Shannan Rouss | The Guide to all Things of Fashion, Gifts and Shopping

Archive for the ‘Sunglasses’ Category

Everyone should be familiar with the primary reason sunglasses are worn.  Sunglasses protect your eyes from the sun, warding off long term effects of the sun’s damage.  However, what are some other reasons to wear sunglasses.  Everyone has their own reasons, aside from the protection benefits, for wearing sunglasses.

Sunglasses, especially darker ones, help to create an air of mystery surrounding their owners.  It is often difficult to carry on a conversation with a person wearing opaque shades.  This mysterious, often intimidating look is a favorite for investigators, poker players, and police officers.  When someone cannot see your eyes, it is difficult for them to tell what you are thinking.

Sunglasses are a fashion statement all their own.  They are often the first thing that a person sees when they look at you.  The shades you wear make a statement about you, so choose wisely.  The sunglasses you pick out could mean the difference between telling the world that you are a fashion force to be reckoned with, or someone whose mom still picks out his clothes.

On a more somber note is a situation most of us ourselves in.  Sooner or later, everyone loses someone in their life and there is a funeral to attend.  Vanity should not be your first priority in this case, but there are certain measures you can take to help grieve with a little dignity.  A carefully selected, tasteful pair of dark sunglasses will help mask the red and puffy eyes you may experience while crying.  Remember when deciding which pair to wear for this particular occasion that elegance and taste are extremely important.

Whether it is allergy season or you pulled an all-nighter studying for finals, you don’t have to cry to achieve the red, puffy-eyed look.  Let’s face it, everyone has stayed out a little too late the night before and awakened the next morning to see Frankenstein starring back at them in the mirror.  Sunglasses come in handy for these reasons as well.  They may be a telltale sign of a one-too-many night if you wear them in the office, so this would not be recommended.  However, the sudden sensitivity to light you may feel when you step into the day for the first time can be cushioned with a good pair of sunglasses.

Athletes often find themselves playing their particular sport outside on a hot, sunny day.  Unfortunately, there are no allowances in the rules for a baseball player that misses a fly ball because the sun blinded him.  To help with athletic performance, certain sunglasses are made specifically for athletes.  An aerodynamic design and wraparound shape hug the face and ensure the player sees every ball coming his way.  The important detail for these sunglasses is size.  They have to fit perfectly; otherwise they’ll fall off while running, if too big, or cut off circulation in your face if they’re too small.

One use for sunglasses has only recently been discovered.  The next time you are flying overseas and want to avoid the taxing effects of jet lag, try putting a pair of sunglasses.  Scientists have recently discovered that sunglasses help fool the body through the use of light.  Your biological clock (which-as it turns out-is a real thing) consists of about 20,000 nerve cells that respond differently to light and dark.  By wearing sunglasses for certain amounts of time during a long trip, you can lessen the effects of jet lag.

You see that there are many reasons to wear sunglasses.  These reasons should not, however, overshadow the primary benefit.  Sunglasses are protection for your eyes.  They will help ensure you keep seeing the world the way it was intended.  That is the best reason of all to pick up a pair today.

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.

There are many reasons to wear sunglasses, and everyone has one of their own. Whether it is to mask a hangover, create mystery or escape the paparazzi, sunglasses are a part of everyday life. However, often the true benefits of this popular accessory are lost when fashion or other purposes take over. It may not be your only reason, but your best reason for sunglasses should be to protect your eyes.

Science has come a long way in correcting vision gone bad. Corneal transplants help a blind person see again. Laser treatment can restore your eyesight to 20/20 or better in mere minutes. Even with all this technology, wouldn’t it be easier to take care of your eyes from the start? By simply wearing good sunglasses, you will reduce your need for these scientific breakthroughs later in life.

The sun creates ultraviolet light rays which contribute to the heat it produces. These rays, called UVA and UVB can cause irreparable damage to your retina and corneas. If you’ve ever watched an eclipse, you know you had to do so through a pinhole in a shoebox. This is because staring directly to the sun can cause great damage to your eyes. Unfortunately, many people are unknowingly allowing their eyes to suffer the same fate by simply choosing not to wear sunglasses.

Such disorders as cataracts, macular degeneration, and even skin cancer around the eyes can be signs of sun damage and can be prevented in part by the use of sunglasses. Cataracts are an eye condition that involves clouding of the lens behind the Iris and Pupil. Although no one truly knows what causes cataracts, studies have shown links between this condition and increased exposure to ultraviolet light. Though we do not know 100% that this is the cause, it has been determined that people who habitually wear sunglasses have seen a decreased incidence of this eye disorder.

Macular degeneration causes those who suffer from it to have difficulty seeing in detail. Often even faces are hard for these people to distinguish. This disease, like cataracts, is most prevalent in elderly patients. However, also like cataracts, prolonged exposure to sunlight without the protection of sunglasses has been included as a probable cause. Individuals who practice care in selecting sunglasses with 99%-100% UV protection stand a greater chance at avoiding this fate.

Think about the last time that you spent all day in the sun and were really badly sunburned. You probably took cold baths and slathered yourself in Aloe Vera. It is a painful condition to be in when this happens to your skin. Now, imagine what that same sunlight that gave you second degree burns on your skin is doing to your eyes when you choose not to protect them with proper sunglasses. That alone should be motivation to hit the sunglass kiosk at the mall.

You don’t often think of sunglasses as something that will protect your skin. In reality, a good pair of sunglasses can save your face in more ways than one. Increased exposure to sunlight can cause skin cancer and will attach the most sensitive areas first. How much more sensitive can you get then the skin around your eyes. Sunglasses can reduce the risk of skin cancer in the eyelids and areas around your eyes.

Another benefit your skin will enjoy from a good pair of sunglasses is a decreased appearance of lines around the eyes. Simply logic tells us that distorting the face in certain ways on a regular basis can cause premature wrinkles and increase the signs of aging. When you do not wear sunglasses, you tend to squint, as your eyes are uncomfortable being opened under bright light. Sunglasses can actually help reduce the appearance of crow’s feet by allowing your facial muscles to remain relaxed.

Your eyes are one of your most valued features. Can you imagine waking up tomorrow and not being able to see? Many people are born blind and would give anything for the eyes you take for granted every day. A good pair of sunglasses will protect you against a world of eye disorders and pain. If you don’t protect this valuable possession, before you know it, it could be gone.