There are many reasons for why we wear sunglasses. One of the most common reasons is to protect our eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays. It’s not just about protection though, it’s also more comfortable to shield your eyes from the glare of bright sun.  Obviously that can prove problematic when you move from brightly lit areas to darker ones, but it’s usually easy enough to just take off or put on your sunglasses. In addition, sunglasses can also protect our eyes from dust or other particles in the air that may irritate our eyes.  This can be useful if there are a lot of building sites around or you are simply at the beach on a windy day.  And of course sunglasses can just be part of your outfit’s look or can be recommended by an eyecare professional.

It may shock you to learn that sunglasses weren’t always used to protect people’s eyes from the sun. The history of sunglasses dates back to ancient China and Rome. It has been reported that the Roman emperor Nero enjoyed watching gladiator fights through polished gems. In China, sunglasses were used in the twelfth century or even earlier. Sunglasses were first made out of lenses that were flat panes of smoky quartz. These types of sunglasses could not correct vision, or protect from harmful UV rays, but did reduce glare. Chinese judges used the smoky quartz glasses to hide their facial expressions when they interrogated witnesses.

Sunglasses did not undergo further changes until about the eighteenth century because of the work of James Ayscough. He experimented with tinted lenses in spectacles. Ayscough was steadfast in the belief that glasses tinted with a blue or green colour could potentially correct specific vision problems. Ayscough was not concerned with protecting the eyes from the suns rays.

Sunglasses underwent the change into the popular item they are today when Sam Foster introduced them to America in 1929. These sunglasses were designed to protect people’s eyes from the sun. Foster sold his sunglasses on the beaches of Atlantic City, New Jersey. Foster’s sunglasses were sold at Woolworth on the boardwalk.

In 1936, sunglasses became polarized when Edwin H. Land began using his patented Polaroid filter when making sunglasses. Around this time, even more Americans started buying sunglasses. Famous movie stars and musicians also began to wear sunglasses. They started to become not only a way to protect against sun glare, but also a way to be “cool.” Sunglasses became a cultural phenomenon, and some people wore them even when it wasn’t sunny, or when they were indoors.

Today, sunglasses continue to have advances. UV protection has almost become an industry standard, and there are sunglasses available for a variety of sports. There are numerous tints available for sunglasses, and sunglasses have changed styles over the years. Prescription glasses have also been given tints that only appear when the sun’s rays hit the glasses. In 2004, Oakley developed a brand of sunglasses that had a built-in digital audio player. Many blind people now wear sunglasses, and many recognizable celebrities can be found wearing sunglasses. Even fictional characters can be seen wearing them. Sunglasses have come a long way from their early Roman and Chinese history!

Check out our guide to choosing sunglasses.

Gloves are one of the oldest forms of hand protection. They have been used by humans for thousands of years and their use has been documented in many ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and Aztecs. They were originally made from leather or animal skin, but over time new materials such as latex and nitrile rubber have been introduced. Gloves protect the hands from substances, from the cold, or just to hide your bitten finger nails away etc.  But they are much more than that, they can be an integral part of your outfit and really put the final stamp on your look.

Gloves in Ancient History

An old and reclusive art, glove making has been intertwined with human culture since the days of the caveman. The first gloves resembled crude mittens. As the years passed, glove making became more of a refined art. Articulated fingers were stitched in to provide more dexterity and ease of movement. While glove makers’ guilds once dominated in a society obsessed with a covered hand, today very few remain. Fewer still are the patterns available for hand-made gloves. Machine sewn and hand-finished gloves are mostly what you’ll find in the market.

Gloves are seen in ancient writings, such as Homer’s The Odyssey, in which Laertes is said to wear gloves in his garden so as to avoid the brambles. There is some debate over the translation of this text. In The History of Herodotus, written in 440 BC, Herodotus describes how Leotychides was given a bribe in the form of a gauntlet overflowing with silver, which later incriminated him.

