“Sunglasses are like eye shadow: They make everything look younger and pretty.” – Karl Lagerfeld
“Sunglasses” by Ramesh ram. CC BY 2.0
I love sunglasses; they create a unique barrier from the sun and have the power to transform someone. They provide me with a way to pull together an outfit, a way to hide from the public, and a way of protecting my eyes from the sun. The only thing I don’t like about sunglasses is how I have to put my contacts in, in order to put my sunglasses on – it’s a hassle, trust me. But it’s always worth it.
The origins of sunglasses can be traced back to prehistoric times – when the Inuit peoples wore flattened walrus ivory glasses and peered through narrow slits to block the harmful reflected rays of the sun.
“Inuit sunglasses” by Michael Clark. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Meanwhile, our ancient ancestors in China and Rome were also rocking the earliest forms of sunglasses. The Roman Emperor Nero would watch gladiator fights through polished light green emerald gems held up to his eyes. It is possible that he used the emerald because its green color filtered the sunlight.
“Emerald” by the paleobear. CC BY 2.0
In 12th century China, sunglasses were made out of lenses that were flat panes of smoky quartz. Although they offered no corrective powers nor protection from harmful UV rays, they did protect the eyes from glare. These sunglasses were used by the Judges in the Courts of China to hide their facial expressions when interrogating witnesses.
The beginning of sunglasses as we know them are the work of an English optician named James Ayscough. In the mid 18th century, Ayscough began experimenting with blue and green tinted lenses as a means to correct optical impairments.
“Eyeglasses”, courtesy of Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial.
In the 19th century, tinted sunglasses were a commonly prescribed item for syphilis. One of the symptoms of the disease was sensitivity to light.
The early 20th century saw the use of sunglasses become much more widespread, especially among movie stars. It is believed that Hollywood stars wore sunglasses as both a way to avoid recognition by fans and to conceal their red eyes which resulted from the powerful arc lamps used on set at that time.
Inexpensive mass production of sunglasses started in 1929 with the man Sam Foster. He sold his sunglasses, on the beaches of Atlantic City under the name Foster Grant from a Woolworth on the Boardwalk, which were made to protect people’s eyes from the sun.
In 1937, Ray Ban created anti-glare aviator style sunglasses using polarization. These Ray-Ban Aviators played a significant role during WWII and soon became popular with celebrities and the public after being used by pilots in wartime.
“World War II aviator”, by Alex Lindeman. CC BY 2.0
The cat eye style reigned over the 50s, most notably with Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn. The trend became a part of one of Hepburn’s most iconic looks: as Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
“Audrey Hepburn, ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ (1961)”, by Classic Film. CC BY-NC 2.0
The 60s saw huge, bug-eyed sunglasses in both circle and square shapes emerge with the tie-dye, flared jeans, and mod patterns of that decade. Jackie O. was a big fan.
“Sunglasses”, by RV1864. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
The laid-back flower child vibe of the 70s produced all different kinds of sunglasses that were in style – big, plastic, wire, and even rimless frames.
“1971 Summer Fashion Ad, Cool-Ray Polaroid Sunglasses with Pretty Brunette, ‘Glare-Killers’”, by Classic Film. CC BY-NC 2.0
The eccentricity of the 80s allowed men and women to get even louder with their style and accompanying sunglasses in colorful, plastic frames.
“Firm those horrible buttocks while dancing on hits such as: ‘Baby i’m not sleeping with your cellulite tonight’ and ‘Shake that big booty’!”, by deleted.scenes. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
The 90s were filled with tiny, wired frames seen on celebrities like Britney Spears and the stars of 90s sitcoms like Friends.
This past summer the big sunglasses trend was focused on color reflecting lenses, like the pair my friend Angela is wearing below.
Sunglasses now come in so many different shapes, styles, and colors that it is no wonder it has become a multi-million dollar industry! While the trends are always fun to follow, I much prefer a solid pair of sunglasses that complements my features and protects my eyes from the sun. A good pair of sunnies always has a transformative effect!
Sources: Cally Blackman, 100 Years of Fashion (2012); “Fashion Archives: A Look at the History of Sunglasses”; “Origins and History of Sunglasses”; “The Dark History of Sunglasses”; “Stay Shady: The History of Sunglasses”; “The Evolution of Sunglasses”.
Check out some of my favorite sunglasses looks below!
Photo credit: @somedudenameddevs
Photo credit: Lauren Khalfayan
