There is some confusion over the use of sunglasses. Celebrities see them as a disguise, funnily enough. We wouldn't take any notice of the stretch limousine pulling up, the plethora of suited and booted bodyguards that emerge from surrounding armour plated vehicles to usher the limo rider through the doors of the exclusive restaurant and we wouldn't wonder why the said person was entering a restaurant when they so obviously don't eat! We wouldn't do any of this apparently, because the person is wearing sunglasses, probably huge ones, but this is, supposedly, enough disguise!
Manufacturers and health professionals tell us we should wear sunglasses for the health of our eyes, that we need to shield ourselves from UV rays, and this is upheld by all medical research so they do serve a very definite function.
Other people, wishing to emanate the celebrities will wear sunglasses as a fashion statement. This means that they will wear them indoors, in clubs and even in the bath. This is because they think that shielding their eyes from others gives them the same degree of anonymity that a celebrity would command and it makes them feel special, when in fact, they just look silly and walk into a lot of things and people.
So, now we have a fashion statement that protects us from not only eye ball searing sun rays but also from unwanted attention. Now this opens up the question as to what other fashion items protect us from.
Take, for instance, the fashion for mini-skirts. What does the mini-skirt protect us from? It certainly never protected anyone from the cold or from unwanted attention. In fact, mini-skirts are often worn to attract attention to the wearer and this is quite successful for the average person and even more successful for the ugly girls. It means they are all in with a chance with the opposite sex. The attention that mini-skirts draw are a little confusing when worn by the celebrities who then wear sunglasses so people don't look at them?
We also have polo neck jumpers which have enjoyed various bouts in the fashion stakes and are often kept on standby for those having a bad neck day. What is a bad neck day? It's one of those things that women over the age of fifty will find happens with increasing frequency. Unless you are feeling in tip top condition, crepey neck skin occurs and a polo neck jumper will hide a multitude of sins.
It is also an excellent cover up for love bites and any teenager with a little street cred will own a polo neck jumper for these occasions. A little bit of a giveaway in the summer but it just goes to show that the polo neck jumper is a versatile piece of fashion wear and certainly a protection.
Also in the protective fashion stakes we have the flared trousers. What could a pair of flared trousers possibly protect you from? As far as I can see, not much at all. In fact, they are probably one of the fashion world's most dangerous items. Have you ever tried riding a bike whilst wearing flares? Have you ever seen the casualty figures for people injured whilst cycling in a pair of flares? Have you ever seen someone in a gust of wind wearing a pair of flares? There are many people who have been lost to the Bermuda triangle of flares wearers!
So, it would seem that sunglasses, along with other items, can be fashion wear with a protective quality and some fashion items are just downright dangerous.
Shaun Parker is a leading fashion designer who looks at how sunglasses are a protection as well as a fashion item. Find out more about sunglasses at http://www.site91.co.uk
