I would rate myself as world’s worst shopper. I never know what I want to shop for, I never know what I need, I never know which place to go shopping and worse is that each time just when I have paid for something and collected it from the counter, I realise that it sucks!
But then despite being the worst shopper, there are things that I buy, and I buy well. Sunglasses are my forte! There was a time when I had some seven pairs of sunglasses--some branded and others not. But then I discovered that it is better to maintain one pair well rather than piling up many, which break or scratch or gather dust.
So here are some tips out of personal, first hand experience, which might come in handy for those looking forward to shading out the sun.
Sunglasses for shades. Lets always remember that sunglasses were invented for shading out eyes from exposure to scorching sunlight. So when we are thinking of getting ourselves a pair of glares, we must remember the season we are in. A light colour glass is useless for summers and a dark colour one is worthless for winters. In winters, when the sun is mild and soft, you can try glass shades like light brown, mauve, pink, grey, etc. For summers one must try black, dark brown, and the likes.
Eyes that can see. It is very important not to save money on sunglasses, because that can end you into wearing something that causes medical trouble. The sunglasses sold at roadside stalls are great in designs and sometimes what you find there is what you would never find in branded stores, but be careful that the glass is clear and is zero power. While trying, note the difference between how things appear without them and how they do while wearing them. If there is any difference, other than the difference of colour, its not what you want to buy! Wrong glares can give you headaches and bad eyesight, and can result into more serious eye related problems.
Size does matter. The size of the glass of your sunglasses is the most prominent thing, even more than the colour. It is very necessary to pick up something that suits the shape and size of your face. If you have a long and thin face, you could try oval or rectangular shapes that would define your face better. Smaller round glasses can also look good. If you have a round face on the other hand, rectangular glasses can be a faux pa. A nice big round glass can cover your eyes and can be really attractive. Be careful that it shouldn’t be so big that it touches your cheeks when you smile.
Frame of glass. There are a wide variety of frames available in sunglasses. There is also choice between framed and rim-less glasses. You can find metallic, plastic and chrome made frames commonly. In these three also, there is a wide range of colours and design to pick from. You can remain simple with a thin frame or trendy with a broad one, if you like to add glamour to your look (like me) try ones with studs and crystal on the frame. You could also try frames with contrasting colours to the glass. These days there is also frenzy about bold and bright colours in frames.
Brand-width. Sunglasses played a significant role in the times when hip-hop or rock music became a rage. Rock stars would wear them even in night performances because it was a part of their ’look’. Fans, of course, followed the icons. This helped many sunglasses makers to promote their brands. The legendry brand in sunglasses of course is Bausch and Lomb’s Ray-Ban, which were first made for the American army until they became a style statement. In the much-acclaimed Hollywood movie--Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Ray-Ban first appeared on screen. Post that the world followed. Ray-Ban Aviator is the most famous of the company’s sunglass models.
Some of the contemporary brands to pick from could be Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Swatch, Fast track, Polo and Versace.
Well maintained. It is very essential to keep your sunglasses scratch free and neat. Generally we carry them in our bags or pockets, making them very prone to scratching. So always buy a well-padded pouch or case to safeguard your sunglasses. Ensure that you take care of them just as much as you would of any other spectacles that you wear. Each time you take them out to wear, they should be comfortable and must add to your style statement.
My pair of sunglasses has a thick, white-frame with silver studs on the sides. It has big, light black glass and adds to my glam-shlam! It’s a non-brand, something I bought roadside in Colaba, Mumbai. ;)