Sunglasses in some form or fashion have been around for hundreds of years, but it has only been in relatively recent times that having cool-looking shades has become such an important fashion accessory. Not only do they serve to conceal your eyeballs and add mystery to your character, they also block out the harmful UV rays of the sun. If you want to look cool in sunglasses, however, there are a few things you should know about style, face shape, and where not to wear them.

First, it is important to realize that even the most expensive sunglasses only cost a few dollars to make. Even the production of polarized lenses, an expensive-sounding process that helps to cut down on sun glare, adds only nickels to the manufacturing cost. The bottom line is that price does not necessarily equate to quality. So if you are considering breaking the bank on an expensive pair of designer shades, you might want to reconsider. You certainly do not have to pay a huge premium for a brand name when you can find lots of lower-priced alternatives that will protect your eyes just as well from damaging UV rays.

But what does this mean in terms of style? Does it really matter how much you pay? The answer greatly depends on who you ask. The reason I say this is because there exists a group of sunglass elitists that are found nearly everywhere. They know what actor wore which brand of shades in what movies, and they can tell you if you paid enough to look cool in your sunglasses. This leads us to our first major question: do you want to look cool for the elitists, or only yourself? If it’s only yourself, you’ll find plenty of styles for $30 or less. If it’s for the elitists, be prepared to spend $150 or more.

The shape of your face can help guide you on what frames to try and what to avoid. If this is your first time purchasing, don’t order online; you’ll want to try on each pair in front of a mirror. You’ll want to pick a pair of frames that helps to offset your natural features. For example, if you have a round face, consider square frames to balance your contours. If you have a long, rectangular face, select tall frames that help your features appear shorter. If you have a square face, avoid square frames that further accentuate your outline. And if you have an oval face, consider yourself lucky because just about every style of sunglasses works well with this facial shape.

However, looking cool is more than just appearance; it’s a state of mind. With each frame, really look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself if the look gives you a sense of confidence. If so, it will go a long way towards making you look cool.

Finally, a word of warning: although there are many situations where wearing sunglasses will improve your appearance, there are a few that won’t. For example, unless you are a celebrity, avoid wearing shades in a restaurant, nightclub, or any other dimly lit locale because you will open yourself up to ridicule. There are other examples as well; just use a little common sense and you should be able to avoid these kinds of social taboos.

Author Bio: Matrixeyewear.com has been selling Matrix Glasses from The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded, and The Matrix Revolutions since 2003. To date, Matrix Eyewear has sold over 6,000 pairs of sunglasses including Neo Sunglasses, Morpheus Sunglasses, Agent Smith Sunglasses and more, making it the most trusted source for these items anywhere around the world.

Category: Advice
Keywords: sunglasses