As years passed, the complexity and versatility of gloves grew. Plated gauntlets are dated back as far as the early 14th century. Before that, mail gloves were worn. Some knights were cited as wearing mail gloves under their plated gauntlets for added strength.

History of Opera Gloves

Now, if we look to the fashion world, we see a marvelous array of styles. Cloth and leather gauntlets displayed intricate embroideries. Ladies in the 19th century adored opera gloves. One peculiarity is that they tried to fit their hands into gloves a size too small! This forced one’s hand to rest in a half cupped position – perfect for greeting, but not for kissing. If you have ever attempted to don a glove you are too big for, you realize what a task these women undertook! Buttonhook and powdered alum provided some lubrication, but still, before an opera, determined women would sit for hours, coaxing their hands down into tight gloves.  As opera gloves are long and frequently extent to the elbow, this made the task doubly hard.  Opera gloves have added a touch of glamour throughout their history and they continue to do so until the present day.

Bringing Gloves Up-To-Date

Few tomes remain that give us real insight of early gloves. One of the more revered in existence today is Le Gant. The book, while entirely in French, reveals many patterns and divulges a brief development and history of the glove. Also included are passages telling us of the period’s social relevance and sexual significance pertaining to the glove.

Insulation from the heat or cold. Protection from scratches and cuts. The instigation of duels. Bold or minute fashion statements. Gloves have worn many hats, so to speak, throughout history. They continue to be a wholly integral part of many jobs today. Conversely, there has been a sharp decline in the use of gloves as fashion accessories over the past several decades. Fewer and fewer girls attend their proms with gloves. Fashion is a fickle thing, and only time will tell the future of the glove.

If you enjoyed this take a look at our other short histories: socks, neck tie.

People are always looking for the best pair of sunglasses. Whether it is for fashion, protection, or other purposes, sunglasses are a must-have. In this article, we will explore the different qualities and features to look for when choosing your next pair of shades. The best pair of sunglasses should match your personal style, face shape and fashion statement. Consider the frame shape, lens size, lens colour and other features like how the lenses react to sunlight. What should you look for in a good pair of sunglasses? What are the key features you should consider?

Sunglasses are one of the ultimate fashion accessories. They are great in helping you to create your own unique image. They make such a difference to your summer look.  What exact style you choose really depends on your personal taste, age and the shape of your face. Yet, not matter what style of sunglasses you are thinking of buying, it is important that you end up choosing the best possible quality pair.

Some tips to choosing quality sunglasses are provided below. Being educated by what makes a quality pair of sunglasses is very important when you are searching for your next pair of sunglasses. Keep these tips in mind when you are browsing.

Protection from UV

One major contributor to eye disease is ultraviolet radiation. This is why it is important to choose a pair of sunglasses that protect you from the harmful effect of UV. Just because your glasses have a dark tint doesn’t mean that you are protect from UV. Make sure you check the sunglasses UV rating.

What the Sunglasses Are Made From

Generally speaking the heavier the sunglasses the higher quality they will be. You want to ensure that the material that they are made from will last a long time and be able to resist the constant knocks that sunglasses typically take.

Different Tints

Tints are the colours that are applied to sunglasses lenses to help reduce the light that makes contact with the eyes. The particular tint you choose is up to your personal taste. However, different tints will have a different effect on the perceived brightness and glare, and will distort colour differently.

As an example, gray tints reduce glare and don’t distort the colour. On the other hand, yellows lens will distort colour but sharpen your perceived view.  To some extent this is personal preference, so it pays to spend a bit of time trying out different lenses in a shop.

To Polarize or Not to Polarize?

Sunglasses that are polarized will reduce the glare of the light which bounces off roads and water. They are typically preferred by people who drive a lot during the day or boat on the water. If you work or play near a lot of flat surfaces you may wish to investigate using polarized sunglasses.

Whatever you decide, it’s key to try before you buy if you can.  That way you are more likely to get a pair that will suit your face, your look and your eyes.