If you think you know all about your sunglasses, think again! Here are some facts that might be of your interest.
The origin of sunglasses can be dated back to ancient times in China and Rome. The mighty Emperor of Rome, Nero, loved to watch gladiator fights through the most primitive form of sunglasses-polished gems.
Around the 1300s, the Judges in China wore smoky quartz lenses to conceal the expression on their faces. However, these glasses were pretty much rudimentary. They only managed to perhaps reduce glare but were not sophisticated enough to correct vision or provide protection from harmful UV rays.
A more advanced version of sunglasses was introduced into china by the Italians in the 1400s. Thus, remained the developments in making of sunglasses till about the 18th century. Changes occurred thanks to a man named James Ayscough. Ayscough seemed to be absolutely certain, that blue or even green tinted glasses could probably solve specific vision problems. It was him therefore, who started with the whole idea of colored lenses. Surprisingly enough, shading the eyes from the sun’s cruel rays wasn’t a part of Ayscough’s agenda!
The sunglasses as we know it came into existence round about 20th century when Sam Foster, founder of the Foster Grant Company, sold the first pair of Froster Grant sunglasses in New Jersey!
In present times, we know of some of the household names in Designer Sunglasses! There are brands like Ray Ban or Oakley which have come up in the market on their own. Then too, certain brands like Gucci, Versace etc, which had started off as subsidiary units to big Fashion House Brands, are now some of the most popular trade names!
There is not a single celebrity out there who doesn’t know what the importance of Sunglasses is! They use it for the simplest of reasons-be it to conceal the stress that shows in their eyes or the result of a night long party, or even to hide their celeb status when they are trying to mingle in with the crowd! A pair of trendy shades is simply a must have!
They say a fashion never stays for long. But you just can’t say the same for sunglasses. It’s a trendsetter that’s here to stay. Celebrities are always abreast with the latest style of fashionable eye wear. For a lot of us, observing the changing trends of our favorite celebrities is a beloved pastime. Lately it can be noticed that Sunglasses with big lenses are a big hit with the women. All thanks to Jackie O!
All renowned Fashion houses are constantly on the run to come up with the most stylish pair of shades. Over a period of years, there have been plenty of alterations, and each new fashion adds an improved, stylish look to the sunglasses. The fad that is in vogue right now is glasses that have designs on the frame. Of course, it would be wrong to be under the misconception that the designer Sunglasses give any better protection to your eyes than normal ones do. The only reason we prefer them is due to the charm of a sophisticated brand name. Better the brand, higher the price!
However, Designer shades are undoubtedly cool, chic and attractive! It is a joy to be flaunting your very stylish pair of branded shades. In a world of high flying fashion, it’s okay really to spend a huge amount and invest in a style statement-unless of course you hit upon a very artistic fake!
Suzanne Hughes is an eyewear style consultant specializing in reading glasses online. For more information about eyeglasses, vision, or great styles such as Scojo reading glasses, visit her online boutique.