way over the centuries.  They have evolved in uses, styles, popularity and technology.  With sunglasses what they are today and their importance in popular culture, it is difficult to imagine where and in what form they will turn up next.  Keep your eyes open-and your sunglasses handy-to find out!

When it comes to fashion, designer sunglasses are “hot!”  Paris Hilton or the Olsen twins can be seen, just about anywhere in Hollywood, day or night, wearing the latest in designer sunglasses.  When they walk the red carpet and they are asked, “What are you wearing?” they might lower their sunglasses down on their noses and peer over the rims and drop designer names like Vera Wang, Dior, Valentino, Gucci and Armani.

Stars like Donald Trump and Britney Spears have their own name brand sunglasses on the market while others may be wearing Marc Jacobs or Armani sunglasses for a classy look or Baby Phat for punk style.  The mood for the day might be for the retro 1950′s look of Fossil sunglasses.

Your favorite clothing designer may also be the designer of the sunglasses that you choose to accessorize your brand-name clothing.   For instance, the smart Tommy dresser can add to the look of a Tommy Hilfiger clothing ensemble with Tommy Hilfiger sunglasses.  For casual wear, Kate Spade sunglasses might do nicely.   Carrera is known for a sporty look.  For a sensual mood, Valentino  frames that have smooth round edges and Swarovsky crystals might just put you (or whoever is looking at you) in the mood.

Trendy, cool-looking name-brand or designer sunglasses, if you can afford them, are a status symbol showing everyone that you have the cash (or credit card) to buy them.  However, in order to be fashionable in sunglasses, you do not have to give up quality.  Sunglasses, not being just fashionable accessories, are used to protect your eyes from damage caused by the sun’s UV (ultra-violet) rays.  Designer prescription sunglasses can improve vision, and reduce eyestrain, just like ordinary glasses.

Quality designer sunglasses can be polarized to reduce the glare of the sunlight reflecting off surfaces like the highway, cars, water or snow.  Polarized sunglasses work by blocking off the horizontal light reflections and only let in vertical light reflections.  The polarization of designer sunglasses makes them fashionable in other areas of lifestyle like golfing, boating, biking, swimming, fishing and aircraft flying.

Marketers of designer sunglasses target children who enjoy the same hot styles and brand-names as their parents and their idols.  Sunglasses for children have Disney and cartoon characters in many colors, shapes and styles.  Children’s designer sunglasses can also be polarized to block the harmful UV radiation.  Sunglasses should be part of children’s daily wear as they play outside and engage in outdoor sports and activities.  Sunglasses can prevent them from the long-term affects of sun damage to their eyes.

When most people grab a pair of sunglasses, they are only thinking about shading their eyes or looking cool.  Sunglasses in any shade, shape or size, by any name may be a “hot” fashion accessory for trend-setting stars, men, women and children, but the importance of protecting the eyes from damage far outweighs the importance of looking cool.  The next time you head out in the sunshine, be sure to grab your designer polarized sunglasses and give some thought to the fact that you and your sunglasses are protecting your eyes and your eye sight.  Seeing is cool.

It seems like every time you see a movie or TV show where police officers are involved, they seem to be wearing large sunglasses with mirrors on the outside. What are these shades and how did they come to be what they are today? The truth is that Mirrorshades, as the sunglasses are called, are often associated with law enforcement and government officials for a valid reason.

Mirrorshades are sunglasses with a reflective optical coating on the outside of the lenses to make them appear like small mirrors. The mirror coating can decrease anywhere from 10%-60% of the light that passes through and makes contact with your eyes. Mirrorshades are great sunglasses for anyone that spends much of their time outdoors, possibly even on a motorcycle or in a car for eight or more hours per day.

However, Mirrorshades serve a greater purpose than simply shielding the eye. These sunglasses prevent another person from making eye contact with the wearer. The mirrors are created so that an onlooker will only meet his own reflection when attempting to gaze into the eyes behind a pair of Mirrorshades.

It is for this reason that Mirrorshades have become popular sunglasses for officers of law enforcement and military. Their popularity with police officers in the United States has earned them the nickname “cop shades”. Much like an interrogation room, a suspect is unnerved by looking into a window and being unable to see who or what is looking back at him. It is also for this reason that Mirrorshades are often favored by competitive poker players.

Mirrorshades are available in several different designs. The sunglasses most frequently worn by police and military are Aviators. This style received its name around the 1940′s and 1950′s when they were popular sunglasses for military pilots. In the 1930′s, Ray Ban created this design and sold it to the United States Military. The military issued the sunglasses to their pilots to protect them while they flew. From there a fixture among sunglass styles was created.

Another particularly popular style of Mirrorshades is called the Wraparound. This style of sunglasses consists of either one or two smooth, semi-circular lenses that cover the eyes and resemble the shape of protective goggles. Wraparound sunglasses are quite popular in the world of extreme sports. They are often particularly associated with snow sports, such as skiing and snowboarding.

The Mirrorshades are created with a coating on the outside of the lenses of the sunglasses. The coating can range from a very simple form made up of a single layer of very thin film all the way to a thicker, more reflective form. The thinner layer of film can be very likely to scratch with minimal pressure, and is sensitive to salt water. These sunglasses should be treated with the utmost care.

The more modern reflective coatings on Mirrorshades usually have several layers making them more durable and less likely to become scratched. While these sunglasses may be more expensive, you often get what you pay for when purchasing sunglasses. Choose wisely and educate yourself on sunglasses before deciding which ones to buy. Mirrorshades will prove beneficial to your eyes and your style.