Types of Aviator Sunglasses
Aviator sunglasses have been one of the most popular styles for sunglasses since the 1970s. Developed in 1937 and originally worn by commercial and Air Force pilots, their fame was established when celebrities started wearing them, including Tom Cruise in "Top Gun." Today they might be worn by celebrities and aspiring stars, but they're still a hit among pilots. Both men and women can wear aviator sunglasses. Does this Spark an idea?
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Mirror Sunglasses
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Mirror sunglasses are typically the first type of aviator sunglasses that comes to mind. These glasses are characterized by silver or charcoal iridescent lenses that reflect the outside view of what the wearer is seeing. When you look at a person wearing mirrored aviators, you'll see a somewhat warped, darkened image of yourself; the eyes and eyelids of the person wearing the glasses are obscured if not completely hidden. If you want to maintain a cool image with a hint of anonymity, mirrored aviators are the ones to wear.
Mirrored sunglasses sometimes come in yellow, green, pink, blue and purple hues as well, although these glasses sometimes look more like a novelty item than the timeless shades. Mirrored aviators are also easily scratched, so be cautious when wearing them and keep them in an eyeglass case.
Polarized Sunglasses
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Polarized aviator sunglasses are designed to be stylish and to also function as sunglasses should, blocking out the sun's rays. Polarized glasses are manufactured with iodine crystals laid in lens film and patterned so they reflect or block a good portion of the UV rays. Polarized aviator glasses are sometimes designed with boxy sides instead of the classic ovular shape. Degrees of polarization vary based on the design, manufacturer and the price of the lenses.
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Classic Sunglasses
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Classic aviator sunglasses feature the large, almost egg-shape lenses that made them popular originally. According to classicaviatorsunglasses.com, Ray-Ban is the only brand that can truly boast the classic style, as it was the original creator of the design. Some of the classic glasses have a drab, military-green-tinted lens set in gold frames, while more modern styles have a charcoal or black lens with silver frames.
Prescription Sunglasses
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Certain brands and manufacturers carry prescription aviator sunglasses for those who ordinarily wear reading, driving or everyday glasses. Although the lens and frame colors are somewhat more limited with prescription sunglasses, you can still wear them with a tinted prescription lens, and no one will be able to tell the difference. Just be sure you have other glasses or contacts handy when taking off your aviator glasses inside or when driving after sundown.
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References
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- Photo Credit sunglasses in the snow image by Alexey Stiop from Fotolia.com
